Massive Penalties for SHR's Custer & Shiplett

By: Tom Luttermoser  Image: Tom Luttermoser NBC Broadcast Screenshot

In what is one of the largest penalties in NASCAR history, NASCAR has deducted 50 Drivers points from Cole Custer taking him from 25th in the standings with 550 points to 27th with 500 points just 1 below Brad Keselowski. 50 Owners points from the 41 car. Cole Custer has been fined $100,000. Crew Chief Mike Shiplett is indefinitely suspended and fined $100,000.

This penalty in in lieu of the the 41 car slowing down the back straightaway before the bus stop on the final lap holding up the 3 car of Austin Dillon & the 43 of Erik Jones, allowing teammate Chase Briscoe to pass both and advance into the Round of 8 in his bid for the Championship. This, per NASCAR, is a direct violation of the Code of Conduct and Performance Obligations. Sections 4.3.A; 4.4.C & 5.5.... In layman's terms, Custer did not give 100% and intentionally altered the outcome of the race at the Roval on Sunday.

On one hand, this is a Huge hammer drop on behalf of NASCAR to enforce their "Give 100%" rule. This is also a slippery slope as in last seasons Bristol Night race, reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott did the exact same thing. In fact, directly contributed to the winner and therefor potential advancement of the 4 team. He even said on the radio "Where's the 5 at? I'll help him out". There was no penalty in that case.

So I ask, why now? Why the 41 and not the 9?

This is by far the harshest penalty of the 2022 season. Do you agree with this penalty or the extent that they dropped the hammer?