Overturned: Chad Knaus and Team 48 Win NASCAR Appeal

NASCAR’s chief appellate officer has overturned the six-race suspension of five-time championship winning crew chief Chad Knaus.

Chief appellate officer John Middlebrook ruled Tuesday that Knaus and car chief Ron Malec, who was also suspended six races, instead will be on probation through May 9.

The $100,000 fine levied by NASCAR against Knaus still stands.

Jimmie Johnson was also docked 25 points, which will now be restored.

Last week a three-member appeals committee had upheld the suspensions imposed after the car presented by Knaus on opening day of the Daytona 500 failed inspection due to the sheet metal between the roof and the side windows being illegally modified on Johnson’s car.

“I was pretty shocked in Daytona when this happened. We go through great, great lengths, and it’s been years since we’ve been in trouble. Years,” Knaus said. “It’s unfortunate that the perception is out there that we continue to bend the rules, because we truly don’t. We go above and beyond to be compliant with what they want.”