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“If Hendrick Did It Nothing Would Come of It” – NASCAR Fans React as Disaster Strikes Brad Keselowski & RFK Racing

ByHetul Katyal

Modified Mar 25, 2022 | 12:10 PM EDT

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Bad luck continues for Brad Keselowski and Roush Fenway Keselowski racing as NASCAR issued a major deduction of points to them for modifying a single source supplied part.

The former Penske driver found himself short of 100 driver points, 100 driver points, and 10 playoff points. His crew chief was also suspended for the next four races along with a fine of $100,000.

NEWS: NASCAR issues deduction of 100 owner points, 100 driver points and 10 NASCAR Playoff Points to the No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing team for modifying a single source supplied part.
Crew chief Matt McCall has been fined $100,000 and suspended for the next four races. pic.twitter.com/6m9PR38R6J
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 24, 2022

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Fans React to The Bad News for Brad Keselowski

The reaction from fans was mixed. Many had a lot of issues with the way NASCAR has dealt with the situation.

So, why is there only a single source and were more parts not available? Could that be part of the problem or no?
— Terry in Michigan (@rock88and4) March 24, 2022

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Not a real sport
— Bhalo Mngoma (@bhalomngoma) March 24, 2022

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Wow and they still sucked. I don't get the playoff point thing since that affects every round of the playoffs. If HMS had done it Nascar would say it was justified for some reason.
— Jay Stone (@JayStonePeMech) March 24, 2022

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Thats my biggest issue is if Hendrick did it nothing would come of it. They have literally had more horsepower then all of the rest of the teams since last year and NASCAR finds 0 wrong.
— SJ (@JujuxNajee) March 24, 2022

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Fans have been screaming for harsher penalties for years well here you go. Now a win really just gets him into the playoffs and that’s it
— KLG NobleWarrior88 (@NGaming88) March 24, 2022

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does anyone have a layman-language breakdown of what happened? was this still the wheel thing from daytona? and did nascar tell brad to not mess with the wheels, and then did brad and the 6 team do it anyway? clarity can be fun… y'know
— Joe Perri (@musicJoePerri) March 24, 2022

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This is what always gets me about these penalties, you never get a good explanation that gets down to the real nitty gritty of the infraction.
— FordRailTide (@TomAnde32968105) March 24, 2022

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What went down for Brad Keselowski?

NASCAR took the no. 6 car to their Research and Development Center after the Atlanta race which is when they found out that the team had modified a single-source supplied part for the Next-Gen car. In fact, with the infraction rising to an L2 level penalty, RFK Racing is the first team to be penalized under a stricter penalty system introduced by NASCAR this year. And, the new penalty system specifically outlines sanctions for modifying part of the next-gen car supplied by a single source.

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RFK Racing avoided a penalty for doing something similar back in Daytona when the season had just started. Apparently, NASCAR found that RFK Racing had reamed their wheels after confiscating them. However, these adjustments are permitted.

Finally, even though it is sad for Brad Keselowski, the reasoning is justified, and NASCAR had good reason to penalize RFK Racing. Unfortunately, the 100 point penalty drops him down to 35th position from 16th in the NASCAR Cup-Series playoffs.