The National Motorsports Appeals Panel amended the L1-level penalty issued to the No. 17 RFK Racing team and driver Chris Buescher on May 15 after the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. Upon hearing the testimony, three members of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel ruled that the No. 17 team violated one or more, but not all, of the rules from the initial penalty. The team violated 14.5.4 (front bumper cover) but did not violate 14.1.2 (exhaust cover panel). Therefore, the panel amended the original penalty assessed by NASCAR to include a loss of 30 championship driver and team owner points (it was initially a 60-point loss), a loss of five driver and team owner playoff points, a two-race suspension for the crew chief and a $75,000 fine for the team. In reaching its decision, the panel provided the following explanation: “The panel concluded that NASCAR met its burden of proof regarding the reinforcement of the front bumper cover but did not meet it regarding the trimming of the exhaust panel cover. The rule book regarding the exhaust panel trimming lacked specificity on the amount trimmed or not trimmed. Accordingly, the panel reduced the owner and driver points penalty from 60 to 30 points.” As a result of the modified points penalty, Buescher moves up to 16th in the Cup Series points standings. He now is the first driver below the NASCAR Playoffs cutline, -6 to RFK Racing teammate Ryan Preece. RELATED: Updated Cup standings The three-member panel was comprised of Tom DeLoach, Cary Tharrington and Kevin Whitaker. At Kansas, Buescher finished eighth in the AdventHealth 400 and his No. 17 Ford was selected as one of two cars to be taken back to the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina, for further inspection. That is where officials ruled the car was in violation. Crew chief Scott Graves has already served his two-race suspension. “We appreciate the opportunity to present our case to the National Motorsports Appeals Panel today and are pleased that the panel overturned one of the two assessed penalties,” RFK Racing said in a Wednesday statement issued to its social media accounts. “Our goal is to always comply fully with the letter of the NASCAR Rule Book, and our focus is now looking forward to competing for a win in Nashville this weekend.” The NASCAR Cup Series returns to action Sunday at Nashville Superspeedway