The National Motorsports Appeals Panel overturned NASCAR’s suspension of Stephen Kopcik after he retaliated against Tyler Rypkema during the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at North Wilkesboro.
During the race, Kopcik fell from first to fifth after choose to start on the outside after a restart with 50 laps to go. He began to work his way back to the front by diving deep underneath Rypkema for the fourth spot and giving him a little bit of his nerf bar to push him up the track and take the position. Rypkema responded by giving him the bumper in the ensuing corner. It was enough to push Kopcik up the track and allow him to get around him.
Kopcik retaliated in the next corner by hitting Rypkema just as they were entering it. Rypkema attempted to save it, but ended up making hard contact with the wall hitting it nose first. He was initially penalized on the track by being sent to the rear.
NASCAR further penalized Kopcik by suspending him for one race and fining him $1,000. In the penalty announcement, it revealed that Kopcik violated rule 12-8.1 Member Conduct Guidelines by “intentionally wrecking another vehicle, whether or not that vehicle is removed from Competition as a result.”
Earlier this week the Appeals Panel overturned the suspension, but increased his fine to $2,500. In the announcement it noted that the Appeals Panel affirmed “that [Kopcik] violated the rules set forth in the Penalty Notice.”
The panel, which included Chuck Deery, Hunter Nickell, and Cathy Rice explained, “The panel believes that although there were several factors that contributed to the wreck, ultimately, the contact by the 21 car against the 3 car was intentional.”
With the suspension overturned, Kopcik is expected to be back in action for the J&R Precast 150 at Seekonk Speedway this Saturday. Kopcik currently sits fifth in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standings. He’s just 8 points behind current leader Craig Lutz after three races.
What do you make of the Appeals Panel overturning the suspension?
NEXT: New River All American Speedway Shuts Down