Appeals panel upholds penalties against Bowyer and MWR

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - An appeals committee has upheld penalties against Clint Bowyer and Michael Waltrip Racing that effectively ends any shot Bowyer had at winning the Sprint Cup championship.

The three-person National Motorsports Appeals Panel on Wednesday ruled NASCAR was correct in penalizing the No. 15 team for an illegally modified part two weeks ago at Chicagoland Speedway.

Bowyer was docked 25 points, which dropped him to last in the 16-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup championship field. Four drivers will be cut from the field after this weekend's race in Dover, Delaware.

Crew chief Billy Scott will begin a three-race suspension this weekend. He was also fined $75,000 and placed on probation for six months.