The suspension to NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Stephen Kopcik has been overturned on appeal.
NASCAR, last week, had suspended Kopcik one race, fined him $1500 and placed him on probation through the end of the year due to a seemingly intentional retaliatory incident against fellow driver Tyler Rykena during the May 18 race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
The appeal was heard by the National Motorsports Appeals Panel on Tuesday and was amended. Kopcik will now be fined $2,500 and placed on probation but avoids suspension.
The appeal was heard by Lacrosse Speedway general manager Chuck Deery, sports television executive Hunter Nickell and longtime South Boston Speedway general manager Cathy Rice, whom offered the following statement.
“The panel believes that although there were several factors that contributed to the wreck, ultimately, the contact by the 21 car [Kopcik] against the 3 car [Rypkema] was intentional.”
The incident occurred on Lap 105 of the race when Kopcik sent Rykema into the Turn 1 wall. Rykema had made contact with Kopcik the lap before. It appeared intentional and NASCAR sent Kopcik to the rear for rough driving.
Rykema was also fined for walking down a hot track to flip Kopcik off as he drove by under caution.
Avoiding a suspension was huge for Kopcik as he sits fifth in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standings and eight points behind leader Craig Lutz.
Matt Weaver is the owner and founder of Short Track Scene. Weaver grew up in the sport, having raced himself before becoming a reporter in college at the University of South Alabama. He also has extensive experience covering NASCAR, IndyCar and Dirt Sprint Cars.
