NASCAR Cup Series

Business as usual for Ryan Newman, No. 31 team after penalties upheld

Published May. 8, 2015 2:00 p.m. ET

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Richard Childress Racing's No. 31 team was dealt a big blow Wednesday evening when national motorsports final appeals officer Brian Moss upheld the penalties incurred for infractions discovered on March 22 at Auto Club Speedway.

Moss determined there was "a preponderance of evidence" that crew chief Luke Lambert, tire technician James Bender and race engineer Philip Surgen "violated the rules" when they manipulated the tires.

In addition, driver Ryan Newman was docked 50 driver championship points, while team owner Richard Childress lost 50 owner championship points.

Despite losing Lambert, Bender and Surgen for the next six races -- plus the non-points Sprint All-Star Race -- Newman said the team has to remain focused on the task at hand.

"I'm obviously disappointed. I don't believe at all in the outcome of it, but in the end it doesn't really matter," Newman said Friday at Kansas Speedway. "We've got to be focused on this weekend and obviously the Chase for the Championship. It's as simple as that. It's all behind us now and we'll go on."

While losing Lambert and the other two crew members is difficult to overcome, Newman believes RCR has established a strong backup plan thanks to the depth of the organization.

"That's what makes a championship team is having backup plans, strategy-wise and personnel-wise and things like that," he said. "Whether it's a member of a pit crew that gets injured or a crew chief that gets suspended or any kind of situation, they always have to have a backup plan. And I know that Richard (Childress) and RCR have put together a good backup plan."

Newman maintains the team believes it did nothing wrong, and the driver disagrees with the chief appeals officer's ruling. However, Newman is looking forward to the next six weeks as the team attempts to overcome its latest setback.

"Having the continuity of the same group or people is important, but who knows?" Newman said. "We might learn a few things the way that this whole thing unfolds and works out. My focus is still to do everything I've always done inside the race car and communicate with the guys on the team, and we'll go from there."