Joe Gibbs Racing declines to appeal penalties given to Busch, Hamlin

Joe Gibbs Racing declined to appeal the penalties levied by NASCAR that stripped Denny Hamlin of his Pocono Raceway victory and cost Kyle Busch his runner-up finish. The win was awarded to Chase Elliott.

Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota and Busch’s No. 18 Toyota both flunked postrace inspection Sunday night when NASCAR found issues in both cars that affected the aerodynamics. JGR had until Monday afternoon to file a formal appeal of the disqualifications. Joe Gibbs Racing did not immediately say why it declined to appeal the infractions.

Hamlin was the first Cup winner to be disqualified since April 17, 1960, when Emanuel Zervakis’ victory at Wilson Speedway in North Carolina was thrown out because of an oversized fuel tank.

NASCAR: DENNY HAMLIN DISQUALIFIED AFTER POCONO WIN

Elliott finished in third place and was awarded the win without the Hendrick Motorsports driver ever leading a lap in his No. 9 Chevrolet.

NASCAR: TY GIBBS HAD TO BORROW CLOTHES TO DRIVE IN POCONO CUP SERIES RACE

Hamlin was stripped of his third Cup Series win of the season and a track-record seventh at Pocono.