By alley - Sep 7, 2016, 11:15 AM ET

NASCAR: Newman penalty stretches Chase hopes

Ryan Newman's race to the Chase just got a little more challenging.

NASCAR gave the Richard Childress Racing veteran a 15-point penalty for his car's failure of post-race laser inspection on Sunday night following the Southern 500. The penalty drops the 38-year-old from seven points to 22 points behind Jamie McMurray for the final provisional spot in the Chase for the Championship.

Saturday night's race at Richmond International Raceway wraps up the Sprint Cup's regular season and is the final opportunity for drivers to clinch a spot in the Field of 16.

In a statement, RCR said it would not appeal the penalty:

"We do not plan to appeal the penalty issued today to the No. 31 team. Our rear toe settings were well within specs during pre-race inspection. The car made contact with the outside wall during the race and there was clear damage to the right rear fender and tire. NASCAR has told us that the LIS standard is clear and the car must pass post-race inspection even if damage has been sustained."

Newman's car was chosen at random on Sunday night for post-race inspection. NASCAR typically takes the top two finishers and a random entry and runs them through the LIS station. It also reserves the right to take those cars back to its R&D facility in Concord, North Carolina for further inspection.

It's worth noting that Newman and each of his RCR teammates were penalized 10 points each after the Atlanta race in March when NASCAR confiscated braces in the right-rear corner of their Chevrolets.

Kyle Larson's Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet also failed inspection and was docked 15 points, but his victory at Michigan ensures him entry into the Sprint Cup playoff.

Wood Brothers Racing rookie Ryan Blaney was fined $1,000 for failure to wear gloves during the opening round of Saturday Sprint Cup practice. There were no penalties announced for Tony Stewart following an incident with Brian Scott.

NASCAR called the three-time champion into the hauler after the race to discuss his incident, but Stewart maintained the contact was an accident.

No penalties were announced for Camping World Truck Series contenders John Hunter Nemechek or Cole Custer for their post-race scuffle. Nemechek won the race by planting Custer into the wall coming to the line on the last lap of Sunday's race at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.

Custer climbed out of his truck and tacked the Nemechek on pit road underneath the flagstand and the two youngsters needed to be separated by crew members and NASCAR officials.