JGR will not appeal Darlington penalties

Chris Gabehart will serve as the interim crew chief of the No. 11 team for Denny Hamlin this weekend at Richmond Raceway. Gabehart moves into the role from the No. 20 Xfinity Series team.

Hamlin's primary crew chief, Mike Wheeler, who was also fined $50,000, will begin serving his two-race suspension after the car was found with a rear suspension infraction during post-race tear down at the NASCAR R&D Center. Hamlin's Southern 500 win was also ruled encumbered, meaning he does not receive points for the win or the playoff points that come with it. The team was also docked 25 owner and driver points.

Wheeler will miss the regular season finale this weekend as well as the opening race of the playoffs at Chicagoland Speedway on Sept. 17. Joe Gibbs Racing did not say if Gabehart would also oversee the team for that event.

On the Xfinity Series side, Matt Lucas will work with the No. 18 team this weekend. Lucas will fill in for Eric Phillips, who was also suspended for two weeks for the same rear suspension infraction. Phillips was fined $25,000 while the team, which competes for the owner's championship, was docked 25 owner points.