Richard Childress Racing set to appeal Jesse Love Rockingham disqualification

Richard Childress Racing has decided to appeal Jesse Love's disqualification from the Rockingham NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, which saw the driver lose his victory.

Love was stripped of his victory at Rockingham after the No. 2 car failed post-race inspections. NASCAR Xfinity Series Director Eric Peterson clarified the reason for the disqualification at the time, stating:

"Only at the end of the race and post-race tear down, the No. 2 car of Jesse Love for RCR failed post-race inspection," Peterson said. "The rule that they violated was 14.14.2 I5.H. So that's truck trailing arm spacers and pinion angle shims as the area of that rule.

"And that way that rule reads is all mating surfaces between the truck trailing arms and the U-bolt saddle must be in complete contact with each other at all times, and unfortunately that was not the case when we did the tear down on the No.2 car and they were disqualified.

"This is an appealable infraction so I can't go into too much details on it, but those parts all are together for sure and need to be tight and touching each other the whole time."

Jesse Love, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet; Sammy Smith, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Getty Images

After the win was handed to Sammy Smith, who also bagged the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash prize, Richard Childress Racing has now confirmed that it has decided to appeal the disqualification. 

"Richard Childress Racing will appeal NASCAR’s decision to disqualify the No. 2 team's win from the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Rockingham Speedway," the team confirmed in a statement posted to social media.

Speaking about how he inherited the win, Smith stated that, "it's tough winning them like that. It's unfortunate, I've been on the other end of the stick of where Jesse is at. But, I guess, take them how you can get them.

"There's obviously been some issues for about two hours now, so me and my crew chief stayed around. I've got nowhere else to be besides church tomorrow for Easter, and decided to hang around for a little bit. So, I'm glad I stayed."