Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus' Penalty Gets Overturned

In a shocking development, the penalties handed down to Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus and the No. 48 team have been overturned.

In a second appeal by team owner Rick Hendrick that was heard by NASCAR's chief appellate officer John Middlebrook, the 25 points originally taken away from Johnson have been given back.

Additionally, the six-race suspensions doled out to crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec have been revoked.

The penalties handed to Johnson and the No. 48 team were given three weeks ago after it was found that the C-posts of Johnson's car, which extend from the roof to the rear-decklid, were out of tolerance during initial inspection for the season-opening Daytona 500.

Hendrick and Knaus had argued that the car that failed inspection had passed the same inspection process 16 times previously, and claimed that during inspection for the Daytona 500 the templates never actually touched the car.

Hendrick elected to appeal immediate following the announcement of the penalties, and chose to do so again when the decision given by the NASCAR appeal board was not to Hendrick's liking.

With his 25 points being given back, Johnson moves from 17th to 12th in the standings.