FONTANA, Calif. — Robby Gordon wants everyone to know he's no cheater.

Gordon said Friday he has appealed the penalties handed down earlier this week by NASCAR, hoping the move will at least reduce the punishment for his Sprint Cup team.

Gordon was docked 100 points and Robby Gordon Motorsports crew chief Frank Kerr was suspended for six races and fined $100,000 after NASCAR inspectors found an unapproved front bumper cover on his No. 7 Dodge during opening day inspection for the Daytona 500.

The deduction in points dropped the only owner/driver in NASCAR's top series from ninth in the standings to 40th. He finished eighth in last Sunday's season-opening race at Daytona.

Asked the biggest effect of the penalty, Gordon said, "Perception. Being labeled a cheater where we have not cheated. Where the problem comes into play is with sponsors. When you start impacting our sponsorship opportunities, you start getting into the root of the real situation and we're in trouble for something we didn't do."

Gordon knew the penalty was coming, but he said he was shocked by the severity.

"I hate to lose any points, but I was kind of content with, 'OK, well I guess if we get 25 that will drop us to 16th in the championship and we can probably deal with that,"' he said. "A hundred (points) could be life threatening for our race team."

A date has not yet been set for the appeal, which will be heard by George Silbermann, chairman of the National Stock Car Racing Commission chairman, and two others commission members he will appoint.

Until the appeal is heard, Kerr will be allowed to continue his crew chief duties. He was working Friday in the garage area at Auto Club Speedway, formerly California Speedway, preparing Gordon's No. 7 Dodge for Sunday's Auto Club 500.