NASCAR Penalties News, Appeals Info & History

What happens to the money from the penalties?
Since the start of the 2008 season, all money collected from fines issued to drivers go to NASCAR, then NASCAR donates the money to the NASCAR Foundation for its charitable initiatives. The drivers do NOT get a tax deduction on fines. Before 2008, the money collected from driver/crew member penalties are generally placed into the Drivers Points Fund awarded at the end of the season.

All Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series, and Gander Outdoor Truck Series Penalties and Suspensions

  • NASCAR confiscates rear deck lid from Austin Dillon UPDATE: NASCAR officials confiscated the rear deck lid of the Richard Childress Racing No. 3 Chevrolet for driver Austin Dillon on Friday, taking the offending part into the Monster Energy Series hauler in the Talladega Superspeedway garage. Officials found the No. 3’s rear deck to be out of compliance with the NASCAR Rule Book. They took the piece of sheet metal — black with sanded edges — to the officials’ hauler for further review. A NASCAR spokesperson indicated that any potential penalties for either crew chief Danny Stockman or the team would come after this Sunday’s GEICO 500.(NASCAR.com)(4-27-2019)
    UPDATE: #3-Austin Dillon’s team was penalized following the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway for violation of: Sections 20.4 Body; 20.4.11 Deck Lid; 20.20 Assembled Vehicles Overall Rules Note: Deck lid must be used as supplied from the manufacturer. Body Filler added to deck lid.
    Crew chief (Danny Stockman Jr.) has been fined $25,000. Car chief (Gregory Ebert) has been suspended from the next Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship points
    event. Team has been assessed with the loss of 10 owner points and 10 driver points.
    In addition, #12-Blaney’s team recieved a lugnut penalty. Crew Chief Jeremy Bullins was fined $10,000.
    Click here for the full report.(4-30-2019)

  • Austin Wayne Self reinstated: Austin Self has successfully completed NASCAR’s Road to Recovery Program. His NASCAR suspension has been lifted.(NASCAR) Self was indefinitely suspended on April 1.(4-30-2019)

  • Richmond penalty: There was only one penalty after the XFINITY and Cup races at Richmond Raceway, a lugnut penalty to Tyler Reddick’s #2 NXS team. See the report here.(4-16-2019)


  • Bristol penalties: The only penalties following the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway were lugnut penalties to #19-Truex, Jr. and #11-Hamlin. Click here for the full report.(4-9-2019)



  • Texas penalties announced UPDATE: #10-Almirola’s team was fined $10,000 for a missing lugnut following the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. In the Gander Outdoors Truck Series, driver Austin Wayne Self was suspended indefinitely for violating NASCAR”s Substance Abuse policy.(NASCAR)(4-1-2019)

    UPDATE: “AM Racing respects NASCAR’s decision and will follow their direction. We expect Austin Wayne Self to return to the seat as quickly as possible. AM Racing will continue to operate as normal with a determination of a driver lineup set in the coming weeks.”(AM Racing)(4-1-2019)



  • Crew member suspended UPDATE NASCAR crew member Jeffery W. Merritt was isused an indefinite suspension from NASCAR for violation of Section 2.11.aof the NASCAR rule book.(NASCAR) The rule states, "Any NASCAR Member charged with any violation of the law (misdemeanor and/or felony) shall notify NASCAR … prior to the next scheduled Event or within 72 hours of being so charged, whichever is earlier". Merrit was most recently listed as a Front End Mechanic for the #22 AM Racing Gander Outdoors Truck Series team at Las Vegas.

    UPDATE: The National Motorsports Appeals Panel heard an appeal Wednesday by NASCAR crew member Jeffrey W. Merritt regarding his behavioral level penalty and amended his suspension. Merritt, a front end mechanic for AM Racing in the Gander Outdoors Truck Series, was suspended indefinitely on March 20 for violating Section 2.11.a of the rule book. That section states that: “Any NASCAR Member charged with any violation of the law (misdemeanor and/or felony) shall notify NASCAR … prior to the next scheduled Event or within 72 hours of being so charged, whichever is earlier.” After hearing Merritt’s appeal, the panel found that the rule had been violated but ruled Merritt is required to pay a $1,000 fine and serve a two-race suspension.(NBC Sports)(3-20-2019)



  • Martinsville penalties: Lug nut penalties were issued to the Cup teams of #3-Dillon, #36-Tifft, and #47-Preeece, as well as the Truck Series team of #51-Kyle Busch, following the NASCAR races at Martinsville Speedway. Click here for the full report.(3-25-2019)



  • Auto Club penalty: #11-Denny Hamlin received a penalty for one loose or missing lugnut following the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway.Click here for the full report.(3-18-2019)



  • ISM Raceway penalties: There were 3 lug nut penalties issued following the races at ISM Raceway. #18-Busch had one lug nut loose after the Cup race. #8-Ryan Truex, and #74-Mike Harmon each had one loose after the XFINITY race. Busch’s crew chief was fined $10,000, the XFINITY chiefs were fined $5000 each. Click here for the full report.(3-11-2019)



  • Las Vegas post-race penalties: NASCAR issued penalties to two teams in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for lug-nut vilations at Las Vegas. #95-Matt DiBenedetto and #41-Daniel Suarez each had one loose lug nut after Sunday’s race. Crew chiefs Mike Wheeler and Billy Scott were each fined $10.000.(3-4-2019)



  • Atlanta penalties: NASCAR issued penalties to two teams in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and one Gander Outdoors Truck Series team for lug-nut violations at Atlanta. #95-Matt DiBenedetto and the #43-Bubba Wallace were each had one loose lug nut after Sunday’s race. Crew chiefs Michael Wheeler and Derek Stamets were fined $10,000 each. In the Truck Series, #13-Johnny Sauter also had one loose lug nut. His crew chief Joe Shear Jr. was fined $2,500.(2-25-2019)



    • NASCAR suspension lifted: NASCAR has announced that James Bender has successfully completed the NASCAR Road to Recovery Program and his indefinite suspension has been lifted. A tire specialist on the RCR No. 31, he was indefinitely suspended after the fall Kansas race.(1-16-2019)