NASCAR officials released a more stringent penalty structure for the 2022 Cup Series season on Monday, introducing a list of deterrence options that includes revoking playoff eligibility for the most severe violations.
The three-tiered system – from L1 to L3 – was added to the Cup Series Rule Book on Monday. The format was put in place before the debut of the Next Gen car model, which hits the track in season-opening events next month.
The structure reserves its harshest L3 penalty options for the tampering and counterfeiting of Next Gen single-source vendor parts. Those infractions join testing policy violations with infractions in three significant off-limits areas – engine, tires, fuel – under the L3 umbrella. That heading includes the deduction of Cup Series points, playoff points, crewmember suspensions and postseason bans among the penalty options.
— NASCAR.com —
Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer:
“As we discussed during the test at Charlotte, and at length with teams over the offseason, the new deterrence model will be a culture shift for our industry. The car was a collaborative project, designed to emphasize performance at the track and the unrivaled abilities of our teams, drivers and pit crews. There will be strong penalties for any teams who run contrary to that design so the fans can focus on our drivers and the great racing expected from NASCAR.” – Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer
Level L2 Penalties
Level L3 Penalties
