2018 NASCAR Penalties - Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site

NASCAR Penalties, Fines & Suspensions 2018

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Points Penalties / Suspensions for the 2018 season

Las Vegas (3/4): #4-Harvick; 20 driver/owners pts; Rear Window Support Braces; crew chief Rodney Childers fined $50,000, Car chief Robert Smith suspended two races. Harvick’s Las Vegas win will not count in any tiebreakers and will not count to get in the playoffs.
Phoenix (3/11): #9-Elliott; 25 driver/owner pts; Truck trailing arm spacer; crew chief Alan Gustafson fined $50,000. Car chief Josh Kirk suspended two races. Elliott’s Phoenix finish will not count in any tiebreakers and will not count to get in the playoffs.
Texas (3/18): #9-Elliott; 20 driver/owner pts; Rear Window Support Braces; crew chief Alan Gustafson fined $50,000and suspended two races.
Dover (5/6): #19-Suarez; Rear window not flush to Deck Lid; 20 driver/owner pts; Crew chief Scott Graves fined $50,000. Car chief Todd Brewer suspended two races.
#14-Bowyer; 20 driver/owner pts; Rear Window Support and Structure; Crew chief Mike Bugarewicz fined $50,000. Car chief Jerry Cook suspended two races.
Kansas (5/12): #42-Larson; 20 driver/owner pts; Rear Window Support Braces; crew chief Chad Johnston fined $50,000, Car chief David Bryant suspended two races.
Talladega (10/14): #42-Larson; 10 driver/owner pts; Damaged Vehicle Policy/Mechanical Repair; crew chief Chad Johnston fined $25,000, Car chief David Bryant suspended one race.
Texas (11/4): #4-Harvick; 40 driver/owner pts; Spolier violation; crew chief Rodney Childers fined $75,000, suspended two races; Car chief (Robert Smith) suspended for two races.

For the history of appeals, see the NASCAR Penalty History page

For penalties/infractions by race, go to the 2017 NASCAR Cup Results / Points Links page for the links

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.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Penalties / Suspensions

Crew members reinstated: NASCAR announced Friday they have reinstated crew members Brandon J. Lee and Doug J. Campbell following the successful completion of the NASCAR Road to Recovery Program.(1-6-2019)

Homestead-Miami Speedway post-race penalty announced: #10-Almirola received a lug nut violation. There were no penalties in XFINITY or Trucks.[More](11-19-2018)

ISM Raceway post-race penalties announced: There was one lug nut penalty to Ryan Newman’s Cup team and one to Tyler Reddick’s XFINITY team.[More](11-14-2018)

Texas Motor Speedway post-race penalties announced: Kevin Harvick was found to have an illegal spoiler during technical inspection at the NASCAR research and development center. His Texas will will not count toward the championship race at Homestead. He has been penalized 40 points and crew chief Rodney Childers has been fined $75,000 and suspended two races. NASCAR also penalized non-playoff drivers Ryan Blaney and Erik Jones 20 points. Blaney for a crush panel violation and Jones for a package tray violation. Blaney and Jones were penalized 20 points.[More](11-7-2018)

Martinsville Speedway post-race penalties announced: The teams of Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick received lug nut penalties.[More](10-31-2018)

Kansas post-race penalties announced: #42-Larson received a lug nut violation in Cup, while #21-Danie Hemric lost 10 owner and driver points for a post-race height violation. #2-Matt Tifft also received a lug nut penalty and one crew member was suspended for violation of NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy.[More](10-24-2018)

Talladega Superspeedway post-race penalties announced UPDATE: #42-Larson was penalized for violation of the damaged vehicle policy and #10-Almiorla received a lugnut violation. Three Camping World Truck Series teams also received penalties.(10-17-2018)
UPDATE: The National Motorsports Appeals Panel heard and considered an appeal of an L1 level penalty issued on Oct. 17 to Chip Ganassi Racing. Upon hearing the testimony, the decisions of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel are: 1. That the Appellants violated the Rules set forth in the Penalty Notice. 2. That the Panel affirms and upholds the original Penalty assessed by NASCAR.(10-19-2018)
UPDATE 2: The National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer, Mr. Bryan Moss, heard and considered the appeal. He made the following decisions: 1. The Appellants violated the Rules set forth in the Penalty Notice; 2. The decision of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel to uphold the original Penalty issued by NASCAR is affirmed and upheld.[More](10-19-2018)

Substance Abuse Policy suspension: The only penalty announced following the XFINITY and Cup race in Dover was the suspension of Daniel Darnstaedt for violation of NASCAR Substance Abuse policy. Darnstaedt is an engineer with the No. 66 team of Timmy Hill.(10-10-2018)

Charlotte Motor Speedway post-race penalty announced: The only penalty was a fine for a loose lug nut on #1-McMurray’s car. [More](10-3-2018)

Richmond penalties announced: The Cup team of #18-Busch and the XFINITY team of #20-Bell were fined for lug nut violations.[More](9-26-2018)

Indianapolis Motor Speedway penalty announced: Daniel Suarez was penalized for failing pre-race inspection four times.[More](9-12-2018)

Darlington post-race penalties announced: Kyle Larson’s team received a lug nut penalty. Brandon Jones’ XFINITY team was penalized for failing inspection multiple times.[More](9-5-2018)

Pocono post-race penalties announced:Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne were docked 10 points after failing post-qualifying inspection three times at Pocono Raceway.[More](8-1-2018)

New Hampshire post-race penalties announced: In Cup, #24-Byron received a lugnut penalty. In XFINITY, the teams of #18-Ryan Preece and #42-John Hunter Nemechek failed post-race height inspections. The crew chiefs have been suspended for a race and fined $10,000. #52-David Starr’s team received a lugnut violation.[More](7-24-2018)

Chicagoland Speedway penalties announced: There were three lugnut penalties issued — to Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski in Cup and to Brandon Jones in XFINITY.[More](7-3-2018)

Crew member reinstated: NASCAR announced that Charles E. Moles has successfully completed the NASCAR Road to Recovery program and his indefinite suspension from NASCAR has been lifted. He had been suspended in early April.(6-20-2018)

Michigan post-race penalties announced: The teams of Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Erik Jones were penalized for splitter violations found in pre-race inspection.[More](6-12-2018)

Charlotte Motor Speedway post-race penalties announced: Martin Truex, Jr’s team received a lug nut penalty, while two XFINITY teams were penalized.[More](5-29-2018)

Kansas post-race penalties announced: Kyle Larson’s team was penalized for a rear window support brace violation. Joey Logano’s team received a lug nut violation.[More](5-15-2018)

Dover post-race penalties announced: The Cup teams of #19-Suarez, #14-Bowyer, and #3-Dillon have received L1 penalties. #41-Busch received a lug nut penalty[More](5-9-2018)

Bristol post-race penalties announced: The only violation was a lug nut penalty to the #17 team.[More](4-17-2018)

Texas post-race penalties announced: #9-Chase Elliott’s team received an L1 penalty for a rear window bracket violation. Three crew members were suspended for violation of NASCAR’s substance abuse policy[More](4-11-2018)

Martinsville post-race penalties announced: There were four lugnut penalties issued to the teams of Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, Michael McDowell and Kyle Larson. All four crew chiefs were fined $10,000. [More](3-21-2018)

Auto Club Speedway post-race penalties announced: There were two lugnut penalties issued – one to Kyle Busch’s Cup team and one to Ryan Preece’s XFINITY team.[More](3-21-2018)

Phoenix post-race penalties announced: Chase Elliott’s team received an L1 penalty for a rear suspension violation and lost 25 points. Five Cup teams and two XFINITY teams were penalized for lug nut violations. Two crew members were suspended for violation of the substance abuse policy.[More](3-14-2018)

Las Vegas post-race penalties announced: Kevin Harvick was penalized for rear window and rocker panel violations; Joey Gase received a lugnut penalty.[More](3-7-2018)

Atlanta post-race penalties announced: Kevin Harvick’s Cup team received a lug nut violation, two teams in XFINITY were fined for lug nuts, and Kyle Busch’s Truck Series team received suspensions for losing a wheel during the race.[More](2-28-2018)

XFINITY Series Penalties

ISM Raceway post-race penalties announced: There was one lug nut penalty to Ryan Newman’s Cup team and one to Tyler Reddick’s XFINITY team.[More](11-14-2018)

Richmond penalties announced: The Cup team of #18-Busch and the XFINITY team of #20-Bell were fined for lug nut violations.[More](9-26-2018)

Matt Tifft penalized after Las Vegas race: #2-Matt Tifft was penalized with the lost of 10 driver and 10 owner points after his car failed pre-race inspection 4 times.(9-19-2018)

Darlington post-race penalties announced: Kyle Larson’s team received a lug nut penalty. Brandon Jones’ XFINITY team was penalized for failing inspection multiple times.[More](9-5-2018)

Road America post-race penalty announced: Cole Custer’s team received a lug nut penalty following the race at Road America. There were no other infractions.[More](8-28-2018)

Bristol post-race penalties announced: XFINITY and Truck Series teams had lug nut violations, and safety infractions. Penalties vary from fines to suspensions.[More](8-22-2018)

Crew Member Suspension NASCAR announced Wednesday that Adam Nelson has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of the Substance Abuse Policy. Nelson was listed as a crew member for the #36 DGM Racing team earlier in the year.(8-16-2018)

Kentucky post-race penalties announced: The XFINITY team of #22-Paul Menard and the Camping World Truck Series team of #24-Justin Haley received lug nut penalties after the races at Kentucky Speedway.[More](7-17-2018)

NASCAR reinstates Spencer Gallagher after failed drug test: NASCAR has reinstated Xfinity Series driver Spencer Gallagher, who had been suspended over the past nine weeks for a failed drug test. The sanctioning body announced Wednesday that it had reinstated Gallagher, who had to complete a recovery program after undergoing a substance-abuse assessment.[More](7-4-2018)

Chicagoland Speedway penalties announced: There were three lugnut penalties issued — to Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski in Cup and to Brandon Jones in XFINITY.[More](7-3-2018)

Pocono Raceway post-race penalties announced: XFINITY Series race winning crew chief Eric Phillips has been fined $10,000 and suspended from the next XFINITY race.[More](6-5-2018)

Charlotte Motor Speedway post-race penalties announced: Martin Truex, Jr’s team received a lug nut penalty, while two XFINITY teams were penalized.[More](5-29-2018)

Dover post-race penalties announced: The XFINITY Series team of #7Allgaier has received an L1 penalty, the #3-Jeb Burton team had a splitter violation.[More](5-9-2018)

Spencer Gallagher suspended by NASCAR: Spencer Gallagher has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. On May 1, Gallagher was found to have violated Section 19 (NASCAR’s substance abuse policy) of the 2018 NASCAR rule book. Gallagher has agreed to participate in the Road to Recovery Program.[More](5-2-2018)

Auto Club Speedway post-race penalties announced: There were two lugnut penalties issued – one to Kyle Busch’s Cup team and one to Ryan Preece’s XFINITY team.[More](3-21-2018)

Camping World Truck Series Penalties

Texas Motor Speedway post-race penalties announced UPDATE:Crew chief Ryan Bell of the #35 truck team, truck chief Jerry Kennedy, and mechanic Patrick Magee have been suspended for the next three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series/NASCAR Gander Outdoors Trucks Series Championship Points Events, through Feb. 20, 2019, for loss or separation of added ballast from the vehicle, following the race at Texas.(11-7-2018)
UPDATE: The National Motorsports Appeals Panel today heard and considered an appeal of a penalty issued on Nov. 7. Upon hearing the testimony, the decisions of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel are: That the Appellants violated the Rules set forth in the Penalty Notice. That the Panel affirms and upholds the original Penalty assessed by NASCAR.[More](11-15-2018)

Talladega Superspeedway post-race penalties announced: #42-Larson was penalized for violation of the damaged vehicle policy and #10-Almiorla received a lugnut violation. Three Camping World Truck Series teams also received penalties.[More](10-17-2018)

Bristol post-race penalties announced: XFINITY and Truck Series teams had lug nut violations, and safety infractions. Penalties vary from fines to suspensions.[More](8-22-2018)

Dover post-race penalties announced: #4-Todd Gilliland received a lugnut penalty.[More](5-9-2018)

Daytona post-race penalties:The #41-Ben Rhodes ThorSport Racing team were penalized following Daytona for failing height requirements post-race. Crew chief Eddie Troconis has been fined $5,000 and suspended from the next NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship points event. The team was also assessed with the loss of 10 driver points and 10 owner points.[More](2-21-2018)
UPDATE: The National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld an L1-level penalty Wednesday that NASCAR issued to the No. 41 Thorsport Racing team following the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway. A three-member panel of Dixon Johnston, Bill Mullis (operator of Langley Speedway) and Cathy Rice (general manager of South Boston Speedway) said in a statement that they found the Appellants violated the rules set forth in the penalty notice, and the original penalty was affirmed and upheld.[More](3-14-2018)