NASCAR Confirms Aggressive Stance Against Manufacturers’ Cheating, Months After $600,000 Penalty

NASCAR is leaving no stone unturned. With the 2025 Cup Series season on the horizon, the sanctioning body is determined to not repeat the mistakes that were made at Martinsville Speedway last year. The 2024 Xfinity 500 featured plenty of controversy, especially because race manipulation allegations were levied against Bubba Wallace, Austin Dillon, Ross Chastain, and their respective teams. The new rules are hoping to address that and hold more than just the teams accountable for race manipulation.

In a bid to curb race manipulation, NASCAR has introduced severe penalties for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) if they are found guilty. Could the changes help preserve the sport’s integrity and avoid controversy in the future? Time will tell.

NASCAR to hold manufacturers accountable for race manipulation

NASCAR has made several changes to its rulebook. According to recent amendments, the sanctioning body will now have the power to penalize manufacturers for infractions in all three national series. The drastic measures are coming after the penultimate Cup Series race of 2024 after OEMs ordered drivers and teams to compete in a certain way to determine who made it to the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. While the organization levied heavy penalties amounting to $600,000, the rules didn’t allow them to hold manufacturers accountable. Until now.

As per Section 10.5.2.8.A of the rulebook, “NASCAR reserves the right to determine if an OEM has violated the NASCAR Rule Book and may impose penalties on the OEM or its representatives accordingly. The following framework serves as a general guideline for assessing OEM penalties. The examples provided are illustrative and not exhaustive, offering clarity on the types and ranges of infractions that may result in penalties, should NASCAR determine enforcement is warranted.”

According to NASCAR’s new rules, the penalties levied against manufacturers include a loss of 25-50 manufacturer points across the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series. There could also be a loss of 30-60 hours in wind tunnel testing for teams competing at the highest level, as well as a loss of 250-500 RCFD (restricted computational fluid dynamics) test runs and a loss of two to four vehicle tests. It’s fair to say that the sanctioning body has dropped the hammer on any OEM trying to ruin the sanctity of the sport and the 2024 Xfinity 500 was just the breaking point.

With the stakes being higher than ever, there was plenty of controversial chatter on the team radio at Martinsville Speedway. Bubba Wallace had allegedly slowed down to let fellow Toyota driver Christopher Bell make a pass at ‘The Paperclip’ in the final lap. Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon were also seen blocking the track to ensure William Byron wouldn’t lose track positions and remain eligible for Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. While heavy fines and suspensions were given to drivers and teams after the controversy, the new rules will hold manufacturers accountable as well.

Trending

1

Richard Childress’ Insider Warns Entire Cup Garage Against Counting Out RCR With Bold Claim

2

Dale Jr. Served ‘Notice of Opposition’ as Kyle Busch Flies Under NFL’s Lamar Jackson’s Radar in Wild Legal Twist

3

Amidst Bankruptcy, Chase Elliott’s Disgraced Million Dollar Sponsor Bounces Back with Bold Claim

4

Richard “The King” Petty Disappointed in the Sport He Helped Build as NASCAR’s New Generation Collapses

5

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Loses His Temper as NASCAR Community Urges to Discipline His Driver Gone Haywire

F1-inspired rule change introduces new way to earn points

NASCAR has introduced a new way for drivers to earn points in the upcoming season. In the past, NASCAR used to reward each driver who led a lap and the driver who led the most laps, with an extra point. However, this was changed after 2016 and the only extra points have been bonus playoff points accumulated during the regular season.

While the controversial playoff system remains in place, the sanctioning body is taking a leaf out of Formula 1’s old rulebook by introducing the ‘Xfinity Fastest Lap’ point. The stock car racing series recently renewed its partnership with Comcast, and as per the new rule, the driver and team that posts the fastest lap will receive a bonus point.

In a sport defined by fine margins, a single point can make all the difference between a playoff spot and elimination. Kyle Larson, who had the fastest lap in five races in 2024, could have easily won the regular season title if the rule had existed then. Christopher Bell would also have made it to Championship 4 thanks to his lap time at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Given the stakes, it will be interesting to see how drivers and teams alter their strategy to secure the bonus points in the upcoming season.

Teams will also earn a monetary bonus apart from the point, which can be given to a charity or cause of their choosing. The bonus prize will be $30,000 in the Cup Series, $20,000 in the Xfinity Series, and $10,000 in the Truck Series. However, amidst recent rule changes regarding race manipulation, could drivers and teams operating under the same manufacturer work together to deny their rivals the Xfinity Fastest Lap point? It’s not beyond the realm of possibility.