The name Ron Devine might not immediately ring a bell for casual NASCAR fans, but his once-promising BK Racing team was a familiar presence on the grid in the 2010s. Fast-forward to today, and the former team owner’s legacy is defined not by race wins but by a $31 million judgment, allegations of financial misconduct, and federal charges that could carry serious prison time.

It’s a story that reads like a cautionary tale for motorsport dreamers, but for Ron Devine, the saga has become an increasingly uphill battle. Just when the dust seemed to be settling, a U.S. Court of Appeals decision has thrown the case back into the spotlight, affirming a $31 million judgment against Devine and keeping his legal troubles firmly in the fast lane.

The situation becomes tougher for Devine

Ron Devine’s foray into NASCAR began with promise when BK Racing joined the Cup Series grid in 2012. A fresh team with ambition, BK Racing sought to carve its place in one of America’s most popular motorsports. But behind the scenes, financial challenges were brewing. By the time the team filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2018—just days before the Daytona 500—it was apparent that the cracks in the façade were too big to ignore.

The most recent development now comes in January 2025 when the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a $31 million judgment against Devine. This figure stems from the bankruptcy proceedings and includes $6 million in payments made by BK Racing to Devine-affiliated trusts and companies, alongside $11 million in BK Racing debt that the trustee argued required reimbursement.

The court’s ruling was scathing in its critique of Devine’s actions. As Bob Pockrass reported, the ruling stated: “The bankruptcy court exhibited extraordinary patience in the face of Appellants’ egregious conduct. This Court will not condone such blatant disregard for the judicial process.”

Devine had previously testified that the payments in question often covered short-term loans and that he had tried to comply with discovery requests related to his financial disclosures. He lamented, “I’m trying as hard as I can… to keep up with this thing. It is amazingly overwhelming. … I am an honest person.” The judgment ensures that any funds recovered will go toward repaying debts owed to banks, the IRS, employees, and other creditors approved through BK Racing’s bankruptcy claims. Whether such funds are available remains uncertain.

The combination of civil judgments and criminal charges leaves Devine facing a steep climb. His plea deal in 2023 sought to address the criminal allegations, but the financial implications of the $31 million judgment are an entirely separate burden. For NASCAR fans, the story of BK Racing may have faded into history, but for Ron Devine, the fight is far from over.

A timeline of events so far

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The bankruptcy declaration initially revealed BK Racing owed $8 million in outstanding loans, alongside other liabilities. A court-supervised sale followed, and the team’s charter and assets were acquired by Front Row Motorsports for $2.08 million, marking the end of BK Racing’s NASCAR journey.

Fast forward to 2023, and Devine’s financial woes took on a criminal dimension. The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina announced a federal indictment accusing Devine of failing to pay payroll taxes between 2012 and 2017. At the heart of the charges was the allegation that Devine failed to remit over $176,000 in trust fund taxes for the second quarter of 2017, a figure that underscored a broader pattern of alleged tax evasion.

According to the indictment, Devine redirected over $2 million in payroll taxes meant for the IRS to cover operational expenses for BK Racing. These expenses included rent, utilities, and vendor payments—critical to keeping the team afloat but in direct violation of federal tax law. In total, four counts of failure to pay payroll taxes were leveled against Devine, each carrying a potential five-year prison sentence and fines of up to $250,000.

In October 2024, Devine agreed to a plea deal, acknowledging his failure to pay the taxes owed. As part of the deal, he faced a $1 million fine for tax fraud, though the agreement aimed to mitigate his exposure to maximum penalties.