Does NASCAR Have Too Strict a Penalty System for Technical Infringements?

Motor racing has broadly two meanings. Crowning the fastest driver and team, and a never-ending technological battle. However, there are times when governing bodies have to intervene in the competition. This is to enforce the spirit of fair play and ensure that no team or driver has too great an advantage. This is something that the FIA is arguably failing spectacularly, with Red Bull and Max Verstappen, but that’s another story. Coming back to the original argument, punishments are levied for two particular offenses: driving infringements and technical infringements. For technical infringements, NASCAR takes things to the next level.

In 2022, NASCAR came out with the Next Gen car, which had been tested for months and months. Of course, the first instinct of the teams would be to see what made these cars tick and extract as much performance as possible. Naturally, the NASCAR governing body had to step in to prevent that from happening. So they established a brand new set of technical regulations and punishments for violating them.

What were the 2022 technical rules imposed by NASCAR?

In NASCAR, it is generally frowned upon to alter the cars in a way that will hand the offending team a significant advantage. As a result, the officials had to crack down on any alterations. Arguably, in the old days, the technical regulations were not as stringent as they are now. However, as the technological race progressed over the years, teams were beginning to get smarter. So the NASCAR officials had to really work hard and crack down on any illegal activities.

Since the car was brand new, any spare parts were monitored carefully and with extreme prejudice. To make matters worse for the NASCAR Cup Series teams, the levied punishments were very heavy. Previously, there used to be complaints that the penalties were inconsistent. During race weekends, cars are subjected to pre-race and post-race inspections. This includes inspections while entering and exiting pit road, as well as on the track. Finally, one car is usually selected randomly for further checks.

How bad is the punishment for technical infringements?

Last year, NASCAR introduced a three-tiered penalty system for technical infringements. As per Motorsport.com, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer, Steve O’Donnell, “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.”

The first tier is the Level 1 penalty. This is when teams are found guilty of sourcing parts that are not in compliance with the NASCAR Rule Book. Another offense refers to failure to meet minimum weight after the race. Finally, teams can incur this penalty if they do not get approval for parts in accordance with the NASCAR Rule Book. Over here, offending teams can lose between 20 and 75 points and/or lose between 1 and 10 playoff points. Furthermore, teams can even lose crew members for 1 to 3 races, a 1-team event roster position suspension, or even a fine between $25,000 and $100,000.

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What does a Level 2 Penalty and a Level 3 Penalty entail?

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Slightly ahead on the punishment scale is the Level 2 penalty. To incur this, the team must be guilty of modifying the single source vendor-supplied parts on a minor basis. They can also be slapped with this penalty if they fail to meet engine seal requirements.

Additionally, they can be punished if major external engine parts differ from what the rules specify. This also includes altering the engine control system wiring harness and/or the engine control system wiring sub-harnesses. Another offense is if the onboard electronics are not up to NASCAR approval or if teams violate the Vehicle Testing Policy. Over here, the penalty results in a loss of 75-120 points, 10-25 playoff points, 4-6 race suspension for team members, and a $100,000–$250,000 fine.

Finally, Level 3 is the most severe, and it refers to modifying single-source vendor-supplied parts. It also includes engine infractions, engine performance enhancements, illegal ECU/EFI parts, altering or modifying tires and/or fuel, and violating the Vehicle Testing Policy. In this scenario, teams can lose 120-180 points, 25-50 playoff points, and playoff eligibility for driver and/or team owner. Meanwhile, crew members can face a 6-race suspension, a one-race suspension, and a $250,000–$500,000 fine.

The new penalty system has caught out many already

In just the past two seasons, the new system has made some huge scalps already. Last year, the biggest victim was the Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing team. Owing to a Level 2 infraction, the #6 car of Brad Keselowski was docked 100 driver points and 100 manufacturer points and fined $100,000. All of that was thanks to a single modified part, and crew chief Matt McCall was suspended for four races. This harsh penalty cost the organization dearly, but the good news is that they have bounced back.

Earlier this year, Kaulig Racing was slapped with a severe penalty for a single modified part. Even Hendrick Motorsports was not spared, owing to unapproved modification of hood louvers. Then at the Talladega Superspeedway during playoffs, Kevin Harvick missed out on what could have been his final NASCAR Cup Series win. He was beaten by a mere 0.012 seconds, but in hindsight, it was fortunate that he did not win. To make matters worse, he was subsequently disqualified for an infraction with the windshield fasteners.

Had he won the race, robbing him with the disqualification would have been more cruel. Ironically, the man he lost to, Ryan Blaney, also got disqualified last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fortunately for Blaney and Team Penske, the latest news is that the disqualification has since been rescinded. Apparently, his left front shock was initially deemed illegal, before a further check revealed that the part was legal. All in all, it just shows that, at times, the NASCAR penalty system can be downright cruel and akin to daylight robbery.

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