NASCAR tweaks penalty system yet again

The new word should be “disqualified,” but it won’t be. Even though penalty options have evolved again, shrinking from six levels in 2016 to four last year and now to three categories—L1, L2 and Safety—nothing in NASCAR’s deterrence system provides for a team to be stripped of a win completely.

But the net effect might be the functional equivalent, because the only thing the team will be able to keep is the trophy.

When NASCAR released its first bulletin of the season on Friday, “encumbered” was struck from the Rule Book because the word itself was, well, cumbersome. Teams will still need a chart to decipher changes to the penalty options. But, hey, if teams don’t push the limits, they’ll have nothing to worry about.

All L1 and L2 penalties discovered in pre-race inspection could carry a points deduction and/or suspension and/or fines. In addition to the aforementioned sanctions, L1 and L2 penalties found during the race or in post-race inspection could nullify the benefits of the race finish and consequently “determine eligibility for the Playoffs, Playoff Points in the Playoff seeding, eligibility for advancement in the Playoffs, eligibility for non-Championship Events, tie-breakers and as those tie-breakers may be applied relative to finishing positions elsewhere.

“That finish will not count when determining the Champion and three runners-up in the final Race of the Playoffs.”

An L1 penalty could carry a 10-to-40-point deduction, one-to-three-race suspension for crew chief and $25,000-to-$75,000 fine. A Level 2 penalty results in a 75-point deduction, six-race suspension and $100,000 to $200,000 in fines.

For rear wheel steer infractions in qualifying, the team’s time will be disallowed. Should inspectors discover an illegal rear wheel steer setting in post-race, the team will receive an L1 penalty, including a $65,000 fine, loss of 35 driver and owner points and a three-race suspension for the crew chief. Teams will receive the same L1 penalty if a car is missing three or more lug nuts in post-race inspection. One or two missing lug nuts is considered a safety penalty and carries a $10,000 fine for one and a $20,000 fine and one-race crew chief suspension for two missing lug nuts.

With the introduction of NASCAR’s new team roster policy, Monster Energy Cup teams will be allowed a Competition Director, Technical Director and an IT Support specialist along with 12 road crew members and five pit crew members. Cup organizations that have three to four cars will be allotted an additional IT specialist. Teams will be allowed an additional member for road courses and Indianapolis. NASCAR will monitor the team rosters using RFID chips as well as visual ID’s on hard card. Teams can interchange crew members and as long as they’re listed on the same organizations roster.

Roster violations will be addressed on an individual basis. Should a team exceed the number of personnel on the roster, NASCAR will not only eject that member but will boot an additional team member chosen at the sanctioning body’s discretion. Additionally, the team will not be allowed to replace that member during the course of the weekend.

For at-track penalty options (Rule 12.5.2.6.1), each violation will be addressed and enforced at the Managing Director’s sole discretion, without recourse to appeal. Possible penalties include loss of hard card, loss of practice time, loss of pit selection, crew member ejection and starting at the tail of the field. If a team member is ejected from the racetrack, the organization cannot replace that position. If the violation occurs during the race, the team could receive a lap or time penalty, a pass-through penalty or a stop-and-go penalty.

NASCAR Cup Series penalty examples