P1racenews AI automatic summary:
NASCAR penalties: Biggest fines in stock car racing history
In the world of ‘stock’ car racing, crew chiefs and mechanics continuously strive to enhance the performance of their cars, sometimes resorting to creative solutions to gain an edge, as seen with Joey Logano’s use of webbed gloves to reduce drag in qualifying at Atlanta. Cheating and rule violations have a long history in NASCAR, dating back to the very first race in 1949, when Glenn Dunaway’s car was found to have illegal rear springs, leading to penalties. NASCAR’s introduction of the Next Gen car in the 2022 season brought a stricter penalty system to deter teams from modifying single-source parts, shifting the focus to standardized components. However, teams like Hendrick Motorsports and Kaulig Racing continued to test the limits, resulting in penalties for unapproved modifications to hood louvers in March 2023. The penalties imposed on the teams, including driver and owner points deductions and hefty fines for crew chiefs, underscore the constant battle between innovation and adherence to regulations in NASCAR.
