In a recent update to the NASCAR Rule Book, competition officials have outlined specific penalty options for manufacturers found to be in violation of the rules.
Section, 10.5.2.8.c, details the potential reprimands that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) may face if NASCAR determines any wrongdoing has occurred:
“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.”
The introduction of the formal penalty structure comes after the sanctioning body announced in January that such measures would be implemented for the 2025 season. The decision to establish clear guidelines for manufacturer penalties follows the controversy that arose during the penultimate race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season at Martinsville Speedway, where multiple teams were penalized for actions deemed detrimental to stock car racing and race manipulation.
According to the updated rule book, manufacturers found to be in violation of the rules may face one or more of the following penalties:
- Loss of 25-50 manufacturer points
- Loss of 30-60 wind-tunnel hours
- Loss of 250-500 RCFD (restricted computational fluid dynamics) test runs
- Loss of 2-4 vehicle tests
NASCAR officials emphasize that the listed penalties serve as a general guideline and are not exhaustive. The sanctioning body reserves the right to determine if an OEM has violated the NASCAR Rule Book and may impose penalties accordingly.
In addition to the manufacturer penalty structure, NASCAR also updated Section 5.5.A of the rule book, which pertains to competitors’ performance obligations. The updated language states that any member who attempts to improperly influence the outcome of an event or encourages others to do so will be subject to penalties outlined in Section 10, which covers violations and disciplinary action.
The introduction of the manufacturer penalty structure and the update to the competitors’ performance obligations section of the rule book demonstrate NASCAR’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport and ensuring fair competition among teams and manufacturers.
