“Biggest win of my entire life.” That’s how Parker Kligerman described his emotional Truck Series victory at Daytona. A journeyman racer, Kligerman had finally reclaimed glory, celebrating what seemed like a career-defining moment. But in a stunning twist, NASCAR’s post-race inspection found his truck too low, stripping him of the win and handing it to Corey Heim instead. But the post-race disqualification drama at Daytona this year didn’t stop there.
The Cup Series garage also faced NASCAR’s relentless scrutiny, and this time, there wasn’t just one victim. A couple of drivers, and even a crew chief, found themselves in hot water as NASCAR cracked down with severe penalties. With rule enforcement tighter than ever, teams are quickly learning that any misstep, intentional or not, comes at a steep price.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
NASCAR drops the hammer
NASCAR’s post-Daytona 500 inspection sent shockwaves through the Cup Series, with Chase Briscoe’s No. 19 team receiving one of the harshest penalties in recent memory. The Joe Gibbs Racing team was found guilty of modifying a single-source supplied part—the rear spoiler. They were found guilty under Level L2 – Sections 14.1.C&D&S: Overall Assembled Vehicle Section 14.5.8.A: Spoiler sections of the NASCAR rule book. This led to a staggering 100-point deduction, a $100,000 fine, and a four-race suspension for crew chief James Small.
Meanwhile, Todd Gilliland’s No. 34 team and Cody Ware’s No. 51 team were penalized 10 points each for ballast infractions. The Front Row Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing drivers were penalized for safety violations under Section 14.11.2.1.A: Ballast Containers of the NASCAR rule book. The drivers were stripped of 10 Championship points and the teams were also docked 10 owner points.
For Chase Briscoe, the penalty is especially devastating. Before the penalty, he was sitting 10th in the Cup Series standings with 33 points. Now, he plummets to 39th place with negative 67 points. This puts him below the 37th-place trio of Zane Smith, Josh Berry, and Martin Truex Jr., who each have a single point. Essentially, Briscoe now faces an uphill battle just to get out of last place.
In light of this season-altering scenario, Joe Gibbs Racing has appealed the decision, stating, “The issue in question was caused in the assembly process when bolts used to attach the spoiler base to the deck lid caused the pre-drilled holes to wear due to supplied part interferences.” Despite this claim, the likelihood of JGR winning the appeal is very minimal. In such a scenario, NASCAR could claim the issue should have been notified in the assembly process and not tinkered with.
Adding to the blow, Briscoe will be without crew chief James Small until the March 23 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The timing couldn’t be worse. Small and Briscoe showed strong chemistry in their debut race together, securing the Daytona 500 pole position before ultimately finishing fourth in the main race. Losing that leadership for four races could significantly impact Briscoe’s early-season performance.
Historically, NASCAR has issued heavy penalties for modifying single-source parts. The rule became stricter with the Next Gen car’s introduction in 2022. In 2023, Hendrick Motorsports and Kaulig Racing were hit with similar L2 penalties for altering hood louvers at the Phoenix Raceway. This resulted in steep fines of $100,000, 100 team and driver points, and 10 playoff points deductions. The message remains clear: NASCAR won’t tolerate tampering with standardized components.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
“Spoiler Alert!” Fans React to Briscoe’s Brutal Penalty
As expected, NASCAR fans had plenty to say about the massive penalty handed to Chase Briscoe’s team. From sarcastic jabs to genuine shock, social media lit up with reactions to the news. Some couldn’t help but poke fun at the No. 19 team’s disastrous start to the season. Others questioned the risk vs. reward of the modification.
One fan joked, “Congrats, if you are reading this, that means you, yes YOU, currently have more points in the 2025 Cup standings than Chase Briscoe.” The craziest part is, that you mathematically will be in the lead against Briscoe until after the Circuit of The Americas race at the earliest! With 40 points awarded for a win, 10 for each stage win, and one for the fastest lap, considering Briscoe achieves all of this at Atlanta, he will still be on -5 entering the third race. The steep penalty leaves Briscoe in a deep hole that he has to fill without his crew chief by his side.
Another chimed in with a simple yet savage take: “HA! No wonder Briscoe’s car was so fast.” Then there was the perfect pun, “Spoiler Alert!”—a clever nod to the very part that got Briscoe’s team in trouble. While some may argue spoilers do not have that much of an impact at Daytona, a modification is a modification, and Briscoe’s team will pay the price just like anyone else.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
Looking ahead, the road is tougher than it seems for Briscoe. Heading to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Ambetter Health 400, Briscoe has as many DNFs at the track as top-15 finishes with two a piece in eight races. The wait to get out of negative points could be longer than his crew chief’s suspension! Echoing this sentiment, a fan wrote, “By the time James comes back, they will still be negative in the points.” Another added, “Imagine if the 19 won the race…” A scenario that would have made the penalty even more dramatic.
With NASCAR making an example out of Briscoe’s team, the big question remains. Will this penalty make teams think twice before pushing the limits? Or will we see more bold (and risky) moves as the season unfolds? Do you think the punishment for Chase Briscoe was harsh or fair? Let us know in the comments below!