Chase Briscoe’s strong start to the 2025 NASCAR season took a devastating turn after NASCAR issued severe penalties to both him and Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). Following the Daytona 500, Briscoe’s No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE was randomly selected for inspection at NASCAR’s R&D Center, where officials discovered illegal modifications to the car’s spoiler.
The violation resulted in an L2-level penalty, stripping Briscoe of 100 driver points, 10 playoff points, and handing a four-race suspension to crew chief James Small. Additionally, JGR was fined $100,000. Briscoe, who had finished fourth at Daytona after starting from the pole and leading four laps, now finds himself in a massive hole, sitting at -67 points heading into the AmBetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The penalty severely impacts his playoff hopes, making it almost impossible to qualify on points alone—forcing him to secure a race win to stay in contention.
NASCAR cited violations of Sections 14.1 and 14.5.8 of the Rule Book, which govern overall vehicle assembly and spoiler regulations. According to reports from FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, the infraction involved modifications to the spoiler base, a part supplied by a single-source vendor that teams are prohibited from altering.
This penalty comes at a crucial time for Briscoe, who was beginning to find his footing with JGR. Losing his crew chief for four races further complicates matters, as their relationship was still developing. The setback puts enormous pressure on Briscoe to bounce back quickly if he hopes to salvage his season.
NASCAR isn’t stopping with Briscoe’s penalty. The governing body also handed out smaller infractions to Todd Gilliland’s No. 34 team and Cody Ware’s No. 51 team, each losing 10 points due to improper ballast placement during pre-race inspections. Safety violations like these are taken seriously, and both teams also faced owner points deductions.
After a controversial 2024 season, NASCAR appears committed to strictly enforcing rules in 2025, sending a strong message to teams about compliance. With the season just beginning, fans can expect even more drama and intense competition as the Cup Series heats up.
