NASCAR defines potential manufacturer penalty structure ahead of 2025 season
NASCAR officials introduced specific penalty options for manufacturers in an update to the NASCAR Rule Book on Wednesday in case the sanctioning body finds any wrongdoing from any of its three Original Equipment Manufacturers, or OEMs.
Competition officials noted in a January update a formal penalty structure would be implemented for rules violations made by OEMs. In Wednesday’s update to the official language in the rule book, that structure was announced as a new section in the rule book, Section 10.5.2.8.c, including but not limited to the following possible reprimands:
- 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
Section 10.5.2.8.A of the rule book states: “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.”
Conversation surrounding manufacturer penalties arose following the penultimate race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season at Martinsville Speedway. Multiple teams were penalized after NASCAR determined the actions of those involved violated sections 4.4.B&D: NASCAR Member Conduct of the Rule Book, which includes race manipulation and actions detrimental to stock car racing.
In an additional rule book update on Monday, Section 5.5.A, which regards competitors’ performance obligation, was updated to include the following language: “Any member who attempts to improperly influence the outcome of the event or encourages, persuades, or induces others to do so shall be subject to penalties, as outlined in Section 10 Violations and Disciplinary Action. Prohibited actions include, but are not limited to, intentional planning or conduct that prioritizes objectives other than achieving the best possible competitive result for their team.”
The 2025 Cup Series campaign officially kicks off with the 67th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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