Penalties are a part of NASCAR, and they often come from drivers pushing the limits to gain any edge they possibly can. There are so many penalties that are given out throughout a race weekend, so we will keep track of all of these penalties for you.
NASCAR has three types of penalties: pre-race, in-race, and post-race. Each is differentiated by when NASCAR gives out the penalties. We will break down all of the penalties by these different categories.
We will also break them down even further by individual penalties during races. This will include total stats and the individual drivers penalized. We will only count regular-season races.
Fans love to follow the penalty report. However, plenty more penalties are given out throughout individual races.
***Total 2024 Penalty Count: 500
Pre-Race Penalties (36 Penalties)
These are penalties dished out in the pre-race. Infractions can include unapproved adjustments to the car after qualifying and failing a pre-race or pre-qualifying inspection. Usually, the penalties include either a loss of pit stall selection, ejecting a crew member, being dropped to the back for the start of the race, or serving a pass-through penalty on lap one.
Failing Pre-Qualifying Inspection(8 Penalties)
Daytona 500 (0 Penalties)
Atlanta (1 Penalty)
#47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2 pre-race inspection Failures; Loss of pit stall selection, and crew member ejected)
Las Vegas (2 Penalties)
#16 Derek Kraus (2 pre-race inspection failures; Loss of pit stall selection, and crew member ejected)
#44 J.J. Yeley (2 pre-race inspection failures; Loss of pit stall selection, and crew member ejected)
Phoenix (0 Penalties)
Bristol (0 Penalties)
COTA (2 Penalties)
#8 Kyle Busch (2 Pre-race inspection failures; Loss of pit stall selection, and crew member ejected)
#47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2 Pre-race inspection failures; Loss of pit stall selection, and crew member ejected)
Richmond (0 Penalties)
Martinsville (2 Penalties)
#15 Kaz Grala (2 Pre-race inspection failures; Loss of pit stall selection, and crew member ejected)
#51 Justin Haley (2 Pre-race inspection failures; Loss of pit stall selection, and crew member ejected)
Texas (0 Penalties)
Talladega (1 Penalty)
#5 Kyle Larson (Unapproved Adjustment of Roof Rails; Lost QualifyingSpot, Crew Member Ejected, and Pass Through on Lap 18)
Dover (0 Penalties)
Kansas (0 Penalties)
Darlington (0 Penalties)
Charlotte (0 Penalties)
Gateway (0 Penalties)
Sonoma (0 Penalties)
Iowa (0 Penalties)
New Hampshire (0 Penalties)
Nashville (0 Penalties)
Unapproved Modifications to the Car (28 Penalties)
Daytona 500 (6 Penalties; All to the rear during pre-race)
#8 Kyle Busch (Backup Car)
#10 Noah Gragson (Backup Car)
#12 Ryan Blaney (Backup Car)
#24 William Byron (Backup Car)
#31 Daniel Hemric (Backup Car)
#36 Kaz Grala (Engine Change)
Atlanta (2 Penalties)
#9 Chase Elliott (Unapproved Adjustments; To the rear pre-race)
#22 Joey Logano (Unapproved Adjustment; To the rear pre-race AND pass through pit road on lap 1)
Las Vegas (3 Penalties)
#1 Ross Chastain (Backup Car; To the rear pre-race)
#41 Ryan Preece (Unapproved Adjustments; To the rear pre-race)
#51 Justin Haley (Unapproved Adjustments; To the rear pre-race)
Phoenix (1 Penalty)
#4 Josh Berry (Unapproved Adjustments; To the rear pre-race)
Bristol (0 Penalties)
COTA (3 Penalties)
#17 Chris Buescher (Unapproved Adjustments; To the rear pre-race)
#41 Ryan Preece (Unapproved Adjustments; To the rear pre-race)
#66 Timmy Hill (Unapproved Adjustments; To the rear pre-race)
Richmond (0 Penalties)
Martinsville (0 Penalties)
Texas (3 Penalties)
#8 Kyle Busch (Backup Car; To the rear pre-race)
#15 Kaz Grala (Unapproved Adjustments; To the rear pre-race)
#84 Jimmie Johnson (Unapproved Adjustments; To the rear pre-race)
Talladega (0 Penalties)
Dover (3 Penalties)
#15 Kaz Grala (Backup Car; To the rear pre-race)
#20 Christopher Bell (Unapproved Adjustments; To the rear pre-race)
#71 Zane Smith (Backup Car; To the rear pre-race)
Kansas (0 Penalties)
Darlington (0 Penalties)
Charlotte (4 Penalties)
#5 Justin Allgaier (Driver Change; To the rear pre-race)
#17 Chris Buescher (Backup Car; To the rear pre-race)
#22 Joey Logano (Unapproved Adjustments); To the rear pre-race
#45 Tyler Reddick (Unapproved adjustment after inspection; To the rear pre-race and pass-through on lap 1)
Gateway (0 Penalties)
Sonoma (0 Penalties)
Iowa (2 Penalties)
#2 Austin Cindric (Backup Car; To the rear pre-race)
#20 Christopher Bell (Backup Car; To the rear pre-race)
New Hampshire (0 Penalties)
Nashville (1 Penalty)
#51 Justin Haley (Unapproved Adjustments; Car Chief Ejected; To the rear pre-race AND pass through pit road on lap 1)
In-Race Penalties (450 Penalties)
These penalties are dished out during the competition itself. They include infractions on pit road or the race track. The penalties are usually a pass-through penalty under green or starting at the tail end under caution. For more extreme violations, NASCAR may ask for a stop-and-go on pit road, hold a driver for x amount of laps, or park the car for the day.
Pit Road Speeding(60 Penalties)
Daytona (2 Penalties)
#11 Denny Hamlin
#19 Martin Truex Jr.
Atlanta (15 Penalties)
#1 Ross Chastain
#4 Josh Berry 2X
#8 Kyle Busch
#20 Christopher Bell
#23 Bubba Wallace
#31 Daniel Hemric 2X
#41 Ryan Preece
#42 John Hunter Nemechek
#47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr
#78 B.J. McLeod 3X
#99 Daniel Suarez
Las Vegas (3 Penalties)
#2 Austin Cindric
#20 Christopher Bell
#31 Daniel Hemric
Phoenix (1 Penalty)
#21 Harrison Burton
Bristol (1 Penalty)
#12 Ryan Blaney
COTA (3 Penalties)
#16 Shane Van Gisbergen
#43 Erik Jones
#99 Daniel Suarez
Richmond (4 Penalties)
#20 Christopher Bell
#41 Ryan Preece
#54 Ty Gibbs
#71 Zane Smith
Martinsville (5 Penalties)
#16 Josh Williams
#47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
#66 David Starr 2X
#99 Daniel Suarez
Texas (1 Penalty)
#12 Ryan Blaney
Talladega (6 Penalties)
#12 Ryan Blaney
#20 Christopher Bell
#22 Joey Logano
#71 Zane Smith 2X
#99 Daniel Suarez
Dover (1 Penalty)
#34 Michael McDowell
Kansas (4 Penalties)
#31 Daniel Hemric
#42 John Hunter Nemechek 2X
#43 Erik Jones
Darlington (1 Penalty)
#22 Joey Logano
Charlotte (2 Penalties)
#3 Austin Dillon
#7 Corey LaJoie
Gateway (3 Penalties)
#4 Josh Berry
#47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
#54 Ty Gibbs
Sonoma (1 Penalty)
#47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Iowa (3 Penalties)
#11 Denny Hamlin
#19 Martin Truex Jr.
#31 Daniel Hemric
New Hampshire (1 Penalty)
#2 Austin Cindric
Nashville (3 Penalties)
#34 Michael McDowell 2X
#42 John Hunter Nemechek
Pit Road Violations (70 Penalties)
Daytona (8 Penalties)
#8 Kyle Busch (Safety Violation)
#24 William Byron (Vehicle Interference)
#34 Michael McDowell (Driving Through More than 3 Pit Boxes)
#42 John Hunter Nemechek (Equipment Interference)
#42 John Hunter Nemechek (Crew Members Over the Wall Too Soon)
#60 David Ragan (Pitting out of Assigned Pit Box)
#62 Anthony Alfredo (Tire Violation)
#99 Daniel Suarez (Equipment Interference)
Atlanta (12 Penalties)
#6 Brad Keselowski (Commitment Line Violation)
#15 Kaz Grala (Too Many Men Over the Wall)
#34 Michael McDowell (Piting Outside of Assigned Pit Box)
#38 Todd Gilliland (Commitment Line Violation)
#41 Ryan Preece (Too Many Men Over the Wall)
#43 Erik Jones (Too Many Men Over the Wall)
#43 Erik Jones (Tire Violation)
#45 Tyler Reddick (Too Many Men Over the Wall) 2X
#48 Alex Bowman (Commitment Line Violation)
#54 Ty Gibbs (Driving Through More than 3 Pit Boxes)
#78 B.J. McLeod (Pitting Outside of Assigned Pit Box)
Las Vegas (6 Penalties)
#8 Kyle Busch (Pitting Outside of Assigned Pit Box)
#23 Bubba Wallace (Too Many Men Over the Wall)
#38 Todd Gilliland (Men Over the Wall too Soon)
#54 Ty Gibbs (Tire Violation)
#71 Zane Smith (Too Many Men Over the Wall)
#71 Zane Smith (Safety Violation)
Phoenix (0 Penalties)
Bristol (11 Penalties)
#5 Kyle Larson (Equipment Interference)
#8 Kyle Busch (Commitment Line Violation)
#8 Kyle Busch (Safety Violation)
#10 Noah Gragson (Safety Violation) 2X
#14 Chase Briscoe (Tire Violation)
#16 A.J. Allmendinger (Safety Violation)
#34 Michael McDowell (Tire Violation)
#43 Erik Jones (Equipment Interference)
#54 Ty Gibbs (Equipment Interference)
#71 Zane Smith (Commitment Line Violation) 2X
#71 Zane Smith (Too Many Men Over the Wall) 2X
COTA (0 Penalties)
Richmond (2 Penalties)
#15 Kaz Grala (Over the Wall Too Soon)
#51 Justin Haley (Improper Fueling)
Martinsville (3 Penalties)
#4 Josh Berry (Tire Violation)
#38 Todd Gilliland (Removing Equipment from Assigned Pit Box)
#66 David Starr (Pitting Out of Assigned Pit Box)
Texas (9 Penalties)
#12 Ryan Blaney (Too Many Crewmembers Over the Wall)
#14 Chase Briscoe (Pitting Out of Assigned Pit Box)
#15 Kaz Grala (Pitting Out of Assigned Pit Box)
#17 Chris Buescher (Equipment Interference)
#38 Todd Gilliland (Equipment Interference)
#48 Alex Bowman (Commitment Line Violation)
#71 Zane Smith (Removing Equipment)
#77 Carson Hocevar (Over the Wall Too Soon)
#99 Daniel Suarez (Equipment Interference)
Talladega (0 Penalties)
Dover (2 Penalties)
#77 Carson Hocevar (Equipment Interference)
#84 Jimmie Johnson (Safety Violation)
Kansas (1 Penalty)
#17 Chris Buescher (Over the Wall Too Soon)
Darlington (1 Penalty)
#45 Tyler Reddick (Commitment Line Violation)
Charlotte (9 Penalties)
#8 Kyle Busch (Tire Violation)
#8 Kyle Busch (Safety Violation)
#11 Denny Hamlin (Equipment Interference)
#12 Ryan Blaney (Tire Violation)
#16 Shane Van Gisbergen (Driving Through too many pit boxes)
#21 Harrison Burton (Safety Violation)
#42 John Hunter Nemechek (Tire Violation)
#50 Ty Dillon (Over the Wall Too Soon)
#99 Daniel Suarez (Equipment Interference)
Gateway (0 Penalties)
Sonoma (1 Penalty)
#42 John Hunter Nemechek (Too Many Crewmembers Over the Wall)
Iowa (4 Penalties)
#5 Kyle Larson (Too Many Crew Members in Contact with the Service Area)
#15 Kaz Grala (Equipment Interference)
#16 A.J. Allmendinger (Crew Members Over the Wall Too Soon)
#51 Justin Haley (Equipment Interference)
New Hampshire (5 Penalties)
#7 Corey LaJoie (Crew Members Over the Wall Too Soon)
#16 Ty Dillon (Equipment Interference)
#22 Joey Logano (Too Many Crew Members Over the Wall)
#34 Michael McDowell (Removing Equipment from Pit Stall)
#77 Carson Hocevar (Pitting Outside of Assigned Pit Box)
Nashville (1 Penalty)
#1 Ross Chastain (Equipment Interference)
Other(10 Penalties)
Daytona (1 Penalty)
#16 A.J. Allmendinger (Not Falling to Tail End of Longest Line)
Atlanta (0 Penalties)
Las Vegas (1 Penalty)
#17 Chris Buescher (Lost Wheel)
Phoenix (0 Penalties)
COTA (4 Penalties, ALL Pass-Throughs for Track Limits Violations)
#9 Chase Elliott
#14 Chase Briscoe
#42 John Hunter Nemechek
#47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Richmond (0 Penalties)
Martinsville (0 Penalties)
Texas (1 Penalty)
#5 Kyle Larson (Lost Wheel)
Talladega (0 Penalties)
Dover (0 Penalties)
Kansas (0 Penalties)
Darlington (0 Penalties)
Charlotte (0 Penalties)
Gateway (0 Penalties)
Sonoma (2 Penalties, BOTH 1-Lap Penalties for Short-Cutting the Course in Turn 11)
#3 Austin Dillon
#33 Will Brown
Iowa (0 Penalties)
New Hampshire (0 Penalties)
Nashville (1 Penalty)
#2 Austin Cindric (Unapproved Adjustment for fan pointed towards his car during the rain delay)
Pitting Before Pit Road is Open (310 Penalties)
***This penalty is very common and is often given out in droves. As a result, we will only list the totals to ensure this article does not get bogged down by listing a large swath of drivers every week.
Daytona (48 Penalties)
Atlanta (48 Penalties)
Las Vegas (9 Penalties)
Phoenix (5 Penalties)
Bristol (9 Penalties)
COTA (3 Penalties)
Richmond (0 Penalties)
Martinsville (3 Panelties)
Texas (18 Penalties)
Talladega (72 Penalties)
Dover (8 Penalties)
Kansas (7 Penalties)
Darlington (5 Penalties)
Charlotte (8 Penalties)
Gateway (2 Penalties)
Sonoma (14 Penalties)
Iowa (7 Penalties)
New Hampshire (20 Penalties)
Nashville (24 Penalties)
Post-Race Penalties (14 Penalties)
These penalties are usually the big-ticket ones. These usually come from post-race inspection, NASCAR confiscating parts during a race weekend, or general misconduct. The penalties usually feature hefty fines, docking points, and even suspensions. For this one, we will expand a bit further on each of these penalties for individuals because of how major they can be.
Atlanta: NASCAR Confiscates Roof Rail Deflectors from Stewart-Haas Racing Cars(2 Penalties)
NEWS: The Nos. 10 and 41 cars have been issued L1-level penalties for improper roof air deflectors.
Stewart-Haas Racing’s #10 (Noah Gragson) and #41 (Ryan Preece) cars had their roof rail deflectors confiscated. The Tuesday following the race, both the #10 and #41 car were docked 35 driver and owner points. As a result, both drivers fell in points. Gragson fell to 37th with -6 points, and Preece to 36th with 0 points.
Las Vegas: Chris Buescher Crew Members Suspended(1 Penalty)
NEWS: The No. 17 team has been issued a penalty for a detached wheel at @LVMotorSpeedway.
Two crew members have been suspended for the next two races.
Chris Buescher’s wheel came loose during the race, and NASCAR suspended two pit crew members as a result. The jackman, Nicholas Patterson, and the front tire changer, Jakob Prall, were both suspended for the next two races, through the March 17th race at Bristol. No other suspensions and fines were given, however.
MultiplePit Crew Member Penalties (6 Penalties)
NASCAR issues safety penalties to multiple crew members following @TXMotorSpeedway.
Multiple crew members received suspensions following the Texas Race. Kyle Larson’s No. 5 team’s rear tire changer (Calvin Teague) and jackman (Brandon Johnson) both received 2 race suspensions for the loose wheel at Texas. The No. 17 team’s tire carrier (Zach Yager), No. 20 team’s tire carrier (Jake Holmes), No. 33 team’s tire (Doug Warrick) were all suspended 1 race due to equipment infractions. Nicholas Covey, the jackman for the No. 3 team was suspended indefinitely for violating the substance abuse policy.
A post-race altercation at the All-Star Race caused NASCAR to drop significant penalties against Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the No. 47 team. Stenhouse Jr. was fined $75,000, and crew members Keith Matthews (4 races) and Clint Myrick (8 races) were both suspended. Stenhouse Jr.’s dad Ricky Stenhouse Sr. was also suspended indefinitely by NASCAR.
Nashville: Carson Hocevar vs Harrison Burton (1 Penalty)
NEWS: Carson Hocevar has been fined $50,000 and assessed with the loss of 25 driver points for violating the NASCAR Member Code of Conduct at @NashvilleSuperS. pic.twitter.com/2tLvsDHUVS
Carson Hocevar was penalized 25 driver points and fined $50,000 for intentionally spinning Harrison Burton under caution at Nashville. Spire Motorsports’ Doug Durchardt said that Spire will not appeal the penalty.
This list will be updated as the season progresses.
