20 L1 penalty violations and 28 loose lug nuts were discovered during the 2018 NASCAR season. In total, there were $890,000 in NASCAR fines handed out in 2018.
View the 2018 NASCAR penalty data below.
Racing teams are known to push the edges of the rule book. It’s been that way since the invention of the rule book. Sometimes, NASCAR teams step beyond the edges. In those cases, NASCAR hands out fines, point deductions and or suspensions with the goal of discouraging teams from working in certain gray areas.
Other times, it’s not a gray area at all. It’s a team blatantly trying to pull one over on the NASCAR officials and passes through the scanning stations. When they’re caught, a steep fine is handed out. Stewart-Haas Racing received the largest single fine in 2018 totaling $75,000 for a single violation.
Below is a look at 2018 penalty data by team, driver and crew chief. Which NASCAR team was handed the most L1 penalties in 2018? Which NASCAR team has the most loose wheels in 2018?
Note: The data below only counts the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
2018 NASCAR Penalties
Most fined driver / crew chief
The list below is a total of fines issued from the combination of L1 penalties and safety violations:
1. Kevin Harvick / Rodney Childers
$145,000
2. Kyle Larson / Chad Johnston
$105,000
3. Chase Elliott / Alan Gustafson
$100,000
4. Erik Jones / Chris Gayle
$75,000
5. Ryan Blaney / Jeremy Bullins
$70,000
6. Kyle Busch / Adam Stevens
$55,000
7. Clint Bowyer / Mike Bugarewicz
$50,000
8. Daniel Suarez / Scott Graves
$50,000
9. Denny Hamlin / Mike Wheeler
$45,000
10. Austin Dillon / Justin Alexander
$35,000
11. Aric Almirola / John Klausmeier
$20,000
12. Joey Logano / Todd Gordon
$20,000
13. Martin Truex Jr / Cole Pearn
$20,000
14. Ricky Stenhouse Jr / Brian Pattie
$20,000
15. Brad Keselowski / Paul Wolfe
$20,000
16. Jamie McMurray / Matt McCall
$10,000
17. Kurt Busch / Billy Scott
$10,000
18. Michael McDowell / Derrick Finley
$10,000
19. Ryan Newman / Luke Lambert
$10,000
20. William Byron / Darian Grubb
$10,000
21. Joey Gase / Todd Parrott
$10,000
Total: $890,000
L1 Penalty Data
4 L1 Penalties
Kevin Harvick / Rodney Childers
2 L1 Penalties
– Kyle Larson / Chad Johnston
– Chase Elliott / Alan Gustafson
– Erik Jones / Chris Gayle
– Kyle Busch / Adam Stevens
– Daniel Suarez / Scott Grave
1 L1 Penalty
– Ryan Blaney / Jeremy Bullins
– Clint Bowyer / Mike Bugarewicz
– Denny Hamlin / Mike Wheeler
– Austin Dillon / Justin Alexander
– Brad Keselowski / Paul Wolfe
– Kasey Kahne
Total L1 Penalties: 20 ($610,000)
Safety Violations by driver / crew chief
Loose lug nut violations:
3 ($30,000)
– Kyle Larson / Chad Johnston
2 ($20,000)
– Kevin Harvick / Rodney Childers
– Kyle Busch / Rodney Childers
– Ryan Blaney / Jeremy Bullins
– Denny Hamlin / Mike Wheeler
– Brad Keselowski / Paul Wolfe
– Aric Almirola / John Klausmeier
– Joey Logano / Todd Gordon
– Martin Truex Jr / Cole Pearn
– Ricky Stenhouse Jr / Brian Pattie
1 ($10,000)
– Austin Dillon / Justin Alexander
– Jamie McMurray / Matt McCall
– Kurt Busch / Billy Scott
– Michael McDowell / Derrick Finley
– Ryan Newman / Luke Lambert
– William Byron / Darian Grubb
– Joey Gase / Todd Parrott
Loose Lug Nuts: 28 ($280,000)
NASCAR Team Penalties
L1 Penalties By Team
Joe Gibbs Racing: 7
Stewart-Haas Racing: 5
Chip Ganassi Racing: 2
Hendrick Motorsports: 2
Team Penske: 2
Richard Childress Racing: 1
Leavine Family Racing: 1
Safety Violations By Team
Team Penske: 6
Stewart-Haas Racing: 5
Chip Ganassi Racing: 4
Joe Gibbs Racing: 4
Richard Childress Racing: 2
Furniture Row Racing: 1
Roush-Fenway Racing: 1
Hendrick Motorsports: 1
Front Row Motorsports: 1
StarCom Racing: 1
More
2017 NASCAR Penalty Data
2017 NASCAR speeding penalties chart
Links
NASCAR