2018 NASCAR Penalties: Ranking the most frequent violators

NASCAR Cup Series fines totaled $890,000 during the 2018 racing season

I’ve tallied up every 2018 NASCAR penalty and put them into a spreadsheet

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

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