Chase Briscoe penalty, explained: Why NASCAR docked Joe Gibbs Racing star 100 points for Daytona 500 infraction

Chase Briscoe’s Daytona 500 debut wasn’t quite a fairytale, but it did turn out noteworthy, as Briscoe and members of his No. 19 team seemingly secured a momentous finish in his first career outing for NASCAR superpower Joe Gibbs Racing.

However, just a few days later, Briscoe, who ended the 2025 season with hopes of replicating longtime JGR icon Martin Truex Jr.’s production, was levied one of the biggest point deductions in recent NASCAR memory.

Here’s why he received such a hefty penalty from NASCAR.

Chase Briscoe penalty, explained

Briscoe and his No. 19 team were assessed to have made illegal modifications to his No. 19 car ahead of Sunday’s race. Briscoe, who captured Toyota’s first pole in the Daytona 500 and cruised to a fourth-place finish in “The Great American Race,” was found to have driven a chariot that featured an altered spoiler base. The spoiler is a single-source part. By decree, it’s not permitted to be modified.

As a result of his team’s misdeeds, Briscoe and Joe Gibbs Racing were issued matching 100-point driver and owner deductions. JGR was fined an additional $100,000, while Briscoe’s crew chief, James Small, was banned four races for the offense. On Wednesday, JGR announced its intention to appeal the punishment.

The points penalty represents NASCAR’s largest since Briscoe and his former employer, Stewart-Haas Racing, saw 125 points subtracted from his tally after the team was found to have used counterfeit parts in 2023.

Briscoe dropped to the bottom of the Cup Series table as a result of the transgression. He sits at -67 points, 88 points below the current playoff cut line.

NASCAR playoff standings 2025

Here’s a look at the Cup Series playoff standings following Wednesday’s announcement. The top-16 drivers will take part in the postseason.