Chase Briscoe, who was making his first start for Joe Gibbs Racing last weekend, earned Toyota’s first pole in the Daytona 500, going on to finish fourth in the race. Unfortunately, their strong start to the year has now turned into a huge setback after NASCAR found illegal modifications to the rear spoiler involving a single-source supplied part. These are parts that come from a single supplier and cannot be modified in any way. In the past, the sanctioning body has had zero tolerance for any manipulation of a single-source supplied part, and this week was no different.

The result is a staggering L2-level penalty with the loss of 100 driver and owner points, as well as the loss of ten playoff points. Briscoe now sits at negative 67 points, dead last in the standings. Crew chief James Small has been suspended for the next four points-paying Cup races and fined $100,000. He cannot return to the pit box until the March 23 race weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This is the biggest points penalty since Stewart-Haas Racing was found to be counterfeiting parts during the 2023 season.

Briscoe’s No. 19 Toyota was one of the cars taken back to the R&D Center for further inspection following the 500. This is standard procedure as NASCAR normally takes some cars back after each race weekend. Austin Cindric’s No. 2 Team Penske Ford was taken as well, but no issues were found there.

Additionally, NASCAR issued some more points penalties following Daytona, but both pale in comparison to the Briscoe situation. The No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford of Todd Gilliland were docked 10 driver and owner points due to unsecured ballast. The no. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford of Cody Ware suffered the same 10-point penalty for the same issue.