In a shocking turn of events, the NASCAR world was rattled by a grave scandal, just as The Daytona 500, the most prestigious race of the NASCAR season, was about to commence. The heart of the scandal was two teams’ alleged violation of rules through illicit weight modifications, a move that saw them crossing the line of fair play. This damning revelation led to the ejection of two crew chiefs, Chris Lawson from Front Row Motorsports and Billy Plourde from Rick Ware Racing, right before the race.
The vehicles under the scanner were the No. 34 Ford Mustang of Todd Gilliland and the No. 51 Ford Mustang of Cody Ware, both found guilty of improper weight placements. These discrepancies were identified during a pre-race inspection, after which Lawson and Plourde were asked to step down immediately, barring them from participating in any practice, qualifying, or race day events. This unexpected penalty wreaked havoc on both teams’ plans just before the season’s biggest race.
However, the waves of this controversy did not end there. In a follow-up shocker, the governing body of NASCAR presented irrefutable evidence of the cheating scandal mere days after the tumultuous Daytona 500. The specifics clearly indicated the teams’ attempt to skirt the rules. NASCAR, a day before the Cup qualifying at Circuit of the Americas, orchestrated a detailed tour to display the modifications.
Renowned NASCAR insider Jeff Gluck shared a detailed account of the infractions, providing a firsthand look at the illicit modifications. He revealed how weights were concealed in the drink bottles of the teams’ haulers. According to his account, the No. 34 team ingeniously sewed the weight into the lining, while the No. 51 team simply stuffed a piece of lead into their drink bottle.
These discoveries shed light on NASCAR’s immediate actions before the race. NASCAR, known for its stringent rules to prevent teams from gaining illegal advantages, made its stand clear on such manipulations which directly impact performance. It’s worth noting that in 2025, NASCAR had introduced stricter penalties for any attempts at bending the rules, including point deductions, reduced wind tunnel testing hours, and restrictions on vehicle testing.
For Rick Ware Racing, the scandal proved to be a severe blow. Cody Ware, who had already struggled in qualifying, finishing at the bottom, faced further complications with the loss of his crew chief. Despite a valiant effort, Ware could not complete the race and ended with a DNF. Similarly, Todd Gilliland, despite having a marginally better performance, found himself in a challenging situation.
Gilliland finished 27th in the Daytona 500, a far cry from his ambitions. After a commendable 2024 season, where he finished a career-best 22nd in points, Gilliland was aspiring to carry forward the momentum into 2025. However, the weight scandal cast a dark shadow over his race, leaving his team scrambling to navigate past the controversy.
In the wake of this scandal, another significant controversy arose involving Chase Briscoe and Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). Briscoe and JGR had exited Daytona on a high note with a strong fourth-place finish. However, their joy was short-lived. NASCAR officials slapped a hefty penalty on JGR and Chase Briscoe for illegally modifying the rear spoiler, a clear violation of NASCAR’s stringent aerodynamic regulations, only three days after the event.
The penalty was hefty, with JGR being fined $100,000 and losing 100 owner points and 10 playoff points. Briscoe also lost 100 driver points and 10 playoff points. This left JGR president Dave Alpern dumbfounded. Expressing his frustration on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Alpern acknowledged the importance of rules but expressed shock at the turn of events.
Aerodynamics plays a pivotal role in NASCAR, with the rear spoiler being a critical component. Any alteration, even minor ones, can drastically change a car’s performance, providing illegal advantage. JGR’s modifications to the spoiler were found to be in violation of NASCAR’s strict guidelines. After the penalty, the JGR driver now finds himself at the bottom of the driver’s standings with -51 points after two races. The team is now left with the hope of mitigating the damage through an appeal scheduled for March 5.
In summary, the world of NASCAR was rocked by a major cheating scandal on the eve of its most prominent race. The fallout has been significant, with heavy penalties levied and reputations tarnished. The coming days will reveal the full repercussions of this scandal, as the teams involved struggle to pick up the pieces and move on.