Could a penalty keep a driver from advancing in the Chase for the Sprint Cup?
It’s possible. With only three races between eliminations, drivers and teams feel the pressure to perform. That can lead to mistakes - such as penalties on pit road. A penalty early in a race can be overcome. One late in a race likely won’t and could cost a driver enough points that they don’t advance to the next round.
Not all penalties are the same. A penalty for pitting too soon is common and often happens because a driver comes down pit road before its open to repair their car.
The key penalties to note for drivers are speeding on pit road, commitment lion violation, driving through more than three pit boxes, running stop and go sign and improper pit entry.
Key penalties for a pit crew are not controlling a tire, going over the wall too soon, tossing equipment in the pit stall and removing equipment from the pit stall.
NASCAR Talk looked at these driver and crew infractions among those in the Chase to see how well they’ve fared this season. Here are the results:
SPEEDING PENALTIES
1 - Paul Menard … 6
2 - Carl Edwards … 4
2 - Matt Kenseth … 4
2 - Joey Logano … 4
2 - Martin Truex Jr. … 4
6 - Kurt Busch … 3
6 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. … 3
6 - Jeff Gordon … 3
6 - Jimmie Johnson … 3
DRIVING PENALTIES*
1 - Paul Menard … 7
2 - Matt Kenseth … 6
2 - Joey Logano … 6
4 - Carl Edwards … 5
4 - Martin Truex Jr. … 5
6 - Jeff Gordon … 4
7 - Kurt Busch … 3
7 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. … 3
7 - Denny Hamlin … 3
7 - Jimmie Johnson … 3
*Penalties for speeding, commitment lion violation, driving through more than three pit boxes, running stop and go sign, improper pit entry. Does not include pitting too soon, a common penalty after an accident or issue on track.
DRIVER AND CREW PENALTIES
CHASE TEAMS ONLY
CLINT BOWYER (1 total penalty)
0 driving penalties
1 crew not controlling tire
KURT BUSCH (6 penalties)
3 speeding penalties
1 crewmember(s) over the wall too soon infraction
1 crew not controlling tire
1 crew tossing equipment
KYLE BUSCH (1 penalty)
1 speeding penalty
0 crew penalties
DALE EARNHARDT JR. (3 penalties)
3 speeding penalties
0 crew penalties
CARL EDWARDS (7 penalties)
4 speeding penalties
1 commitment line violation
1 crewmember(s) over the wall too soon infraction
1 removing equipment from pit stall
JEFF GORDON (5 penalties)
3 speeding penalties
1 driving through more than three pit boxes
1 crew tossing equipment
DENNY HAMLIN (6 penalties)
2 speeding penalties
1 driving through more than three pit boxes
2 crew not controlling tire infractions
1 crewmember(s) over the wall too soon infraction
KEVIN HARVICK (3 penalties)
1 speeding penalty
2 crewmember(s) over the wall too soon infractions
JIMMIE JOHNSON (5 penalties)
3 speeding penalties
1 crewmember(s) over the wall too soon infraction
1 crew tossing equipment infraction
MATT KENSETH (7 penalties)
4 speeding penalties
1 driving through more than three pit boxes
1 running stop/go sign
1 crew tossing equipment infraction
BRAD KESELOWSKI (6 penalties)
1 speeding penalty
1 commitment line violation
2 crew not controlling tire infractions
1 crewmember(s) over the wall too soon infraction
1 removing equipment from pit stall
JOEY LOGANO (9 penalties)
4 speeding penalties
1 driving through more than three pit boxes
1 running stop/go sign
2 crewmember(s) over the wall too soon infractions
1 crew not controlling tire infraction
PAUL MENARD (9 penalties)
6 speeding penalties
1 commitment line violation
2 crew not controlling tire infractions
JAMIE McMURRAY (1 penalty)
1 speeding penalty
0 crew penalties
RYAN NEWAMAN (2 penalties)
2 speeding penalties
0 crew penalties
MARTIN TRUEX JR. (5 penalties)
4 speeding penalties
1 running stop/go sign