Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe has addressed the major penalty he received following the Daytona 500 after an exceptional run that saw him claiming the pole position.
Briscoe ended the iconic race in fourth place due to a late-race incident. However, the most significant development came post-race when his No. 19 car was handed an L2 penalty for unauthorized modifications to its spoiler, which must adhere to specific standards. This resulted in a $100,000 fine, a deduction of points, and a suspension for crew chief James Small.
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At thirty years old, Chase Briscoe is in his fifth full-time Cup Series season, having shifted to Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2025 season after losing his seat at Stewart-Haas Racing due to the team closing at the end of 2024. Joining JGR was a step up for Briscoe, as the team is recognized as one of NASCAR’s leading outfits.
This transition also came with considerable expectations, given that Briscoe was chosen to fill the shoes of the retiring Martin Truex Jr.
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Confirming the penalty, NASCAR explained, as previously reported by Newsweek Sports:
“JGR was found to be in violation of Section 14.1 of the Rule Book, which pertains to overall assembled vehicles rules, and 14.5.8, which deals with the spoiler. Specifically, the spoiler base was found to be modified on the No. 19 car. The spoiler base is a single-source part and cannot be modified.”
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In response to the penalties, Briscoe acknowledged the impact but highlighted his intent to remain focused on securing victories throughout the season. During an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, he shared:
“I would say this year my approach is way different in general. We should be able to go to the race track and contend for wins on a lot more consistent basis. So, you know, my whole approach going into this year was trying to win multiple races and that doesn’t change.
“The points situation obviously is unfortunate, but I mean, we still just need to go win races at the end of the day. That’s what we’re here to do is try to win races and you know, potentially try to win a championship, too. To have a chance to win a championship you need to be winning races, anyway.
“So, yeah, it doesn’t change the approach at all. I don’t even think from a strategy standpoint or anything, it changes anything. You just go there and try to win the race and you know, hopefully, our cars are good enough to do that.”
Despite the penalties, Briscoe and JGR remain optimistic. The team intends to contest the sanctions, arguing that the problem stemmed from wear and tear during the race weekend, not intentional rule-breaking.
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