BREAKING: NASCAR’s Biggest Race Rocked by Scandal—Two Crew Chiefs Ejected and a Spoiler Controversy Stuns the Sport

The Daytona 500 is known as the crown jewel of the NASCAR season, where teams push the limits to secure an advantage. But in 2025, two teams took things too far—and NASCAR ensured they faced the consequences. Just before the race, NASCAR ejected two crew chiefs—Chris Lawson of Front Row Motorsports and Billy Plourde of Rick Ware Racing—for illegal weight modifications.

Pre-Race Inspection Unveils Rule Violations

The No. 34 Ford Mustang driven by Todd Gilliland and the No. 51 Ford Mustang of Cody Ware were found to have improper weight placements during a pre-race inspection. As a result, Lawson and Plourde were immediately dismissed from all race-related activities, including practice, qualifying, and race day itself. The timing of the penalty was brutal, throwing both teams into disarray just before the season’s biggest event.

But the controversy didn’t end there. Days after the Daytona 500, NASCAR stunned the industry by revealing concrete evidence of the cheating scandal. The governing body arranged a detailed technical review before the Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas, where it disclosed the shocking weight modifications.

The Evidence: NASCAR’s “Show and Tell” Session

NASCAR insider Jeff Gluck provided a firsthand look at the violations. “This was the unsecured weight from the 34 and 51 teams at Daytona. The old ‘lead in the water bottle’ trick—except this time, it was sewn into the lining of the 34 team’s drink bag, while the 51 team simply stuffed a lead piece inside theirs. The 51 team also had weighted cords that weren’t attached properly,” Gluck shared on social media.

These revelations explained why NASCAR took swift action, as manipulating weight can significantly impact performance. With stricter penalties introduced in 2025, teams caught violating the rules now face more severe consequences, including point deductions, reduced wind tunnel testing, and limited vehicle testing.

The Fallout: Teams Struggle in Daytona 500

For Rick Ware Racing, the scandal was a devastating blow. Cody Ware struggled in qualifying, posting the slowest lap time of 51.835 seconds and finishing 15th in Duel 2. Without his crew chief, his performance suffered further, and he failed to finish the Daytona 500. Meanwhile, Todd Gilliland managed a 27th-place finish—far from the strong result he had hoped for after a solid 2024 season.

JGR’s Outrage Over Chase Briscoe’s Penalty

As NASCAR dealt with the weight scandal, another controversy erupted just days later. Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and Chase Briscoe, who had celebrated a strong fourth-place finish at Daytona, were blindsided by a severe penalty. NASCAR officials determined that Briscoe’s No. 19 team had illegally modified the rear spoiler, violating strict aerodynamic regulations.

The punishment was harsh: JGR was fined $100,000, lost 100 owner points, and suffered a 10-playoff point deduction. Briscoe himself was docked 100 driver points and 10 playoff points, dropping him to the bottom of the standings with -51 points after two races.

JGR president Dave Alpern was stunned. “We have rules for a reason. I give NASCAR credit—it’s really hard to track everything. But when you get the call, you’re left wondering, ‘What in the world happened?’” he said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Aerodynamics plays a crucial role in NASCAR, and even the slightest alteration to the rear spoiler can provide a competitive advantage. NASCAR’s inspection found that JGR had modified the component in a way that violated regulations, leading to the hefty penalty.

Now, all eyes turn to March 5, when JGR will appeal the ruling. With their season already in jeopardy, the team hopes to mitigate the damage and salvage their championship hopes.

One thing is certain—NASCAR has sent a clear message: bending the rules will not be tolerated.