NASCAR Rant Report - Thursday, February 20th

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Major headlines out of Wednesday:

Chase Briscoe Issued Massive Penalty
NASCAR Changes Rulebook Post-Daytona 500
Hendrick Motorsports Sets Xfinity Schedule
Daytona 500 Television Ratings

Plus, miscellaneous topics from the day.

Chase Briscoe Issued Massive Penalty:

NASCAR has issued significant penalties to Chase Briscoe and his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team following the Daytona 500. The penalties were due to an illegal modification of the car's spoiler base, a single-source part that cannot be altered. As a result, Briscoe and his team were docked 100 driver and owner points, and 10 playoff points. Additionally, crew chief James Small was suspended for four races, and the team was fined $100,000. This penalty leaves Briscoe with a negative 67 points in the standings, placing him last.

Joe Gibbs Racing has announced plans to appeal the penalties, arguing that the issue arose during the assembly process due to supplied part interferences. Despite this, the penalties stand as one of the most severe in recent NASCAR history, comparable to past penalties for similar infractions.

Other penalties were also issued to Todd Gilliland and Cody Ware for ballast violations, resulting in a loss of 10 driver and owner points for each. These penalties highlight NASCAR's strict enforcement of its rules regarding single-source parts and safety regulations.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

NASCAR Changes Rulebook Post-Daytona 500:

NASCAR has updated its rulebook following the Daytona 500, introducing several changes aimed at clarifying existing policies and enhancing safety. Key updates include modifications to the Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP), which now allows cars with flat tires to be towed to a designated work area for repairs without resulting in a DNF. This is in response to Kyle Busch’s situation during the Daytona 500.

Additionally, NASCAR has refined its language regarding penalties for locking bumpers, particularly in the Xfinity and Truck Series. The rule now states that drivers "may" be penalized for locking bumpers, providing race control with discretion to assess penalties on a case-by-case basis.

NASCAR's decision-making process during races was also addressed, with officials explaining the rationale behind caution flag decisions. For instance, the caution at the end of the second qualifying duel was due to safety concerns, while the Daytona 500 finished under green because safety vehicles could reach the crash site without interfering with race traffic.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Hendrick Motorsports Sets Xfinity Schedule:

Hendrick Motorsports has announced its 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule, featuring a 16-race slate for the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet. The team will rotate five drivers, including its four NASCAR Cup Series stars—William Byron, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Alex Bowman—alongside 19-year-old developmental driver Corey Day. Adam Wall, who previously served as a crew chief at JR Motorsports, will lead the team.

Corey Day will make his Xfinity Series debut at Martinsville Speedway on March 29 and is scheduled to compete in 10 races. William Byron and Kyle Larson will each participate in two races, while Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman will each drive in one race.

Rick Hendrick expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming season, highlighting the team's strong lineup and the leadership of Adam Wall. The No. 17 team has seen success since its return to the Xfinity Series in 2022, with two wins, four pole positions, 11 top-five finishes, and 13 top-10s in 20 starts.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Daytona 500 Television Ratings:

The 2025 Daytona 500, despite facing a nearly four-hour rain delay, managed to draw an average of 6.761 million viewers on Fox, marking a 13% increase from the previous year's Monday-postponed race. The viewership peaked at 7.96 million shortly after the race began. However, the rain delay pushed the race into prime time, where it competed with the NBA All-Star Game and NBC's "SNL 50" special.

The race's conclusion, which saw William Byron win his second consecutive Daytona 500, was the most-watched sports event of the Presidents' Day weekend, surpassing the NBA All-Star Game and the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off. Despite the increase from last year, the 2025 Daytona 500 remains one of the least-watched editions in recent history, highlighting the impact of weather disruptions on viewership.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Miscellaneous:

Aaron's has returned to NASCAR, partnering with Front Row Motorsports to sponsor Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith in multiple races during the 2025 season. The partnership will kick off with Gilliland at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 23 and continue with Smith in seven other races.

Jack Quaid, star of the upcoming movie "Novocaine," will serve as the Grand Marshal for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on March 2. Quaid will give the command to start engines for the NASCAR Cup Series race.

23XI Racing has renewed its partnership with Xfinity, which includes the newly-named Xfinity Speed Center at the team's facility. Xfinity will continue to sponsor Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick in select races and collaborate on fan engagement initiatives.

Campers Inn RV has extended its partnership with ThorSport Racing, sponsoring Ben Rhodes in several races during the 2025 season, starting at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Matrix CAD Design returns to Reaume Brothers Racing as a primary sponsor for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The partnership highlights advanced 3D scanning and CAD modeling technology.

Ecosave has partnered with Las Vegas Motor Speedway to sponsor the Ecosave 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on March 14. The partnership emphasizes energy efficiency and environmental preservation efforts at the speedway.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on these topics.

This newsletter is constructed by AI and reviewed by our editorial team.

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