More drama in NASCAR! It all started when JGR was slapped with a $100,000 fine, a 100-point penalty, and a four-race suspension for Chase Briscoe’s crew chief, James Small, for modifying a spoiler at the Daytona 500. It was considered an L2-level infraction and, as per NASCAR’s Rule Book, changes in the rear spoiler come under the rules controlling modification of a single-source supplied part; Sections 14.1.C&D&S (Overall Assembled Vehicle Rules) and Section 14.5.8.A (Spoiler).

Here’s the thing. Since 2022, NASCAR has shifted to a single-source supplier and so, they have been coming down heavily on any teams suspected of modifying parts. And that’s exactly why the officials thought JGR had deliberately adjusted how the spoiler base mounted to the rear deck lid.

But Briscoe’s team appealed to the National Motorsports Appeals Panel and stated that Briscoe’s Toyota did not have an illegally modified spoiler and guess what? They won it! “The panel believes that the elongation of some of the holes on the number 19 Cup car spoiler base is caused by the process of attaching that specific spoiler base to the rear deck and not modification of the single source part,” the panel wrote in a statement.

Even Bob Pockrass took to X and wrote: “JGR/Chase Briscoe WIN the appeal to the penalty issued after the Daytona 500 for holes in the spoiler base being altered. His 100 points restored and no suspension to James Small and no fine to the team.” Of course, Joe Gibbs was happy with the outcome and appreciated the fact that NASCAR had processes “in place that allowed us the opportunity to present our explanation of what led to the penalty issued to our No. 19 team.”

Similarly, Briscoe felt relief. He thanked the panel for giving his team the opportunity to show evidence and he also thanked his side for preparing his car for his debut season with the team. Interestingly, NASCAR cannot try to reverse the decision. On the other hand, such an option is available to teams or drivers in case they lose an appeal. 

Regardless, now the driver is tied for the 14th place alongside Carson Hocevar as they head into Sunday’s race at Phoenix Raceway for the Shriners Children’s 500. But if you thought the penalty controversy was done and dusted, you would be so wrong. The fact that the penalties were rescinded only fueled more conversations among fans.

Social media erupted with calls for justice, questioning whether NASCAR’s regulatory body holds all teams to the same standard. What are they talking about?

Rules or simply guidelines? NASCAR fans have a lot of questions!

The moment JGR’s penalty was wiped clean, NASCAR fans on X had a full-blown meltdown. Fans wasted no time pointing out what they saw as a blatant double standard, immediately bringing up Parker Kligerman’s penalty as Exhibit A. One fan sarcastically posted:

• “Cool, now give Kligerman his win back.”

This referenced the 2025 Truck Series race at Daytona, where Henderson Motorsports driver Parker Kligerman was stripped of victory because of a low rear. Unlike JGR’s case, that penalty was set in stone faster than a last-lap wreck at Talladega. The National Motorsports Appeals Panel explained: “The panel confirms it is more likely than not a rules violation did occur and the disqualification penalties in Rule 10.5.2.4 necessitate a race disqualification.”

However, as the hearing was an expedited appeal of a disqualification, there were no further appeals available. No wonder another fan mentioned:

• “#Justice4Parker @pkligerman won that race, no matter what NASCAR says.”

After the ruling was announced, the team had no other option other than accepting it. “While we feel that we had a very strong case, we respect the panel’s decision. We’d again like to thank all the fans for their support,” Henderson Motorsports wrote in an X post. However, Kligerman was distraught at the situation, and rightfully so.

He said after losing the appeal, “This has been one of the hardest weeks of my racing life. I worked with the team 24/7 on the appeal since Saturday night.” For a small team like Henderson Motorsports, a Daytona win with a part-time entry meant a huge deal. Yet, the governing body decided to hand the win to Corey Heim instead, ignoring Kligerman’s plea of innocence.

But in Chase Briscoe and JGR’s case, fans were not as kind. They wrote:

• “Gibbs gets away with it again while @pkligerman suffers because 2 officials can’t get on the same page and tell the team the same thing. Little team gets s—-ed again.”

This echoes what many other fans have been saying: Kligerman’s penalty was never given the same second chance JGR received. Instead, his victory was erased from history like an abandoned pit strategy.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s successful appeal hinged on their argument that the spoiler issue was a result of part interference during assembly rather than an intentional modification. The appeals panel found this reasoning convincing enough to erase the penalty. Kligerman’s penalty, despite an appeal, was upheld without hesitation. No leniency, no re-evaluation. This disparity has only fueled the long-standing belief that big teams receive VIP treatment, while smaller teams like Henderson Motorsports must fend for themselves like a backmarker at Martinsville. On these lines, fans wrote:

• “This is why I dislike NASCAR they have the double standards on the bigger teams like Joe Gibbs racing they could appeal and take more time to review them cheating but they don’t give a opportunity to smaller teams like @HendersonTrucks.”
• “Typical Nascar bowing down to Toyota.”

If this situation feels familiar, it’s because NASCAR has a history of questionable penalty decisions. In 2023, Hendrick Motorsports saw their massive points penalty erased despite being caught with illegally modified hood louvers at Phoenix. Meanwhile, Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell had a similar violation last season, but his penalty was upheld in full, tanking his team’s playoff chances.

The inconsistency isn’t just frustrating, it’s a full-blown credibility crisis for fans. If one team can get a penalty wiped clean while another is left holding the bag, how can anyone trust the integrity of the sport?

Well, there is an answer to this question as officials said in a statement: “The appeals panel operates independently and reviews each case based on presented evidence. The JGR decision was based on specific technical circumstances unique to their appeal.” 

Regardless, at this point, NASCAR’s penalty system has become the motorsports equivalent of a referee making a game-deciding call while blindfolded. If fairness and consistency are supposed to be core principles of competition, then NASCAR’s enforcement needs a serious tune-up. Otherwise, fans might start wondering if appeals are just a high-stakes game of rock-paper-scissors, with Joe Gibbs Racing always picking the right move.

Should Chase Briscoe’s team have faced the consequences of their actions? Or should Kligerman have been granted the win at Daytona instead? Let us know in the comments!