Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR penalty Iowa surfaced as the team‘s No. 54 Xfinity Series car received the only penalty issued after the latest NASCAR weekend at Iowa Speedway. Officials fined Joe Gibbs Racing $5,000 when a post–race inspection revealed a missing lug nut on Taylor Gray‘s car after the Hy-Vee Perks 250, a decision confirmed by NASCAR following the event.
Inspection at Iowa Speedway Uncovers Technical Infraction
After Saturday’s Xfinity Series race in the series garage at Iowa Speedway, NASCAR examined the No. 54 <a href="https://slicksandsticks.com/tag/toyota/”>Toyota, driven by Taylor Gray, and identified that one of its lug nuts was not properly fastened. This violation led to an official notice that Joe Gibbs Racing would incur a financial penalty. The 17th-place finish for Gray marked the second-best result among the four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers that day, capping a disappointing outing for the organization.
This penalty follows a pattern for Joe Gibbs Racing, which has encountered several similar infractions this season. Earlier in March, two additional Joe Gibbs Racing entries in the Xfinity Series were fined for the same missing lug nut issue at Phoenix Raceway under Section 8.8.10.4a of the NASCAR Rule Book. That same month at Homestead-Miami Speedway, four Xfinity teams were issued the same penalty, including Joe Gibbs Racing cars.
Prior to the incident in Iowa, another violation occurred in June in Mexico City involving the same car—Taylor Gray’s No. 54 Toyota—which was also penalized for a lug nut violation. The recurrence of these technical setbacks underscores the ongoing challenge for Joe Gibbs Racing as they aim to uphold compliance on race day.
Christopher Bell Steps In for Injured Stewart Friesen at Watkins Glen
Christopher Bell, who represents Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, will take over driving duties in the No. 52 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for the Truck Series event at Watkins Glen. Bell is substituting for Stewart Friesen, following Friesen’s severe accident during a Super DIRTcar Series race at Autodrome Drummond in Quebec, Canada. The crash left Friesen with significant injuries, including fractures to his pelvis and right leg, and he subsequently underwent surgeries in New York after initial treatment in Canada. Medical scans provided relief as there were no signs of head, neck, or spinal injury, and his vital signs have stayed stable since the crash.
Christopher Bell addressed the situation, stating,
I was honored to receive the call to run this truck for Stewart, a fellow dirt racer and Toyota teammate, in Watkins Glen. I’ve spent time with the team these past few days and we are working hard to continue the great season Stewart has had and deliver a great finish for him and his partners.”
—Christopher Bell, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
This development comes as Bell enjoys a strong 2025 NASCAR Cup Series campaign, highlighted by consecutive wins at Atlanta, Circuit of The Americas, and Phoenix. Bell currently holds fifth place in the Cup Series standings with 684 points, tallying three wins, 13 top-ten finishes, and eight top-fives across 23 races.
Continued Penalties Highlight Pressure on Joe Gibbs Racing
The series of penalties faced by Joe Gibbs Racing, particularly for recurring lug nut violations, reflect a season fraught with technical scrutiny. The team’s ongoing efforts to rectify these issues are crucial, as such infractions not only incur fines but also draw attention during a period of competitive tension and challenging performance. With key figures such as Taylor Gray and Christopher Bell playing prominent roles, the organization’s response to these setbacks may shape its momentum throughout the rest of the season, while the motor sport community continues to watch events unfold at high-profile tracks including Iowa Speedway, Mexico City, and Phoenix Raceway.
