Trackhouse Racing NASCAR warning is now at the forefront after NASCAR officials reacted strongly to the actions of Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen at World Wide Technology Raceway on Sunday. NASCAR has stated that although this celebration looked entertaining to fans, it may have crossed a boundary and could have triggered penalties under existing rules.
After the Cup Series event at Gateway, both Chastain and van Gisbergen drove their Chevrolets through the infield grass during the cooldown lap. The move was noted by many in attendance as a creative, celebratory gesture. However, NASCAR did not perceive it in this light, viewing it instead as a potential infraction of the rulebook.
“We did not care for it, not one bit,”
—Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of communications
NASCAR’s response was unequivocal, as they highlighted the existence of a rule that addresses such conduct. Forde went on to remind teams that while Trackhouse Racing is only receiving a warning for now, the act was indeed in a gray area that could warrant disciplinary action in the future. According to Forde, officials could have enforced repercussions, depending on their reading of the violation.
“We’re going to just remind teams this is something where we actually have a rule. I think we’re going to give [Trackhouse] a little bit of a warning. But there is a rule that says what they did, you could argue, broke a rule, and there could have been repercussions for it.”
—Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of communications
NASCAR to Meet With Trackhouse Racing About Infield Incident
The racing body isn’t letting the matter rest. Brad Moran, NASCAR Cup Series managing director, confirmed plans for a meeting with Trackhouse Racing’s management to review the incident. In addition, crew chiefs from all teams will receive renewed guidance on the relevant rules to prevent ambiguities.
“Oh, yeah, we’ll be having some discussions with Trackhouse management as well as our crew chiefs will be given all the teams some information regarding that this week,”
—Brad Moran, NASCAR Cup Series managing director
The incident did not go unnoticed by NASCAR’s leadership, and Moran made it clear that future attempts along these lines will draw scrutiny. The ruling body is intent on maintaining order and making sure everyone in the garage fully understands the boundaries.
“It certainly caught our radar. Where we see that, they can be pretty comfortable knowing it won’t go unnoticed.”
—Brad Moran, NASCAR Cup Series managing director
Potential Penalties Loom For Similar Stunts
NASCAR has signaled that leniency may not be an option if incidents like this occur again. Mike Forde explained that future violations could result in either in-race penalties or even full disqualifications, depending on the intent and severity of the act. The rules, he pointed out, are subject to enforcement based on the specific circumstances of each event.
“That is something that we’ll frown upon in a significant way,”
—Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of communications
“Whether that is going to be an in-race penalty or a DQ, that is going to be determined after the event. It depends on how blatant the violation was.”
—Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of communications
This flexibility means the governing body can escalate penalties if a team repeats these infractions or if a move is deemed egregious. NASCAR is emphasizing their commitment to upholding the integrity of competition and is not binding themselves to a set punishment for breaches, but instead will look at each context case by case.
Teams Skirt the Edge of NASCAR’s Rulebook
The Trackhouse Racing NASCAR warning stands as a broader caution to all teams as well, especially with regards to how closely teams approach the limits set by NASCAR’s regulations, including those related to race car weight. Forde acknowledged that competitors are pushing the margin to the thinnest levels permitted, revealing just how closely watched every detail is.
“These teams are pushing it so close to the line on weight,”
—Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of communications
He explained that teams have become proficient at maximizing their advantage within the 17-pound post-race tolerance allowed. For example, at Darlington, NASCAR’s inspections found a couple of cars teetering on the edge, within just a pound of what would have triggered a disqualification. That slim boundary leaves little margin for error for drivers competing at the highest level.
“They know exactly how to math it out where we give them a 17-pound tolerance after the race. In Darlington, we measured every single playoff car, and there were a couple of cars that were within a pound of almost failing and being DQ’d.”
—Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of communications
Although Chastain and van Gisbergen’s off-road maneuver did not result in immediate sanctions, the warning could not be more direct. Any repeat performance, Forde and Moran implied, is likely to bring stiffer consequences, sending a message throughout the garage that NASCAR’s patience with these inventive interpretations of the rules is wearing thin.
For all teams and drivers in the Cup Series, this incident underlines NASCAR’s expectation for adherence to its rules—both in spirit and letter—and reminds participants that inventive celebrations or technical experimentation may quickly shift from clever to costly if the boundaries are crossed again.
