May 7, 2025 – NASCAR has handed down a major penalty to Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 41 team after a rules violation during last weekend’s Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The sanctioning body announced Tuesday that driver Ryan Preece and the team have been docked 20 driver and owner points and fined $75,000 following a post-race inspection that uncovered an unapproved spoiler modification.
The penalty not only strips Preece of valuable points but also erases his impressive sixth-place finish, officially dropping him to 38th in the final standings for the race. Crew chief Chad Johnston was also suspended for one race as part of the Level 1 penalty under NASCAR’s Rule Book.
The infraction, which NASCAR officials said involved alterations to the spoiler’s shape to gain an aerodynamic advantage, drew parallels to Joey Logano’s disqualification at Talladega in 2023, where a similar modification led to a DQ. NASCAR officials emphasized their zero-tolerance stance on manipulating aero parts outside the approved parameters.
“We take the integrity of the competition very seriously,” NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer said in a statement. “Any attempt to circumvent the rules will be met with significant penalties.”
The punishment deals a blow to Stewart-Haas Racing, already battling inconsistency in the 2025 season. Preece, who had hoped the Texas result would spark momentum, now faces a steeper climb in the playoff standings. The penalty drops him from 22nd to 27th in the points, deepening the team’s playoff hopes predicament.
Reaction across social media was swift. Fans flooded X (formerly Twitter) debating whether the penalty was fair, with some arguing NASCAR was making an example of a mid-pack team. Others praised NASCAR’s consistency in enforcing the rulebook regardless of team status.
“I get enforcing the rules, but 20 points for Preece feels harsh when he’s just trying to crack the top 20,” one fan wrote. Another countered: “Rules are rules—if they caught it, it’s gotta be penalized.”
Stewart-Haas Racing has not announced whether it plans to appeal the penalty. In a brief statement, the team acknowledged NASCAR’s ruling and said it was “reviewing its options.”
With Johnston sidelined and the points setback looming, the No. 41 team faces an uphill battle heading into next weekend’s race at Darlington Raceway.
As NASCAR continues to crack down on technical infractions, teams are being reminded once again: even small tweaks can carry big consequences.
