Z. Smith - What Happens To All That Money Collected By #NASCAR Penalties

By #NASCAR Penalties

Below a recent NASCAR Race Mom post regarding Martin Truex’s frustration and words regarding a questionable pit road call; a NRM reader posed the question:

“These fines for speaking out are quite ridiculous! Does NASCAR need the money that bad??”

That posed the interesting question: What does happen to the money collected from #NASCAR penalties?

According to Jayski, as of the start of the 2008 season, all money collected from fines issued to drivers go to NASCAR. Then NASCAR donates the money to the NASCAR Foundation for its charitable initiatives.

The drivers do NOT get a tax deduction on fines. Before 2008, the money collected from driver/crew member penalties were generally placed into the Drivers Points Fund awarded at the end of the season.

In April, Danica Patrick expressed confusion as to what comments / actions could result in a monetary punishment by the ruling body.

“It’s very hard to know what you can do or say anymore that’s not going to get you in trouble – depending on the day or time or whatever.” (Patrick was referring to Stewart’s criticism of NASCAR’s Lug Nut rule – which ironically was reverse after Stewart was ordered to pay a $35,000 fine.

Patrick said she felt bad for Stewart and added that NASCAR seems to treat drivers like employees rather than the independent contractors they really are.

“It seems extremely inappropriate to go ahead and follow through with (changes) and require five lug nuts but still maintain a fine for someone who questioned the very topic,” she said.

Patrick herself, has “donated” $70,000 to the NASCAR Foundation in the last eight months. In November, NASCAR fined her $50,000 for retaliating against David Gilliland during a race at Martinsville Speedway. In March, she was fined $20,000 for walking toward Kasey Kahne’s moving car after he wrecked her at Auto Club Speedway.

While Drivers / Teams have the option to appeal their penalties, most do not.

2016 Appeals Panel Members are:

Mark Arute
Christiane Ayotte
Lee Baumgarten
Tim Bennett
Paul Brooks
John Capels
Travis Carter
Ken Clapp
Rick Crawford
Barbara Cromarty
Wally Dallenbach Jr.
Chuck Deery
Robert L. DuPont
Laurel Farrell
Richard Gore
Janet Guthrie
Russell Hackett
David Hall
Jon Hoenig
John Horton
Kelly Housby
Dixon Johnston
Bill Lester
Steve Lewis
Bud Moore
Bill Mullis
Hunter Nickell
Don Panoz
Buddy Parrott
Dale Pinilis
Robert Pressley
Cathy Rice
Shawna Robinson
J. Kirk Russell
Jay Signore
Mike Skinner
Jimmy Smith
Lake Speed
Lyn St. James
Kevin Whitaker
John White
Robert Yates
Steve York

That is an impressive list of knowledgeable race notables.

National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer is Mr. Bryan Moss.
According to the numbers provided by NASCAR, in 158 appeals heard since November 1999:

110 were upheld
34 were reduced
11 were overturned
2 penalties were increased