OFFICIAL CONFIRMED NASCAR RULE CHANGE IN EFFECT

Following a comprehensive review prompted by Shane van Gisbergen’s recent Xfinity Series victory at Chicago—where his dominant performance raised eyebrows and whispers of an unfair advantage—NASCAR has today officially confirmed a targeted rule update specifically addressing potential race manipulation and equipment impropriety.

1. Manufacturer Accountability Expanded
   Under Section 10.5.2.8.A, NASCAR now holds full authority to penalize Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) involved in rule breaches—including parts optimization or strategic orchestration—for the benefit of national racing series outcomes. Infractions may result in immediate sanctions such as a 25‑50 point deduction in manufacturer standings, withdrawal of 30‑60 wind‑tunnel hours, 250‑500 computational fluid dynamics (CFD) runs, and up to four vehicle test losses.
2. Explicit Ban on Intentional Advantage Schemes
   A new clause in Section 5.5.A expressly prohibits deliberate conduct that “prioritizes objectives other than achieving the best possible competitive result for their team.” This includes intra-manufacturer cooperation to improperly influence race outcomes—pitting strategies, staging, or equipment setups tailored for singular advantage.
3. Swift Enforcement Methods Introduced
   NASCAR reserves the right to enforce penalties immediately upon confirmation of infractions—without waiting for the post-season review—ensuring integrity is upheld in real time.

NASCAR emphasizes this rule update is not a reaction to any formal protest or finding in Van Gisbergen’s case, but rather part of an ongoing effort to safeguard fairness across the sport. These changes make crystal-clear NASCAR’s commitment: any attempt to gain an illegal edge—whether by teams or manufacturers—will draw swift and meaningful consequences.

— The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) —