25 Biggest Cheating Scandals in NASCAR History
25. Smokey Yunick’s 11-Gallon Fuel Line (1960s)
The legendary mechanic famously built a fuel line so long it held an extra gallon, skirting inspection.
24. 2023 Legacy Motor Club’s Modified Greenhouse Penalty
NASCAR hammered LMC after discovering illegal modifications to the greenhouse area of their cars, docking heavy points and fines. It was one of the first major Next Gen penalties and set the tone that NASCAR wasn’t messing around.
23. 2018 Kevin Harvick’s Spoiler Penalty
After a Texas win, Harvick’s Stewart-Haas car was found with a non-compliant rear spoiler.
22. 1990 Dick Trickle’s Illegal Engine
NASCAR caught Trickle with an oversized engine during qualifying.
21. 2022 RFK & Penske Wheels Seized
NASCAR confiscated modified wheels from both teams at Daytona, raising questions about safety and legality.
20. 1960 Daytona 500 Fuel Additives
Several cars were found with fuel soaked in nitro additives for extra horsepower.
19. 2017 Joey Logano’s Richmond Win Encumbered
Logano’s race-winning car failed inspection due to rear suspension violations.
18. 1976 DiGard Racing’s Nitrous System
Rumors swirled that DiGard snuck nitrous oxide into their cars, though it was never officially proven.
17. 2023 Chase Briscoe’s Fake Part
Stewart-Haas Racing was hit with a record penalty after NASCAR discovered a counterfeit Next Gen part.
16. 1982 Bobby Allison’s Aero Tricks
Allison’s team used “flexible” body panels for an aerodynamic edge, later outlawed.
15. 2007 Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Illegal Wing Braces
At Darlington, DEI cars were busted for using non-compliant wing mounts.
14. 2023 Hendrick Motorsports’ Louvers Penalty
HMS was docked 100 points each after NASCAR confiscated illegal hood louvers.
13. 1973 Junior Johnson’s Cheating Innovations
Johnson was notorious for creative tweaks, like illegal intake restrictors and fuel tricks.
12. 2015 Furniture Row’s Illegal Splitter
Martin Truex Jr.’s team was caught with a modified splitter, resulting in a heavy fine.
11. 1964 Fireball Roberts’ Carburetor Trick
Roberts’ team was found running oversized carburetor parts at Daytona.
10. 2013 Penske Rear-End Housing Scandal
Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski’s cars were busted for illegal rear suspension setups.
9. 1985 Gary Nelson’s Nitrous Bottle
NASCAR found a hidden nitrous oxide system in Waltrip’s Junior Johnson Chevy.
8. 2020 Kyle Larson’s Car Weight Games
Larson’s team was penalized after inspection revealed improper ballast placement.
7. 1970s Richard Petty’s Oversized Engines
Petty was caught with oversized engines at times, pushing NASCAR’s patience with “The King.”
6. 2019 Spingate 2.0 – Truck Series
NASCAR caught drivers intentionally manipulating finishes to help teammates in playoff spots.
5. 1984 Tim Richmond’s “Flap Trick”
Richmond’s car had bodywork that could flex at high speed, giving extra downforce.
4. 2000 Jeremy Mayfield’s Fuel Additives
Team Penske was busted after NASCAR discovered fuel irregularities in Mayfield’s car.
3. 1994 Ernie Irvan’s Tire Soaking
His team used soaked tires for more grip — one of the sport’s most infamous tire scandals.
2. 2008 Carl Edwards’ Illegal Oil Tank Lid
Edwards’ Las Vegas win was stripped after his team was caught with a missing oil tank cover.
1. 2013 Michael Waltrip Racing “Spin-Gate” Fallout
The most infamous modern scandal, with NASCAR hammering MWR with fines, suspensions, and lost sponsors, shaking trust in the playoff system.
