How Denny Hamlin’s Extensive NASCAR Penalty Changed The Standings

Denny Hamlin, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, faced a major setback as NASCAR imposed a severe L2-level penalty on his No. 11 team. This drastic measure came after Hamlin used a race-winning engine from Bristol Motor Speedway without the required post-race inspection and approval.

As a result, Hamlin and his team owner suffered a loss of 75 points each, and Crew Chief Chris Gabehart was fined $100,000. More crucially, the penalty stripped Hamlin of 10 playoff points.

This 75-point deduction has significantly jeopardized Hamlin’s campaign for the regular season championship. Formerly a leading contender in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, Hamlin’s position plummeted from third to sixth.

Despite these setbacks, Hamlin’s current season performance remains strong, marked by three wins. Although the penalties have invalidated his playoff eligibility from his Bristol victory, his achievements in other races ensure he maintains his spot in the playoffs.

Speaking out on the penalty, Toyota Racing Development took full responsibility, stating, as Newsweek previously reported:

“As the engine builder for our partner NASCAR Cup Series teams, TRD is solely responsible for handling and disposition of all our engine pre and post-race.”

Hamlin is yet to comment on the severe penalty.

This is how the championship now stands ahead of Daytona.

NASCAR Cup Series: Current Standings

1. Tyler Reddick – 814 points
2. Chase Elliott – 804 points
3. Kyle Larson – 782 points
4. Ryan Blaney – 732 points
5. William Byron – 728 points
6. Denny Hamlin – 711 points
7. Christopher Bell – 703 points
8. Martin Truex Jr – 682 points
9. Brad Keselowski – 677 points
10. Ty Gibbs – 644 points
11. Alex Bowman – 627 points
12. Chris Buescher – 621 points
13. Ross Chastain – 606 points
14. Bubba Wallace – 605 points
15. Joey Logano – 561 points
16. Daniel Suárez – 526 points
17. Kyle Busch – 513 points
18. Chase Briscoe – 491 points
19. Austin Cindric – 460 points
20. Todd Gilliland – 455 points
21. Michael McDowell – 449 points
22. Carson Hocevar – 441 points
23. Josh Berry – 427 points
24. Noah Gragson – 425 points
25. Ricky Stenhouse Jr – 400 points
26. Ryan Preece – 367 points
27. Erik Jones – 361 points
28. Justin Haley – 346 points
29. Austin Dillon – 345 points
30. Daniel Hemric – 337 points
31. Corey LaJoie – 332 points
32. John H. Nemechek – 321 points
33. Zane Smith – 292 points
34. Harrison Burton – 266 points
35. Kaz Grala – 166 points
36. Cody Ware – 65 points
37. Joey Hand – 43 points
38. Jimmie Johnson – 39 points
39. Derek Kraus – 32 points
40. David Ragan – 17 points
41. Kamui Kobayashi – 8 points
42. Will Brown – 6 points
43. Cam Waters – 2 points

When to watch NASCAR at Daytona International Speedway

Friday 23 August

3pm ET: NASCAR Xfinity Series – Qualifying

5.05pm ET: NASCAR Cup Series – Qualifying

7.30pm ET: NASCAR Xfinity Series – Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola

Saturday 24 August

2pm ET: ARCA Menards Series – Practice

3pm ET: ARCA Menards Series – Qualifying

4pm ET: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Practice

4.30pm ET: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Qualifying

7.30pm ET: NASCAR Cup Series – Coke Zero Sugar 400

Sunday 25 August

1pm ET: ARCA Menards Series – Sprecher 150

4pm ET: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Liuna! 175