Race-fixing isn’t a new trick in NASCAR by any means, but the sanctioning body is cracking down on it as the 2025 Playoffs heat up. Officials warned NASCAR Ford, Chevy, and Toyota teams not to manipulate results, whether that means helping a teammate or harming a rival – just like they did last year.
According to a report from NASCAR.com, officials will soon meet with teams to make sure that they understand that race manipulation is a serious offense. The revelation comes in the wake of a minor controversy at Charlotte Motor Speedway last weekend, wherein Toyota driver Denny Hamlin admitted that he would have raced differently in order to prevent NASCAR Ford driver Joey Logano from advancing in the Playoffs.
“At a certain point during this week, we will just remind teams, ‘Let’s not put yourselves or ourselves in jeopardy here,'” NASCAR managing director of communications Mike Forde explained. “Fans should be coming to the race track and expecting a straight-up race where each position is fought for as hard as possible, especially at the end of a race.”
He added, “If we do see something or hear something we don’t like, we are going to step in, which we’ve have done now several times. So we are aware, and if we hear something, we will certainly react if necessary.”
Forde said that officials would have stepped in to prevent Hamlin from manipulating the race had they felt it was necessary at Charlotte, but this time, they didn’t.
“If we heard that radio transmission say, ‘Hey, (Chevy’s Ross Chastain) needs this point to advance to the next round over (Logano)’ or something of that ilk, and all of a sudden, (Hamlin) let off the gas, that would probably raise a red flag on our side.”
Last year, Logano – who was the 2024 Cup Series Champion – said that NASCAR pulled the teams aside and warned them against manipulating the Playoffs, so this is nothing new. However, the convoluted Playoffs system might be a moot point soon – the sport might go back to full-season points in 2026.
Long-term financing in select markets on best-selling full-size van in the U.S.
One providing full coverage for second-row passengers.
The recently redesigned SUV continues to eat into GM's market share.
A pretty unsurprising statistic.
The new model year brings forth a few tweaks for the pony car.
F-Series production is expected to be impacted.
