Saturday, September 27, 2025, NASCAR handed out major penalties at Kansas Speedway. Two crew chiefs went home because they had violated the regulations. This occurred during a period of the playoffs, which is a critical period in racing.
Stephen Doran, who works with Shane van Gisbergen, and Travis Peterson, who works with Michael McDowell, were considered the two crew chiefs. Both men were caught with illegal car changes, which were not permitted, reporter Dustin Long of NBC Sports said.
These penalties show how serious NASCAR is about fair play. Even small rule breaks can bring big trouble, and that is what happened to these two teams.
Stephen Doran’s Trouble at Kaulig Racing
Stephen Doran is the crew chief for Shane van Gisbergen’s No. 16 car with Kaulig Racing. NASCAR found that the team made car changes before practice that were not approved. Because of that, Doran was kicked out and could not stay with his team.
The Van Gisbergen team lost their pit stall; thus, they are starting at the very back of the 37-car grid, and they are also forced to take a stop-and-go penalty once the brown flag falls. He was due to begin on the 24th, and he is now considerably behind.
NASCAR did not say what exact changes were made to the car. But the group moved fast to make sure rules were followed. For van Gisbergen, this means a much harder race day. Starting in the back and having an early stop make it tough to move forward, especially in the playoffs when every spot counts.
Travis Peterson and McDowell’s Penalty
Earlier in the morning, NASCAR also bumped off the No. 34 crew by Michael McDowell of Front Row Motorsports. Their crew chief, Travis Peterson, was fired over swapping out the splitter on the front section of the car that makes it fast and balanced.
At first, the car passed inspection. But when NASCAR looked again, they found the change and failed the car. Because of this, McDowell’s team got the same punishment as van Gisbergen’s. They lost their pit stall pick, must start at the back, and also have to do a stop-and-go penalty when the race begins.
The splitter is very important for the way a car handles. Changing it without permission is against the rules. NASCAR wants every team to race fairly, and breaking the rules brings quick punishment.
NASCAR’s Rules in the Playoffs
These penalties are a strong message from NASCAR. During the playoffs, every team is under close watch. Small mistakes or changes can hurt a team’s chances of winning. Both van Gisbergen and McDowell now face big problems. Starting in the back and serving a penalty makes it very hard to get good points.
Losing a pit stall choice also hurts. A bad pit stall means slower pit stops, which can cost valuable time on the track. And with crew chiefs kicked out, the teams must race without their main leaders.
NASCAR wants to make sure all drivers have the same chance. That is why the checks are strict and the rules are firm. These punishments show teams must be careful. Trying to get an edge in the wrong way can ruin a race.
In racing, little things can decide who wins. A small car change might look simple, but it can give an unfair edge. NASCAR’s message is clear: follow the rules or pay the price.
For van Gisbergen and McDowell, the Kansas race is now much harder. Their teams must push extra hard to keep playoff hopes alive. The lesson is simple: play fair, or risk losing it all.