NASCAR's Most Penalized Drivers (After Race 1)

Photo by Tyler Barrick/Getty Images for NASCAR

The 2012 season did not get started on the right foot for David Gilliland. The Front Row Motorsports Ford driver met NASCAR's wrath four times in Monday's Daytona 500, three times for speeding exiting the pits and once for failing to stop at the end of pit row. Only two other drivers earned serious penalties in the Great American Race. Michael McDowell pitted before the pits were open twice. Unlike most cases where drivers pit before the pits are open in order to fix damaged cars or have other issues, McDowell did not have any issues that would force him to pit early, thus giving him the two serious penalties. Danica Patrick did the same thing McDowell did, however only on one occasion.

#38 David Gilliland
Race 1
Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, backup car
Speed-Exiting pits, tail end
Speed-Exiting pits, tail end
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Running the stop and go sign/light, 1 lap
Speed-Exiting pits, tail end
1, 1, 4, 0 (4 serious penalties)

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#98 Michael McDowell
Race 1
Safety violation, window net loose
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 0, 2, 1 (3 serious penalties)

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#10 Danica Patrick
Race 1
Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, backup car
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
1, 1, 1, 0 (1 serious penalty)

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#18 Kyle Busch
Race 1
Safety violation, tail end, unapproved work on car
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 1, 0, 1 (1 serious penalty)

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#21 Trevor Bayne
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
Safety violation, bumper bar loose
0, 1, 0, 1 (1 serious penalty)

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#99 Carl Edwards
Race 1
Safety violation, tail end, unapproved work on car
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 1, 0, 1 (1 serious penalty)

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#51 Kurt Busch
Race 1
Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, engine change
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
1, 3, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#5 Kasey Kahne
Race 1
Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, backup car
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
1, 1, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#9 Marcos Ambrose
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 2, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#32 Terry Labonte
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 2, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#39 Ryan Newman
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 2, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#13 Casey Mears
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 1, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#14 Tony Stewart
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 1, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#15 Clint Bowyer
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 1, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#24 Jeff Gordon
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
0, 1, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#27 Paul Menard
Race 1
Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, backup car
1, 0, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#30 David Stremme
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
0, 1, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#31 Jeff Burton
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 1, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#33 Elliott Sadler
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 1, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#36 Dave Blaney
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 1, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#78 Regan Smith
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 1, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#83 Landon Cassill
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
0, 1, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

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#87 Joe Nemechek
Race 1
Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
0, 1, 0, 0 (0 serious penalties)

Race 1 - Daytona 500 Penalties

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The 2012 running of the Daytona 500 proved to be one of the most bizarre races, not only in the history of the Great American Race but in the history of NASCAR. The weirdness was capped off by an incident between Juan Pablo Montoya and one of the safety trucks that was towing a blower that was blowing debris off the track's surface. Something appeared to break on Montoya's Target Chevrolet as he was catching the pack going into the third turn. Montoya lost control and spun into the blower and the truck, igniting a kerosene-fueled fireball. Thankfully no one was injured and racing resumed over an hour and a half later after diligent work by track safety crews.

Penalty Report - Daytona

Number/Driver, Lap, Infraction, Penalty
#38 David Gilliland, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, backup car
#27 Paul Menard, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, backup car
#10 Danica Patrick, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, backup car
#5 Kasey Kahne, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, backup car
#51 Kurt Busch, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, engine change
#10 Danica Patrick, 2, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#32 Terry Labonte, 2, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#21 Trevor Bayne, 2, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#51 Kurt Busch, 2, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#39 Ryan Newman, 13, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#38 David Gilliland, 15, Speed-Exiting pits, tail end
#21 Trevor Bayne, 38, Safety violation, bumper bar loose
#87 Joe Nemechek, 65, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#98 Michael McDowell, 66, Safety violation, window net loose
#38 David Gilliland, 66, Speed-Exiting pits, tail end
#98 Michael McDowell, 82, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end*
#24 Jeff Gordon, 83, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#32 Terry Labonte, 88, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#10 Danica Patrick, 89, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end*
#98 Michael McDowell, 89, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end*
#31 Jeff Burton, 129, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#33 Elliott Sadler, 129, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#15 Clint Bowyer, 129, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#30 David Stremme, 157, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end, garage
#99 Carl Edwards, 160, Safety violation, tail end, unapproved work on car
#18 Kyle Busch, 160, Safety violation, tail end, unapproved work on car
#51 Kurt Busch, 177, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#13 Casey Mears, 178, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#9 Marcos Ambrose, 178, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#99 Carl Edwards, 188, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#9 Marcos Ambrose, 188, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#78 Regan Smith, 188, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#5 Kasey Kahne, 188, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#51 Kurt Busch, 189 Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#83 Landon Cassill, 197, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#38 David Gilliland, 197, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#14 Tony Stewart, 197, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#36 Dave Blaney, 197, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#39 Ryan Newman, 197, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#18 Kyle Busch, 197, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#38 David Gilliland, 198, Running the stop and go sign/light, 1 lap
#38 David Gilliland, 198, Speed-Exiting pits, tail end

*Note that McDowell and Patrick were not involved in the cause of the caution flags for those particular events nor did they have any other reason to pit before the pits were open.

Thank you to NASCAR Statistics and TheHotLap.com for the information.

Gatorade Duel Penalties

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

While under the first caution period in the first Gatorade Duel 150 race, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s Diet Mountain Dew pit crew earned a penalty for going over the wall too soon. Fortunately, Earnhardt was able to overcome the penalty of having to restart at the tail end of the field to finish second to Tony Stewart earning the 88 team a fifth place starting position for Sunday's Daytona 500. Please note that because the Gatorade Duels are not points events, the penalties listed do not count toward a driver's season total.

Penalty Report - Daytona

Duel 1
Car #, Infraction, Penalty
#88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Crewmember(s) over the wall too soon, Tail of Field

Duel 2
Car #, Infraction, Penalty
#5 Kasey Kahne, Pre-Race to the rear, Tail of Field, Backup Car
#15 Clint Bowyer, Pre-Race to the rear, Tail of Field, Failed Post-Qualifying Inspection
#97 Bill Elliott, Pre-Race to the rear, Tail of Field, Engine Change
#51 Kurt Busch, Speeding exiting the pits, drive thru

Budweiser Shootout Penalties

Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

After getting caught up in an early wreck, Matt Kenseth's Best Buy crew was penalized by NASCAR for losing contact with a tire during the stop. The penalty proved to be a non-factor as Kenseth was running among the front cars in the closing stages of the event when he found himself in another wreck not of his own doing relegating his Ford to a 21st place finish. Please note that none of the penalties will be registered toward driver's season total as the event was a non-points race.

Penalty Report - Daytona:

Car#, Lap, Infraction, Flag, Penalty, Lap Assessed
#2 Brad Keselowski, Pre-Race to the rear, Tail of Field, Backup Car
#22 A.J. Allmendinger, Pre-Race to the rear, Tail of Field, Backup Car
#18 Kyle Busch, Pre-Race to the rear, Tail of Field, Backup Car
#51 Kurt Busch, Pre-Race to the rear, Tail of Field, Backup Car
#34 David Ragan, 9, Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
#17 Matt Kenseth, 9, Outside half of the pit box tire violation/Team member not in contact with the outside tires, Tail of Field
#5 Kasey Kahne, 9, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
#42 Juan Pablo Montoya, 9, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
#31 Jeff Burton, 9, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
#14 Tony Stewart, 9, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
#27 Paul Menard, 9, Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
#55 Michael Waltrip, 9, Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
#17 Matt Kenseth, 9, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
#15 Clint Bowyer, 33, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
#5 Kasey Kahne, 33, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
#20 Joey Logano, 55, Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
#27 Paul Menard, 55, Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
#24 Jeff Gordon, 74, Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
#51 Kurt Busch, 74, Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
#48 Jimmie Johnson, 74, Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
#1 Jamie McMurray, 74, Pitting before pit road is open, Garage
#18 Kyle Busch, 74, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field
#42 Juan Pablo Montoya 74, Pitting before pit road is open, Tail of Field

Thank you to NASCAR Statistics and TheHotLap.com for the information.

Black Flag Penalties Of Yesteryear Part IV

In preparation of the 2012 Daytona 500, here are more black flag penalties that have been earned over the years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Robby Gordon and David Stremme are black flagged for rough driving


Robby Gordon is black flagged for passing on the right before the start/finish line


Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton are penalized for errors in the pits


Mark Martin is caught speeding exiting the pits


Dave Blaney is parked for speeding through the pits


Juan Pablo Montoya is parked for two laps for spinning Tony Stewart

Black Flag Penalties Of Yesteryear Part III

In preparation of the 2012 Daytona 500, here are more black flag penalties that have been earned over the years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Kevin Harvick is penalized for spinning Bobby Hamilton


Dale Earnhardt is penalized for spinning Rusty Wallace


Jimmie Johnson receives a black flag for pitting when the pits were closed


Davey Allison is penalized for spinning Darrell Waltrip


Jeff Gordon gets a black flag for spinning Ryan Newman


Regan Smith is penalized for passing below the yellow line at Talladega


Kyle Busch is caught speeding in the pits

Black Flag Penalties Of Yesteryear Part II

In preparation of the 2012 Daytona 500, here are more black flag penalties that have been earned over the years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Jimmie Johnson caught speeding in the pits


Juan Pablo Montoya speeds in the pits


Kyle Busch violates several rules


Loose lug nuts cost Mark Martin


Carl Edwards passes below the yellow line


Kevin Harvick is caught speeding entering the pits


Bobby Hillin, Jr. is penalized for stopping on the track


Jeff Burton violates the commitment line

Black Flag Penalties Of Yesteryear Part I

In preparation of the 2012 Daytona 500, here's a look back at some of the black flag penalties that have been earned over the years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

2011 Daytona 500 - David Ragan's costly mistake


2011 Budweiser Shootout - Denny Hamlin passes below the yellow line


2003 Daytona 500 - Sterling Marlin is black flagged after passing below the yellow line


2001 New Hampshire 300 - Jeff Gordon hits Robby Gordon during a caution


2009 Price Chopper 400 - Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is black flagged for loose lug nuts


1991 Banquet Frozen Foods 300 - Ricky Rudd is black flagged for spinning Davey Allison


2010 Kobalt Tools 500 - Carl Edwards spins Brad Keselowski earning a black flag