What Happens To All That Money Collected By #NASCAR Penalties.

Below a recent NASCAR Race Mom post regarding Martin Truex’s frustration and words regarding a questionable pit road call; a NRM reader posed the question:

“These fines for speaking out are quite ridiculous! Does NASCAR need the money that bad??” 

That posed the interesting question: What does happen to the money collected from #NASCAR penalties?

According to Jayski, as of the start of the 2008 season, all money collected from fines issued to drivers go to NASCAR.  Then NASCAR donates the money to the NASCAR Foundation for its charitable initiatives.

The drivers do NOT get a tax deduction on fines. Before 2008, the money collected from driver/crew member penalties were generally placed into the Drivers Points Fund awarded at the end of the season.

In April, Danica Patrick expressed confusion as to what comments / actions could result in a monetary punishment by the ruling body.

“It’s very hard to know what you can do or say anymore that’s not going to get you in trouble – depending on the day or time or whatever.” (Patrick was referring to Stewart’s criticism of NASCAR’s Lug Nut rule – which ironically was reverse after Stewart was ordered to pay a $35,000 fine.

Patrick said she felt bad for Stewart and added that NASCAR seems to treat drivers like employees rather than the independent contractors they really are.

“It seems extremely inappropriate to go ahead and follow through with (changes) and require five lug nuts but still maintain a fine for someone who questioned the very topic,” she said.

Patrick herself, has "donated" $70,000 to the NASCAR Foundation in the last eight months. In November, NASCAR fined her $50,000 for retaliating against David Gilliland during a race at Martinsville Speedway. In March, she was fined $20,000 for walking toward Kasey Kahne’s moving car after he wrecked her at Auto Club Speedway.

While Drivers / Teams have the option to appeal their penalties, most do not.

2016 Appeals Panel Members are:

1. Mark Arute
2. Christiane Ayotte
3. Lee Baumgarten
4. Tim Bennett
5. Paul Brooks
6. John Capels
7. Travis Carter
8. Ken Clapp
9. Rick Crawford
10. Barbara Cromarty
11. Wally Dallenbach Jr.
12. Chuck Deery
13. Robert L. DuPont
14. Laurel Farrell
15. Richard Gore
16. Janet Guthrie
17. Russell Hackett
18. David Hall
19. Jon Hoenig
20. John Horton
21. Kelly Housby
22. Dixon Johnston
23. Bill Lester
24. Steve Lewis
25. Bud Moore
26. Bill Mullis
27. Hunter Nickell
28. Don Panoz
29. Buddy Parrott
30. Dale Pinilis
31. Robert Pressley
32. Cathy Rice
33. Shawna Robinson
34. J. Kirk Russell
35. Jay Signore
36. Mike Skinner
37. Jimmy Smith
38. Lake Speed
39. Lyn St. James
40. Kevin Whitaker
41. John White
42. Robert Yates
43. Steve York

That is an impressive list of knowledgeable race notables.

National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer is Mr. Bryan Moss.

According to the numbers provided by NASCAR, in 158 appeals heard since November 1999:

• 110 were upheld
• 34 were reduced
• 11 were overturned
• 2 penalties were increased