The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway was a chaotic, edge-of-your-seat thriller that kept fans guessing until the very last lap. With 11 cautions and nearly two-thirds of the field caught up in incidents, survival became just as important as speed. Kyle Larson, subbing for the injured Connor Zilisch, emerged from the mayhem to capture his second Xfinity win of the season in a dramatic double-overtime finish.

The race was packed with wild restarts, heartbreak for frontrunners like Justin Allgaier, and a flurry of late-race drama that left teams scrambling. But as the dust settled, the aftermath delivered another twist. This one would hit a prominent team’s wallet and pit box hard, adding a new layer of controversy to an already unforgettable Texas showdown.

Kaulig Racing penalized following Texas Xfinity race turmoil

Kaulig Racing’s 2025 Xfinity campaign took a hit after a rollercoaster weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Daniel Dye, piloting the No. 10 Chevrolet, looked poised for a strong result amid the chaos of the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300. Despite the race’s 11 cautions and a field battered by incidents, Dye managed to steer clear of the worst.

Eventually, Dye crossed the line in 11th place, narrowly missing out on a top-10 finish. Reflecting on the result, Dye posted on Instagram, “Looked like we were gonna have a chance to finish inside of the top 10 for a little bit but unfortunately it didn’t shake out in our favor. Looking forward to a couple of weeks off.” However, the team’s relief was short-lived as NASCAR announced the penalties for the weekend.

Post-race inspection revealed two unsecured lug nuts on the No. 10 car. This was a violation of NASCAR’s strict tire and wheel safety rules (Sections 8.8.10.4a). The rule pertains to the “loss or separation of an improperly installed tire/wheel from the vehicle during the event.” As a result, NASCAR issued a $10,000 fine to Kaulig Racing.

However, the penalties didn’t end there. NASCAR also suspended crew chief Kevin Walter for one race, sidelining him for the upcoming Charlotte event on May 24. The penalty is standard for this infraction in the Xfinity Series, where teams still use the traditional five-lug pattern, and underscores NASCAR’s ongoing emphasis on pit safety.

Walter’s absence will be felt, as he’s been instrumental in Dye’s steady rookie campaign. Dye currently sits just outside the playoff picture and third in the Rookie of the Year standings. With two weeks off before Charlotte, Kaulig Racing faces the challenge of regrouping and maintaining its momentum amid a season already defined by unpredictability and high stakes.

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Xfinity penalties pale in comparison to Cup Series race penalties

The Xfinity Series wasn’t the only division handing out penalties after the Texas weekend. The Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway proved even more chaotic. The mayhem on the track spilt over onto pit road, where a flurry of mistakes and miscalculations led to a steady stream of penalties that affected nearly every team in the field. NASCAR officials in the tower had a field day and handed out penalties to the drivers and teams throughout the race.

Pit road discipline was a major issue, with 25 separate penalties issued for drivers pitting before pit road was officially open. Notable names like Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and Bubba Wallace were among those sent to the tail end of the field for this infraction. Speeding on pit road was also rampant. Nine drivers, including Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, and Chase Briscoe, were caught pushing the limits and forced to serve tail-end penalties or pass-throughs.

The chaos didn’t stop there. Three drivers, including Chase Briscoe and Kyle Busch, were penalized for commitment line violations. Other infractions ranged from crew members going over the wall too soon to safety violations, vehicle interference, and tire mishandling. Each mistake carried a heavy price, often derailing promising runs and shuffling the order during critical restarts.

The sheer volume of penalties underscored the relentless pressure and razor-thin margins that define modern NASCAR racing. Teams and drivers must walk a fine line between aggression and discipline, knowing that a single misstep can turn a potential win into a mid-pack finish. As the series heads to Kansas, teams, including Kaulig Racing, will be looking to tighten up their execution. They’ll hope to avoid the kind of penalty-riddled afternoon that defined the Texas showdown.