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The best official DNF reasons in NASCAR history
By Steve Luvender | Published: December 20, 2020 49
Steve Luvender
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Steve Luvender
When a driver exits a NASCAR race for any reason, they're required to provide race control staff with the official reason of their retirement. Normally, those are simple descriptions: 'crash,' 'engine,' 'transmission,' and so on. However, over the years, there have been several notable instances of slightly more descriptive or interesting reasons -- from 'engine fire' to 'bad gas' to 'stuck.' After scouring decades' worth of races on Racing Reference, we've assembled a list of our favorites.
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Donnie Allison, Rockingham 1978
Driver ill: I mean, you can't blame Donnie for preferring to rest over drive a race car when sick, and you can't blame the crew for not wanting the driver to 'get sick' inside the car.
Driver ill: I mean, you can't blame Donnie for preferring to rest over drive a race car when sick, and you can't blame the crew for not wanting the driver to 'get sick' inside the car.
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Billy Wade, Charlotte 1964
Windshield: This one's excusable. It would be awfully windy in the car without a properly functioning windshield.
Windshield: This one's excusable. It would be awfully windy in the car without a properly functioning windshield.
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Jeff Swindell, Atlanta 1986
Window: A window seems important -- but as a reason to quit a race? Nobody had a replacement window ready for Jeff Swindell, it seems.
Window: A window seems important -- but as a reason to quit a race? Nobody had a replacement window ready for Jeff Swindell, it seems.
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Fred Harb, Winston-Salem 1961
Door: Maybe Fred Harb's 1961 DNF is the reason NASCAR race cars no longer have doors.
Door: Maybe Fred Harb's 1961 DNF is the reason NASCAR race cars no longer have doors.
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Bobby Lee, Columbia 1958
Lug Nuts: Back in the fifties, drivers just stopped racing if there was an issue with lug nuts, apparently. (Could they not find new lug nuts to put on the car?) Today, crew chiefs get suspended instead.
Lug Nuts: Back in the fifties, drivers just stopped racing if there was an issue with lug nuts, apparently. (Could they not find new lug nuts to put on the car?) Today, crew chiefs get suspended instead.
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Dick Rathman, Morristown 1955
Connect: Oh, yeah, just like in iRacing.
Connect: Oh, yeah, just like in iRacing.
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Scotty Cain, Charlotte 1960
Engine Fire: You get a pass on this one, Scotty. An engine fire sounds scary. Less than ideal, really.
Engine Fire: You get a pass on this one, Scotty. An engine fire sounds scary. Less than ideal, really.
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Jim Paschal, Daytona 1961
Seal: A seal? In the car? I've heard of Jocko Flocko, but never Paschal's Pinniped.
Seal: A seal? In the car? I've heard of Jocko Flocko, but never Paschal's Pinniped.
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Doug Yates, Hillsboro 1961
Seals: Hang on. Seals? As in, multiple marine mammals? Between Doug Yates and Jim Paschal, what was going on in 1961?
Seals: Hang on. Seals? As in, multiple marine mammals? Between Doug Yates and Jim Paschal, what was going on in 1961?
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Ernie Irvan, Darlington 1992
Head: A head's important. That's why drivers are required to wear a helmet.
Head: A head's important. That's why drivers are required to wear a helmet.
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Cotton Owens, Raleigh 1957
Fan: While this probably isn't the intended meaning, I like to think a fan -- like an individual who is a racing enthusiast -- somehow caused this DNF, and not a parts failure.
Fan: While this probably isn't the intended meaning, I like to think a fan -- like an individual who is a racing enthusiast -- somehow caused this DNF, and not a parts failure.
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Buddy Baker, Talladega 1970
Spin/Fire: A rare two-fer! Buddy Baker exited Talladega in 1970 because of a spin AND a fire. Sounds pretty rock-and-roll, actually.
Spin/Fire: A rare two-fer! Buddy Baker exited Talladega in 1970 because of a spin AND a fire. Sounds pretty rock-and-roll, actually.
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PJ Jones, Pocono 2010
Too Slow: Being too slow is probably one of the most humiliating ways to exit a race.
Too Slow: Being too slow is probably one of the most humiliating ways to exit a race.
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Colton Hodges, West Palm Beach 1954
Slow: Or, you can just be slow in general. I bet race leaders wish more lapped cars would quit a race for this reason more often.
Slow: Or, you can just be slow in general. I bet race leaders wish more lapped cars would quit a race for this reason more often.
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Ed Negre, Greenville 1968
Flat Tire: 'Bring 'er in, the tire's flat. There's literally no way to solve this problem but to quit the race.
Flat Tire: 'Bring 'er in, the tire's flat. There's literally no way to solve this problem but to quit the race.
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Don Puskarich, Riverside 1981
Sump: Not much, 'sump with you? I'm not a mechanic, but isn't this the thing that keeps water out of your basement?
Sump: Not much, 'sump with you? I'm not a mechanic, but isn't this the thing that keeps water out of your basement?
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Stick Elliott, Spartanburg 1963
Housing: Stick, buddy, you can bunk with one of your crew members. Don't stress about housing to the point where you quit the race over it. (Have I mentioned I'm not a mechanic?)
Housing: Stick, buddy, you can bunk with one of your crew members. Don't stress about housing to the point where you quit the race over it. (Have I mentioned I'm not a mechanic?)
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Dick Carter, Oakland 1954
Lost Fluid: He peed in the car. No doubt about it.
Lost Fluid: He peed in the car. No doubt about it.
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JT Putney, Bridgehampton 1966
Bad Gas: Since we've apparently reached the low, low point of toilet humor, you're welcome to tweet us your best fart joke.
Bad Gas: Since we've apparently reached the low, low point of toilet humor, you're welcome to tweet us your best fart joke.
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Jim Paschal, Greenville 1964
Air Cleaner: You know, like Febreze. Maybe JT 'Bad Gas' Putney drove the car first.
Air Cleaner: You know, like Febreze. Maybe JT 'Bad Gas' Putney drove the car first.
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Jimmie Lewallen, Richmond 1955
Mud: Let's hope 'mud' isn’t a euphemism for something else.
Mud: Let's hope 'mud' isn’t a euphemism for something else.
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Neil Bonnett, Riverside 1981
Plugs: Spark, or hair?
Plugs: Spark, or hair?
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Roy Hall, Darlington 1952
Tires, Fuel: Another two-fer. Roy Hall stopped racing at Darlington in 1952 when he ran out of tires AND fuel. Impeccable timing, really.
Tires, Fuel: Another two-fer. Roy Hall stopped racing at Darlington in 1952 when he ran out of tires AND fuel. Impeccable timing, really.
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Al Keller, West Palm Beach 1952
Broken Chain: Al Keller, the jeweler's racer.
Broken Chain: Al Keller, the jeweler's racer.
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Junior Johnson, Weaverville 1962
Pan: Junior Johnson left a race with the official DNF reason of 'Pan' -- it appears to be the only one in NASCAR history. No word what Junior Johnson was attempting to cook in his car that day in Weaverville in 1962, but it apparently didn't go well.
Pan: Junior Johnson left a race with the official DNF reason of 'Pan' -- it appears to be the only one in NASCAR history. No word what Junior Johnson was attempting to cook in his car that day in Weaverville in 1962, but it apparently didn't go well.
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Junior Johnson, Nashville 1961
Studs: Those studs'll get you.
Studs: Those studs'll get you.
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Ed Jordan, Macon 1966
Fender: Either Ed Jordan drove into something, or he broke a guitar string rocking out on a sweet jam in the car. Either way, it's unusual to see 'Fender' as an official DNF reason.
Fender: Either Ed Jordan drove into something, or he broke a guitar string rocking out on a sweet jam in the car. Either way, it's unusual to see 'Fender' as an official DNF reason.
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Marv Acton, Darlington 1971
Hood Pin: Quitting a race over a hood pin? 1971, an era before duct tape.
Hood Pin: Quitting a race over a hood pin? 1971, an era before duct tape.
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Bill Seifert, Dover 1971
Frame: Some drivers use tape to attached photos of their loved ones to their dashboards. Not Bill Seifert.
Frame: Some drivers use tape to attached photos of their loved ones to their dashboards. Not Bill Seifert.
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Jack Smith, Charlotte 1957
Shift: I'm curious about the story behind Jack Smith's official DNF reason as 'Shift' -- did he forget how to shift? Was there a problem with the shifter? What's going on here?
Shift: I'm curious about the story behind Jack Smith's official DNF reason as 'Shift' -- did he forget how to shift? Was there a problem with the shifter? What's going on here?
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Stanley Smith, Charlotte 1992
No Tires: Stanley Smith somehow made it past the halfway point of the race with no tires. Impressive.
No Tires: Stanley Smith somehow made it past the halfway point of the race with no tires. Impressive.
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Junior Johnson, North Wilkesboro 1955
Bumper: You can't race without a bumper, you know.
Bumper: You can't race without a bumper, you know.
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Cotton Wallace, Atlanta 1965
Tire Rub: Cotton Wallace was apparently not equipped with Furniture Row Racing's giant saw blades to take care of his tire rub at Atlanta in 1965.
Tire Rub: Cotton Wallace was apparently not equipped with Furniture Row Racing's giant saw blades to take care of his tire rub at Atlanta in 1965.
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Junior Johnson, Hillsboro 1955
King Pin: With zero mechanical knowledge of the king pin's role of a race car's wellbeing, I picture Junior Johnson excusing himself from racing duties to take down a major crime ring. 'I can't race. I've got to take care of this kingpin!' A true hero.
King Pin: With zero mechanical knowledge of the king pin's role of a race car's wellbeing, I picture Junior Johnson excusing himself from racing duties to take down a major crime ring. 'I can't race. I've got to take care of this kingpin!' A true hero.
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Ernest Eury, Spartanburg 1966
Air Filter: You don't see a lot of DNFs for air filters these days.
Air Filter: You don't see a lot of DNFs for air filters these days.
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Phil Parsons, Riverside 1984
Shock: Instead of the shocks on a car, maybe Phil Parsons was shocked to stuff a helmet over his luscious eighties hair. If you don't know what I'm talking about, Google 'Phil Parsons 1984.'
Shock: Instead of the shocks on a car, maybe Phil Parsons was shocked to stuff a helmet over his luscious eighties hair. If you don't know what I'm talking about, Google 'Phil Parsons 1984.'
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Buck Baker, Daytona Beach 1952
Stuck: When you race on the beach, you're bound to get stuck. It seems there was no helping Buck Baker that day in 1952.
Stuck: When you race on the beach, you're bound to get stuck. It seems there was no helping Buck Baker that day in 1952.
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PJ Jones, Watkins Glen 1994
Fumes: JT Putney again?
Fumes: JT Putney again?
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Major Melton, Weaverville 1963
Seat: Major Melton retired after 324 of 500 laps for the reason 'Seat,' which seems like an awfully long time to race without sitting.
Seat: Major Melton retired after 324 of 500 laps for the reason 'Seat,' which seems like an awfully long time to race without sitting.
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Ted Chamberlain, North Wilkesboro 1952
Arm: I mean, this was a time before race cars used power steering. Your arm could get tired. That's what he means, right?
Arm: I mean, this was a time before race cars used power steering. Your arm could get tired. That's what he means, right?
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Rich Bickle, Martinsville 1998
Harmonic: I hope this was a typo for 'harmonica' and it fell under the seat mid-race.
Harmonic: I hope this was a typo for 'harmonica' and it fell under the seat mid-race.
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Tim Richmond, Riverside 1981
Lifter: Do you even lift, bro? Well, Tim Richmond probably did. That's why he left the race at Riverside in 1981.
Lifter: Do you even lift, bro? Well, Tim Richmond probably did. That's why he left the race at Riverside in 1981.
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Buckshot Jones, Atlanta 1999
Fatigue: Atlanta got the best of Buckshot Jones in 1999, when he quit due to fatigue. Apparently, a relief driver was not available that day.
Fatigue: Atlanta got the best of Buckshot Jones in 1999, when he quit due to fatigue. Apparently, a relief driver was not available that day.
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Roy Tyner, Randleman 1963
No Reason: He just sort of got out of the car and stopped racing, I guess.
No Reason: He just sort of got out of the car and stopped racing, I guess.
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Bob Stanclift, San Mateo 1955
No Explanation: Similarly to 'No Reason,' Bob Stancliff apparently had no words upon exiting from San Mateo in 1955.
No Explanation: Similarly to 'No Reason,' Bob Stancliff apparently had no words upon exiting from San Mateo in 1955.
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Lloyd Dane, Las Vegas 1955
Unexplained: Lloyd Dane -- The Unexplained DNF Story, this fall on History Channel. Some mysteries can't be solved.
Unexplained: Lloyd Dane -- The Unexplained DNF Story, this fall on History Channel. Some mysteries can't be solved.
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Marshall Teague, Daytona Beach 1950
Did Not Finish: He didn't finish the race because he didn't finish the race. Why is that so hard to understand?
Did Not Finish: He didn't finish the race because he didn't finish the race. Why is that so hard to understand?
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Jimmy Means, Dover 1977
DNF: Similarly, Jimmy Means stopped racing at Dover in 1977 for the reason 'DNF.' Maybe it stands for Duke Nukem Forever or something nobody expected. Still, it’s the purest DNF reason ever given to date.
DNF: Similarly, Jimmy Means stopped racing at Dover in 1977 for the reason 'DNF.' Maybe it stands for Duke Nukem Forever or something nobody expected. Still, it’s the purest DNF reason ever given to date.