NASCAR Suspends Stephen Kopcik For Intentionally Wrecking Tyler Rypkema During NASCAR Whelen Modified Race At North Wilkesboro

May 21, 2025  ·
  John Trent

NASCAR announced it suspended Stephen Kopcik for one race and fined him $1,000 for intentionally wrecking Tyler Rypkema with 45 laps to go in the Faithfest 150 at North Wilkesboro.

In the penalty announcement, it revealed that Kopcik violated rule 12-8.1 Member Conduct Guidelines by “intentionally wrecking another vehicle, whether or not that vehicle is removed from Competition as a result.”

Following a restart with 50 laps to go, Kopcik fell from first to fifth after choosing to start on the outside. He began to work his way back to the front by diving deep underneath Rypkema for the fourth spot and giving him a little bit of his nerf bar to push him up the track and take the position. Rypkema responded by giving him the bumper in the ensuing corner. It was enough to push Kopcik up the track and allow him to get around him.

Kopcik retaliated in the next corner by hitting Rypkema just as they were entering it. Rypkema attempted to save it, but ended up making hard contact with the wall hitting it nose first.

After exiting his car, Rypkema gave Kopcik some sign language as he drove past.

For this, Rypkema was fined $500 and suspended from NASCAR until the fine is paid. NASCAR noted he violated a rule against “heat of the moment actions or reactions, either on or off the race track” and “actions by a NASCAR member that NASCAR finds to be detrimental to stock car racing or NASCAR.”

It also specifically noted that he was to “immediately proceed to either the ambulance, other vehicle or as otherwise directed by safety personnel or a NASCAR official” rather than approaching another moving vehicle.

Kopcik ended up finishing the race in sixth while Rypkema finished 19th. Kopcik currently sits in 5th place in points just 8 points behind current leader Craig Lutz, who ended up winning the race at North Wilkesboro. Rypkema is in 9th place, 34 points behind Lutz.

This is not the first time that Kopcik has been suspended by NASCAR. Back in February 2024, he was suspended indefinitely after he was arrested for his involvement at a minor league hockey game in Connecticut. He was reinstated at the end of April 2024 with NASCAR noting, “NASCAR has reinstated Whelen Modified Tour driver Stephen Kopcik, who was suspended indefinitely Feb. 29. Kopcik is eligible to resume NASCAR competition immediately and is scheduled to serve as the crew chief for the No. 19 entry this weekend at Monadnock Speedway.”

What do you make of NASCAR suspending and fining Kopcik?

NEXT: Davey Callihan Explains Why He Spun Out Chase Johnson At Conclusion Of Dominion Raceway’s Big One

 

 

Author: John Trent