Former NASCAR team owner agrees to a plea deal over $176,144 debt to the IRS

Ron Devine, the former owner of the NASCAR Cup Series' BK Racing, was indicted on four counts of failure to pay payroll taxes last year. As per journalist Bob Pockrass, he has agreed to a plea deal of over $176,144 debt to the Internal Revenue Service.

Co-owned by Devine, Wayne Press, and Mike Wheeler, BK Racing began its journey in the 2012 Cup Series. The team, which primarily fielded car #23, saw several racers like J. J. Yeley, Alex Bowman, David Ragan, Corey LaJoie, and others take the wheel between 2012 and 2018. Due to financial restraints by the end of 2017, Devine filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the team, 72 hours before the 2018 Daytona 500 race.

Devine, who oversaw the entire financial operation of BK Racing, failed to account for and pay payroll taxes since 2012. This eventually resulted in the indictment of the Burger King franchise owner in 2023. A year later, he agreed to the plea deal.

"Former team owner Ron Devine has agreed to plea deal. Factual basis: "Devine did willfully fail to pay over to the Internal Revenue Service $176,144.88 in trust fund taxes due and owing to the IRS on behalf of BK Racing for the quarter ending June 30, 2017." ... Court date Jan 6," Pockrass said.

Before entering the world of NASCAR in 2012, Ron Devine owned multiple franchises of the popular fast-food joint Burger King.

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What happened to NASCAR's BK Racing after 2018?

Ron Devine, tomato farmer Wayne Press, and former race director of the Red Bull Racing Team Thomas Uberall jointly owned BK Racing. However, a court case between Devine and Union Bank & Trust Company eventually led to the team filing for bankruptcy in 2018 before the season began. This resulted in the team's liquidation in August 2018.

All assets owned by BK Racing were handed to Front Row Motorsports. The former fielded the #23 car till the end of the 2018 NASCAR season, with the help of FRM and the NY Racing Team.