NASCAR star disqualified, out of playoffs after failing inspection

CONCORD, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - An eight-time NASCAR Cup Series winner was disqualified from the sport’s playoffs Sunday after his car failed post-race inspection at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Alex Bowman, driver of Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 48 car, had seemingly advanced to NASCAR’s Round of 8 following the immediate conclusion of Sunday’s race.

With Bowman initially in, two-time champion Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick spent the final laps at Charlotte’ Roval battling for the final transfer spot. Reddick earned the Round of 8 bid when the checkered flag dropped, thus eliminating Logano.

A couple hours after the race, though, NASCAR announced that Bowman’s Chevrolet had failed inspection, citing a weight issue.

In a video posted to social media, Cup Series managing director Brad Moran said the No. 48 car did not “pass minimum weight specs.”

“We give the teams every opportunity to try to meet minimum weight,” Moran said in the video. “They are allowed half a percent of a weight break, which is about 17 pounds, give or take.”

Moran said Bowman’s car was weighed multiple times, was fueled and refueled, and had water circulated through it, but was still unable to satisfy the minimum weight requirement.

In a response, Hendrick Motorsports said Sunday night that it was “working to understand the issue and will make a decision Monday about whether to submit an appeal.

Because of the infraction, Bowman was disqualified from Sunday’s race, and was therefore credited with a last-place, 38th-place finish. By virtue of that finish, his Round of 8 spot was no longer secured, and Logano finished with more points and advanced.

Had Bowman advanced, Hendrick cars would have made up four of the final eight left in the championship hunt. Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and William Byron all advanced after Larson dominated en route to the win on Sunday.

There are four races remaining in the 2024 season. The next three will determine which four drivers battle for the championship in Phoenix.

The Cup Series will be back in action Sunday afternoon at Las Vegas Motor Speedway before heading off to Homestead-Miami and Martinsville in the lead-up to Phoenix.

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