The Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway has seen its share of drama recently, with Kyle Larson taking the lead on Sunday. However, several incidents have since emerged that have drawn significant attention. Among the most notable were the disqualification of Alex Bowman, despite finishing in the Top 8, and a severe team penalty for Austin Dillon. The reason behind Dillon’s penalty has raised eyebrows.
The incident began when Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet left the pit stall prematurely during the race, leading to a critical issue. Joshua Thomas, the front tire changer, and Nicholas Covey, the jackman, were held accountable. After a rushed pit stop, Dillon returned to the track only to lose his left front wheel, resulting in a safety hazard and a late-race caution. This breach violated NASCAR’s 8.8.10.4.A & C rules, which address improper tire or wheel installations. The violation prompted further inspection by NASCAR, leading to penalties for Dillon’s crew. He finished the race in 32nd place.
As a result, Thomas and Covey will miss upcoming pit stops at both Las Vegas and Homestead-Miami Speedway due to the penalty but are expected to return for Martinsville Speedway. In their absence, Michael Johnson, who has experience with Richard Childress Racing, Kaulig Racing, and Team Amerivet, will take over front tire duties. Garrett Crall, a jackman for various Richard Childress and Kaulig Racing teams, will temporarily replace Covey as jackman.
Additionally, NASCAR fined four other crew members $50,000 each for unsecured lug nuts. Those affected include Andy Street from Richard Childress Racing, Jeff Meendering from Joe Gibbs Racing, James Pohlman, and Philip Bell from JR Motorsports. These penalties are in line with NASCAR’s stringent safety standards, though they will not affect driver standings.
Further drama unfolded at Charlotte as Alex Bowman, who had initially secured a Top 8 spot with an 18th-place finish, was disqualified due to weight discrepancies. After his car was inspected, it was found to be 17 pounds over the weight limit, violating NASCAR’s post-race weight specifications. As a result, Bowman lost his playoff spot to Joey Logano and was demoted to P38. Although Team Hendrick had the option to appeal the decision, they chose not to, acknowledging that the infraction was avoidable and apologizing to their fans and partners.
With all these penalties and disqualifications making waves at Charlotte Motor Speedway, it remains to be seen whether the upcoming race at Las Vegas Speedway will witness similar controversies.
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