Alex Bowman found his playoff hopes in jeopardy due to a penalty handed down by NASCAR officials. Following a post-race inspection after the Bank of America 400 ROVAL race held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bowman’s car failed to meet the minimum weight requirements. Consequently, he was disqualified, and blocked from advancing to the Round of 8 in the playoffs, something that has led to strong reactions across the sport.
Denny Hamlin, a seasoned driver and strong critic of NASCAR, openly admitted his disapproval of the penalty on the Actions Detrimental Podcast (below).
“It was in weight on Saturday. A lot of things happened between Saturday and Sunday… I don’t know. I’m uneducated in this moment. Again, we’re 30 minutes from the news. You’d have to lose a pretty heavy component. I’m not sure how it could lose significant weight. I mean, I know there’s a way. I just don’t know how or why,” Hamlin admitted.
At the center of this is Hendrick Motorsports, a team with a strong legacy in the sport. The squad posted the following to X (formerly Twitter).
“We are working to understand the issue and will make a decision Monday about whether to submit an appeal.” It was confirmed that the team decided not to appeal.
Originally, all four Hendrick drivers advanced to the next round before the penalty changed those standings.
Joey Logano, who benefits from the outcome, was granted a spot in the Round of 8.
For Bowman, who has garnered eight Cup Series wins with Hendrick Motorsports, this penalty represents a serious obstacle in his path to securing a maiden championship. His consistent performance over seven seasons with the team showcased him as a formidable contender. However, this penalty puts his playoff journey in limbo.
Denny Hamlin, highlighting the buffer allowed by NASCAR for things like weight limit, criticized the seeming lack of concern over penalties and the huge affects they have.
“And so the problem is that I just don’t think NASCAR cares. That’s why they give you that buffer. It’s just like speeding on pit road. You know, if you speed on pit road, you weren’t 0.3 miles per hour over the speed limit.
“You were 5.3 miles per hour over the speed limit. That’s why they give you that buffer. They don’t expect you to take that. If they’re allowing for things to happen on the racetrack that could alter the way to your car,” Hamlin said.
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