CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A triumphant day for Hendrick Motorsports took a big hit with the disqualification of Alex Bowman's No. 48 Chevrolet following post-race inspection for the Charlotte Roval race.
NASCAR officials said Bowman's car did not meet minimum weight in post-race inspection. Bowman finished 18th in the race and won the second stage, securing enough points to make it to the next round of the playoffs.
Bowman's disqualification knocks him out of the Round of 8. Joey Logano with Team Penske will take the spot from Bowman.
"We gave them every opportunity to make minimum weight," Brad Moran, managing director of the NASCAR Cup Series. "We ran them back through. Unfortunately, they were light again. They are allowed a 0.5% weight break, which is for usage of fluids and so on. That’s about 17 pounds."
All four Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) drivers put themselves into the Round of 8 before Bowman's disqualification. It was the first time a four-car team had accomplished the feat. Hendrick driver Kyle Larson dominated the Charlotte Roval for his sixth win of the season.
HMS said it will make a decision on Monday on whether to appeal the disqualification.
“If the appeal happens, it’ll be expedited, so it’ll probably happen in the next couple of days,” Moran said. “So really can’t get into all the details of the information, but the car was light, and that’s where we ended up.”
Logano initially missed the cut by four points behind Tyler Reddick.
Bowman qualified for the playoffs with a win at the Chicago Street Course in July.
