Alex Bowman, who initially finished 18th in his #48 car at the Charlotte Roval and seemingly advanced to the Round of 8, faced a significant setback following post-race inspections. NASCAR determined that his Chevrolet was underweight, leading to his disqualification and removal from the playoff contention.
Playoff Impact
Bowman's disqualification drastically altered the playoff landscape. Previously, Tyler Reddick was in a tight points race with Joey Logano for the final transfer spot. With Bowman’s disqualification, Reddick gained the advantage, moving ahead of Logano for the last slot in the next round.
The disqualification stripped Bowman of a crucial nine-point edge over Logano, relegating him to 38th place in the final standings and earning just one championship point. Consequently, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, and Ryan Blaney solidified their positions in the top ten. AJ Allmendinger was subsequently named the official winner of Stage 2 at the Charlotte Roval, while the adjusted top ten included drivers like Austin Cindric and Denny Hamlin.
NASCAR’s Response
Brad Moran, Managing Director of the NASCAR Cup Series, provided insights into the circumstances leading to Bowman’s disqualification. He explained that the #48 car failed to meet the minimum weight requirements. Moran stated, “Unfortunately, the No. 48 had an issue and did not meet minimum weight. We put the car to the side... We gave them every opportunity to make minimum weight.”
Moran noted that NASCAR allowed the Hendrick Motorsports team to refuel the car and adjust its water system to meet the standards. Despite these efforts, the car remained underweight. “They are allowed a 0.5% weight break, which is for usage of fluids and so on. That’s about 17 pounds,” he explained.
He further added “We backed the car back off the scales, ran it back on and then, unfortunately, it was the same weight. So the car had a weight issue. All the other cars cleared inspection. The No. 48 didn’t, and that ends up in a disqualification.”
Next Steps for Hendrick Motorsports
While Moran did not disclose the specific weight shortfall of the #48 Chevrolet, he indicated that if Hendrick Motorsports chooses to appeal the disqualification, the process would be expedited, likely concluding before the upcoming race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The team is currently assessing the situation and plans to announce their decision regarding an appeal on Monday.
Bowman’s disqualification not only affects his playoff standing but also leaves the Hendrick Motorsports team working to understand the weight issue before making further moves.
