Alex Bowman Disqualified; Will Not Advance in NASCAR Playoffs

Just when everybody thought the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs were done being shaken up, the post-race inspection process has thrown a wrench into things.

Alex Bowman, who finished 18th in Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400, has failed post-race inspection, as the No. 48 Ally Financial Chevrolet Camaro has failed to meet the minimum weight requirement in post-race technical inspection.

Bowman has been disqualified from the event and will be credited with a 38th-place finish, receiving a single point on the afternoon.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver was on track to be one of the eight drivers that advanced into the semi-final round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, but with a staggering loss of points from the disqualification, will no longer advance.

Instead, Joey Logano, who was initially believed to be eliminated from the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has been given a second life, and will still be eligible to chase his third NASCAR Cup Series championship over the next four weeks.

Bowman was the winner of the race’s second stage, but by being disqualified, forfeited the stage win to AJ Allmendinger. Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, and Ryan Blaney round out the new top five. Austin Cindric, Michael McDowell, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin will complete the new running order in the top-10.

Brad Moran, the NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director, spoke to members of the media afterward.

"As we were running them through [post-race inspection], unfortunately, the No. 48 had an issue and did not meet minimum weight. So, we put the car to the side and continued on," Moran said. "We gave them the opportunity to make minimum weight, we ran them back through and unfortunately they were light again."

"They are allowed a five percent weight break, which is for the usage of fuel and so on, that's about 17 pounds. [We] took it off the scales, put it back on and 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 in a DQ."

In a statement, Hendrick Motorsports says: "We are working to understand the issue and will make a decision Monday about whether to submit an appeal."

Photo: Jared Bokanoski, TobyChristie.com