[autotag]Alex Bowman[/autotag] crossed the start-finish line in 18th place at the Charlotte ROVAL, securing a spot in the Round of 8. However, reality struck for Bowman and the No. 48 team about two-and-a-half hours later. NASCAR announced that Bowman was disqualified after the No. 48 car failed to meet the minimum weight. It knocked him out of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
Brad Moran, the managing director of the Cup Series, addressed Bowman’s disqualification and the process the No. 48 car went through to determine that it was “too light” in NASCAR’s eyes.
“Unfortunately, the No. 48 had an issue and did not meet minimum weight,” Moran said. “We put the car to the side. We continued on. We gave them the opportunity to fuel the car as well as purge the water system and add water. So we gave them every opportunity to make minimum weight. 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.”
https://twitter.com/nascar/status/1845537714529038597?s=46
“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.”
Hendrick Motorsports hasn’t announced if they will appeal the disqualification, but it would be an expedited process. It needs to be resolved before the race weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which is a reasonable ask. Bowman and Hendrick Motorsports hope his finish can be restored, but it all depends on whether they appeal the penalty.
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