CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hendrick Motorsports announced on Monday that they will not pursue an appeal regarding Alex Bowman’s disqualification at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, which has resulted in his exit from the NASCAR championship chase.
Bowman concluded the race at The Roval in 18th place, a finish that would have allowed him to eliminate Joey Logano from Team Penske by a narrow margin of four points. However, NASCAR determined that Bowman’s No. 48 Chevrolet did not comply with post-race inspection standards due to failing to meet the required minimum weight. This disqualification moved Bowman to 38th place, granting Logano his playoff position.
Despite having the option to contest the decision, Hendrick Motorsports opted not to appeal, expressing their sentiments in a statement. They acknowledged that NASCAR provides a reasonable allowance for discrepancies in pre- and post-race weight. “After a thorough review by our team and the sanctioning body, we simply did not give ourselves enough margin to meet the post-race requirement,” the team stated. They expressed their disappointment over the loss of a playoff position under these circumstances and extended apologies to their fans and partners.
All cars participating in the playoffs undergo inspections following each race. According to NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports had several opportunities to adjust the car’s weight by fueling, purging the water system, and adding water. However, the car still registered below the necessary weight when reweighed.
The impact of the disqualification was particularly felt by Bowman’s sponsor, Ally. Andrea Brimmer, Ally’s chief marketing officer, took to social media to express her feelings regarding the situation. She mentioned feeling “gutted” for Bowman and the team who have worked diligently throughout the season to earn their spots in the playoffs. “Woke up this morning — after hardly sleeping — not feeling any better,” she stated, highlighting the team’s efforts in accumulating points this year.
Now, the eight drivers who will continue in the playoff competition include Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson, along with Team Penske’s Logano and reigning series champion Ryan Blaney. Additionally, the lineup includes Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin, as well as Tyler Reddick from 23XI Racing.
This disqualification was a particularly harsh turn of events for Hendrick Motorsports, which had celebrated the achievement of placing half their drivers in the playoff field just a day earlier. Heading into this Sunday’s race at Las Vegas, the team will now have only three of its cars vying for victory.
