News Analysis: Kyle Busch’s winning Xfinity car fails post-race inspection

What happened: Kyle Busch won Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but NASCAR later announced his No. 18 car failed post-race inspection. It was too low in both the left front and the right front.

What it means: This is the first real test of NASCAR’s new penalty structure. The P1, P2, P3, etc. penalties are gone; now there’s just an L1 and L2. The rulebook says failing the heights after a race qualifies as an L1 penalty. In addition, the rulebook says an L1 penalty in the Xfinity Series counts as an encumbered finish — which means the No. 18 won’t be able to use the win to make the owner’s playoffs. In addition, according to the rulebook, the “minimum” penalty options for an L1 penalty in the Xfinity Series are the loss of 10-40 points, a one-to-three race crew chief suspension and a fine of $10,000-$40,000.

News value (scale of 1-10): Four, but could go up or down next week. It will be interesting to see what NASCAR announces on Tuesday or Wednesday when the penalties are made official.

Questions: Will NASCAR follow the standards laid out in its rulebook? If so, who will crew chief for the No. 18 car next week at Las Vegas? And will Busch go 10-for-10 in Xfinity races this year?

2 Replies to “News Analysis: Kyle Busch’s winning Xfinity car fails post-race inspection”

  1. OH for GOD sakes take the ill gotten win away! It should not count!!!! Why is this so hard? Please explain. I was watching the damn race and I said to myself…PENALTY!

    Until they take the win away, it means nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. Make it simple to follow , you failed the tech inspection you lose the race .the person who finish second get the win.

    You do another ceremony at the raceshop ,at Charlotte Motor Speedway or at the Nascar HOF.

    All post race inspection should be available for fan on the new Nascar Desksite!!!

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