Ross Chastain and his Niece Motorsports NASCAR Gander Outdoors team became the first driver/team to fall victim to NASCAR's crackdown on failed post-race inspections, being stripped of their win at Iowa Speedway when their truck failed inspection after finishing first June 16. NASCAR announced Wednesday a modification to a rule to take in-race damage into account during its post-race inspection process.
“NASCAR may issue penalties as it deems fit to provide for the orderly conduct of the sport. Such determinations may be made by NASCAR before, during, or after the event, and may consider, to the extent deemed reasonable by NASCAR in the interests of racing competition and fairness, any modifications caused or required as a result of damage caused by in-race accidents," section 12.4.a of the 2019 NASCAR rule book now reads.
Following its failed post-race inspection at Iowa, Niece Motorsports contended that the failure was a result of in-race damage. The team unsuccessfully appealed its disqualification that resulted in being credited with a last-place finish of the Iowa race. Later, the team revealed the failed inpsection was a result of the failure of outdated parts. When Chastain was stripped of the Iowa win, reigning series champion Brett Moffitt, who finished second to Chastain at Iowa, was declared the race winner.
The modified section 12.4.a is similarly worded to section 8.3.c, which relates to the eligibility of race vehicles.
“Such determinations may be made by NASCAR before, during, or after the event, and may consider, to the extent deemed reasonable by NASCAR in the interests of racing competition and fairness, any modifications caused or required as a result of damaged caused by In-race accidents,” section 8.3.c reads.
NASCAR also announced Wednesday that the same aerodynamic rules package used for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway in late April will be used for the July 6 Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. That package includes a wicker on the spoiler that was added during the Talladega race weekend in an effort to decrease speeds.
