HAMPTON, GA - FEBRUARY 24: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Beer Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 24, 2019 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Kevin Harvick No. 4 taken to the NASCAR R&D Center following Atlanta Motor Speedway
Shane Walters
Other penalties pending following the NASCAR race at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Race winner Brad Keselowski has passed post-race NASCAR inspection following the win at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Keselowski was under the weather. Despite that, he still drove to the bumper of his teammate and took the lead in the closing stage of the race.
The race at Atlanta Motor Speedway was an introduction of a new rules package. In short, the cars have less power and more downforce. It was the first installment of this package on a 1.5-mile race track.
The post-race inspection took place at the track on Sunday night. That’s new for the 2019 racing season.
A few cars were found with minor infractions. NASCAR has elected to begin further analysis of another car back in North Carolina.
Atlanta Penalties Pending
Two teams were found with violations following Atlanta Motor Speedway:
The Germain Racing No. 13 Chevrolet with driver Ty Dillon had one loose lug nut. The team finished 25th.
Additionally, the Leavine Family Racing No. 95 Toyota driven by Matt DiBenedetto also had a loose lug nut. He finished in 26th.
The NASCAR rule book states that crew chiefs for both teams will be handed a fine for the infraction. That official announcement is pending.
Kevin Harvick’s car has been taken back to the NASCAR R&D Center for further evaluation. Harvick finished 4th in the event.
New post-race NASCAR inspection
Previously, penalties were announced mid-week. In the eyes of NASCAR, that taunted the promotion of the upcoming race weekend. However, the disqualifications are totally new for 2019.
The old inspection process involved NASCAR taking a handful of cars back to North Carolina on a series owned, unmarked hauler.
On Monday after the race, officials would tear down the car to the frame. The engines would be tore apart also.
What’s new? NASCAR announced the new inspection process back in February. It allows for a more timely reaction to rule book infractions.
After each race, the cars are inspected by a group of officials at the race track. The goal is to have the inspection completed within 90 minutes of the checkered flag.
In the case of a rules violation, it would result in a disqualification from the event. The finishing position would be taken away. In the case of a win, the 2nd place finisher would be declared the winner. That assumes 2nd passes inspection.
The last NASCAR disqualification came in 1973. Buddy Baker exited the race early and then was relegated to last place. That happened in the National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
As far as a race winner being disqualified, you have to step back even further into the history books. On April 17, 1960, Emanuel Zervakis was disqualified at Wilson Speedway in North Carolina after officials discovered an over sized fuel cell.