3 NASCAR Teams Fail Darlington Inspection Twice, Crew Chiefs Ejected

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a stark reminder of the hyper-competitive nature of NASCAR, three prominent teams - including Hendrick Motorsports' Chase Elliott and RFK Racing's Chris Buescher - failed pre-race inspection at Darlington Raceway not once, but twice, resulting in the ejection of their car chiefs. This unprecedented situation highlights the intense pressure teams face to find every possible advantage, even if it means pushing the boundaries of the rulebook.

Why it matters

These inspection failures and subsequent penalties underscore the delicate balance between innovation and rule compliance in modern NASCAR. As cars become more technologically advanced, the potential for subtle, hard-to-detect violations increases, forcing NASCAR to maintain a vigilant inspection process. The ejection of car chiefs, who are crucial for race-day strategy and adjustments, is a significant blow that can dramatically impact a team's performance.

The details

The three teams that failed inspection were Hendrick Motorsports' No. 9 car driven by Chase Elliott, RFK Racing's No. 17 car driven by Chris Buescher, and the part-time No. 66 car of Timmy Hill. All three teams failed inspection twice, leading to the ejection of their respective car chiefs. This penalty not only cost the teams their preferred pit stall selection but also removed a vital link between the engineering department and the track, hampering their ability to adapt during the race.

• The inspection failures occurred before the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 11, 2026.

What’s next

It will be interesting to see how these teams rebound from this setback and if the experience instills a more cautious approach moving forward.