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The betting odds for the 2026 Daytona 500 are out, with Denny Hamlin opening as the favorite.
NASCAR officials issued penalties to four Cup Series teams before Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This action followed after their cars failed pre-race inspection twice. The violations resulted in the ejection of each team’s car chief and the loss of pit stall selection for the race.
The teams affected included four cars: the No. 2 Team Penske Ford driven by Austin Cindric, the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet with Ty Dillon, the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet with AJ Allmendinger, and William Byron.
Even with the setback before the green flag, one of those drivers still finished on the podium. The others spent much of the afternoon trying to recover track position during the 267-lap race.
NASCAR Ejects Four Car Chiefs After Inspection Failures
NASCAR confirmed that four teams failed pre-race inspection twice on Saturday, triggering a standard Cup Series penalty. The ruling forced the removal of each team’s car chief and eliminated their ability to choose pit stalls for the Pennzoil 400.
The penalized teams were:
No. 2 Team Penske (Ford)
Driver: Austin Cindric
Ejected: Car Chief Eric Bailey
No. 10 Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
Driver: Ty Dillon
Ejected: Car Chief Troy Lankford Jr.
No. 16 Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
Driver: AJ Allmendinger
Ejected: Car Chief Jaron Antley
No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Driver: William Byron
Ejected: Car Chief Jacob Bowman
Pit stall choice often gives teams an advantage during green-flag stops because drivers can enter and exit pit road with less traffic. Losing that option can complicate pit strategy during a long race.
Loss of Pit Stall Selection Created Strategic Challenges
The penalties forced the affected teams to adapt during pit cycles throughout the event. A poor pit stall location can slow stops. It can also make it harder to gain positions on pit road.
Austin Cindric’s race turned into a fight just to remain in contention. After falling a lap down during the middle stages, the Team Penske driver caught a break when a late caution allowed him to take the wave-around and return to the lead lap. Despite getting back on sequence with the leaders, Cindric was unable to move much further forward and ultimately came home 19th when the checkered flag fell.
AJ Allmendinger also faced a difficult afternoon trying to move forward through the field. The Kaulig Racing driver ultimately crossed the line in 24th position.
Ty Dillon had the toughest result among the penalized drivers. The No. 10 Chevrolet struggled for track position and finished 33rd in the final order.
William Byron Leads Recovery for Penalized Teams
Despite the pre-race setback, William Byron delivered the strongest performance among the penalized group. The Hendrick Motorsports driver steadily moved forward during the race and spent most of the afternoon inside the top five.
Byron climbed from his ninth starting position into contention and even won Stage 2. Late in the race, he continued battling near the front alongside Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott.
Denny Hamlin ultimately held off Elliott to win the Pennzoil 400 by 0.502 seconds after leading 134 laps. Byron finished third, giving Hendrick Motorsports a podium result. This was despite losing a key crew member and having to select a pit stall before the race began.
The contrasting results showed how difficult it can be to overcome inspection penalties. While Byron remained competitive and contended for the win, the other three penalized teams spent much of the race trying to regain track position. This challenge persisted throughout the Las Vegas event.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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