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Four teams in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series faced penalties before Friday night’s race at Darlington Raceway after failing inspection twice. NASCAR confirmed the violations in its official report released on March 20, 2026.
The penalties affected one Tricon Garage entry and three Kaulig Racing trucks. The No. 1 truck of William Sawalich, the No. 10 of AJ Allmendinger, the No. 12 of Brenden Queen, and the No. 25 of Corey LaJoie were all flagged during inspection.
Each team failed to meet the required standards on two attempts. As a result, NASCAR enforced immediate penalties that impacted both personnel and future race strategy heading into the early part of the season.
NASCAR Truck chiefs ejected after inspection failures
NASCAR removed four truck chiefs from the event after the failed inspections. Bayley Currey from the No. 1 team, Ethan Hutchens from the No. 10, Ryan Richmond from the No. 12, and Donald Colwell from the No. 25 were all ejected before the race.
The sanctioning body applies this penalty when teams fail inspection twice. It is part of a standard rule that aims to maintain fairness and safety across the field. Once a team reaches a third inspection attempt, it must pass before being allowed to compete, but the penalties remain in place.
All four trucks passed inspection on their third attempt. They were cleared to race in the Buckle Up South Carolina 200 at Darlington. However, the absence of their truck chiefs placed added pressure on team communication and race execution.
Kaulig Racing Takes the Biggest Hit in the Multi-Truck Program
Kaulig Racing saw the largest impact, with three of its trucks penalized in the same inspection process. The organization is in its first full-time Truck Series season with a five-truck Ram program.
The team entered the weekend with a strong lineup that includes AJ Allmendinger and Brenden Queen. The penalties affected more than half of its entries, which places focus on early-season preparation and consistency within the group.
The Tricon Garage No. 1 truck of William Sawalich was the only non-Kaulig entry involved. That single penalty still carried the same consequences under NASCAR rules.
NASCAR did not release specific details about the violations. This follows standard procedure. Inspection failures in these cases often relate to ride height, body measurements, or aerodynamic rules.
Pit Stall Penalties Add Long-Term Impact
In addition to the ejections, NASCAR issued another penalty that will affect future races. All four teams will lose pit stall selection for the April 3 event at Rockingham Speedway.
Pit selection plays a key role in race strategy. Teams usually choose stalls based on qualifying results or performance. Losing that option can affect pit stop timing, track position, and overall race flow.
Darlington Raceway already presents a major challenge. The track’s shape and surface demand tire management and precision. The added complication of missing key team leaders on the pit box increases the difficulty for the affected teams.
With only a few races completed this season, the standings remain close. These penalties add another factor as teams work to secure early points.
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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