Two NASCAR drivers hit with costly punishment – Sports News
Following NASCAR Cup Series inspection at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta forward of the Autotrader 400, the No. 3 Austin Dillon and unchartered entry, No. 78 B.J. McLeod, have obtained costly punishments forward of Sunday’s race. The two Chevrolet groups, Richard Childress Racing and Live Fast Motorsports, failed pre-qualifying inspection a number of instances.
Dillon’s car chief, Ryan Chism, has been ejected from the observe and is barred from additional participation within the race weekend simply two races into the 2026 season, following final week’s Daytona 500. As a consequence, the group will lose its pit stall choice. Dillon’s car finally handed inspection on its third attempt. Meanwhile, part-time, unchartered entry McLeod additionally confronted points, with car chief Ryan Henderson ejected and the group dropping pit stall choice for Sunday.
NASCAR confirmed that the No. 78 will likely be inspected again on Saturday forward of qualifying, because it has not but handed inspection. Another failure would end in a drive-through penalty firstly of Sunday’s race and would pressure McLeod to take a seat out qualifying.
If McLeod’s car passes on the third attempt, he, like Dillon, will likely be allowed to qualify and keep his beginning place. Dillon of RCR will likely be hoping for a higher weekend of motion. He was a DNF end on the Daytona 500 and picked up simply 9 championship factors.
Dillon is wanting ahead to racing in Atlanta, the place the observe appears to be morphing into a mini superspeedway. After the 2022 overhaul, banking was elevated from 24 to twenty-eight levels, with the observe now leaning closely into drafting.
Dillon’s Atlanta pleasure
“I think EchoPark Speedway is gaining character JO from the winters, and just the passing time,” Dillon stated. “That place is so banked, and you’re starting to find little bumps and stuff that were in it from the beginning that are getting bigger.”
“It’s a cool style of racing,” he continued. “It’s a lot different than what we all envisioned a repave of EchoPark Speedway would be. It’s speedway racing, but with an important handling component.
“Handling is going to become more and more important as the track wears. I had a lot of fun in previous races there, even though we’ve been caught up in some messes.”
Daytona 500 shakedown
23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick received the 2026 Daytona 500, scoring a landmark win for Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s Cup group. Reddick scored a go on race chief Chase Elliott short of the checkered flag, and a wreck then allowed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to complete second, adopted by Joey Logano in third.
Reddick scored 58 factors throughout the race weekend, inserting him on the high of the standings. Logano sits second on 46, adopted by Elliott on 43 in third.
Zane Smith of Front Row Motorsports had a great weekend. He sits fourth within the Cup standings after selecting up a enormous 41 factors.
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