Hendrick Motorsports has officially confirmed it will not appeal Alex Bowman disqualification following the recent NASCAR Cup Series playoffs race at Charlotte Roval.
This decision comes after a disappointing turn of events for the No. 48 team, which saw Bowman initially finish in 18th place during the Bank of America ROVAL 400.
His performance was significant enough to eliminate Team Penske’s Joey Logano from playoff contention by a narrow margin of four points.
However, post-race inspections revealed the No.48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro did not meet the minimum weight requirements, resulting in Alex Bowman disqualification and a drop to 38th place in the final standings.
The disqualification was a crushing blow for both the driver and his team, as it effectively ended his chances of contending for the NASCAR championship this season.
In a statement released on Monday, Hendrick Motorsports expressed its disappointment, acknowledging that while the infraction was unintentional, it was ultimately avoidable.
“Hendrick Motorsports will not appeal Alex Bowman disqualification of the No. 48 car following Sunday’s race at the Charlotte Roval,” the team said in a statement, via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports.
“NASCAR allows a clear margin to account for the difference in pre- and post-race weight. After a thorough review by our team and the sanctioning body, we simply did not give ourselves enough margin to meet the post-race requirement.
“Although unintentional, the infraction was avoidable. We are extremely disappointed to lose a playoff spot under these circumstances and apologize to our fans and partners.”
Alex Bowman disqualification not only impacted his playoff standing but also reshaped the competitive landscape of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
With Bowman out, Joey Logano reclaimed a playoff spot that he had lost during the race, further intensifying the stakes heading into the next round of competition.
The eight drivers who will now advance to compete in the Round of 8 include Hendrick’s William Byron, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson; Penske’s Logano and reigning champion Ryan Blaney; Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin; as well as Tyler Reddick from 23XI Racing.
