Elliott Starting at Rear, Hill Loses Car Chief and Must Serve Pass-Through After Pre-Race Inspection Failures

Defending NASCAR Cup Series Champion Chase Elliott will be forced to start from the rear of the field in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, after failing pre-race technical inspection.

Due to inspection issues, the No. 9 team will start from the rear of the field in today’s race @amsupdates.

— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) March 21, 2021

It’s the second consecutive weekend that the Dawsonville, Georgia-native will have to start at the rear of the field, after the team was forced to make an unapproved adjustment prior to the series’ last event at Phoenix Raceway. Elliott was scheduled to roll from the inside of the third row.

Additionally, Timmy Hill – driving the No. 66 for MBM Motorsports — will have to start at the rear of the field and serve a pass-through penalty after the start of the event, after failing pre-race inspection three times. The team’s car chief Sebastian LaForge was ejected from the track, stating that the team struggled to meet the specifications on the car’s rear toe and camber.

Welp not the view I wanted to see right now.

Failed tech 3 times, means I get to drive home early as listed car chief.

Had issues with our rear toe & camber. pic.twitter.com/CauXr4P2Cf

— broken racing wookie (@WookieAutomoTV) March 21, 2021

Quin Houff’s No. 00 will also be forced to start at the rear of the field, due to unapproved adjustments on his StarCom Racing Chevrolet Camaro.