The journey to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has taken another difficult detour for Chase Elliott ahead of Sunday’s Cookout 400 at Richmond Raceway, after some issues in pre-qualifying inspection.
Less than an hour before the start of practice and qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series at the three-quarter-mile facility, the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro failed inspection multiple times, resulting in the ejection of a team member, as well as a loss of pit selection.
In a social media post on Saturday, Hendrick Motorsports details that the car chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro has been ejected from Richmond Raceway. According to NASCAR’s Roster Portal, Matt Barndt is listed as the entry’s car chief.
Ross Chastain, driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro for Trackhouse Racing, has run into the same issue in pre-qualifying inspection, and will also lose a member of the No. 1 team, and pit selection for Sunday’s 400-lap contest.
As of the time of publishing, NASCAR has yet to verify the results of the pre-qualifying inspection, as well as which crew members will be ejected from the teams who had multiple failures.
Updates will be provided as they become available.
