While at first glance it appeared that Noah Gragson and the No. 9 JR Motorsports NASCAR Xfinity Series team had finished fourth in Saturday’s Steakhouse Elite 200 at Darlington Raceway, and in doing so, secured the $100,000 Xfinity Dash4Cash bonus, the bonus and finish were stripped away from the No. 9 team when their car failed post-race inspection.
However, the story isn’t over.
Gragson’s team will appeal the disqualification, according to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports.
JR Motorsports will appeal the Gragson disqualification from Saturday. @NASCARONFOX
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 10, 2021
Depending on how the appeal goes, Gragson’s fourth-place finish and the $100,000 bonus could be restored. If the appeal, which will be heard by the National Motorsports Appeals Panel, is denied, Gragson will remain credited with a 40th-place finish at Darlington, and AJ Allmendinger will be the recipient of the $100,000 Dash4Cash Darlington bonus.
Gragson’s car was found to be in violation of section 20.14.c of the NASCAR Xfinity Series rulebook.
That portion of the rule book pertains to the suspension and suspension mounts on the race car.
“All suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension and/or drivetrain component beyond normal rotation or suspension and/or drivetrain travel.”
