Newman’s car fails post-race inspection (Update)
10/20/14 Ryan Newman's great Sunday has apparently hit a bit of a snag. Newman picked up a fifth-place finish in the Contender Round elimination race at Talladega Superspeedway to make the Eliminator Round of the Chase with a 27-point cushion over the ninth-place cutoff. But now comes late word from 'Dega that Newman's #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevy has failed post-race inspection after being found to be too low on both sides according to NASCAR.
The sanctioning body will take the car back to its Research and Development Center in North Carolina, along with those of race winner Brad Keselowski, runner-up Matt Kenseth, and Kasey Kahne. Obviously, the question is whether Newman will be penalized championship points for the infraction on his car – and if so, how many? USA Today writer and NASCAR on NBC contributor Nate Ryan leafed through the NASCAR rulebook to perhaps find an answer.
"Newman's car will be examined by #nascar. Per the 2014 rulebook, it seems it could be a P3 penalty, which would be a 15-point deduction."
A penalty such as that would not affect Newman's Chase standing. It also bears noting that Newman was among those involved in today's crash at Lap 102 of 188, so that could play into how NASCAR decides this matter, too. NBC Sports