Inspection Failures Hit Two Cup Teams Ahead of Atlanta Race

As the NASCAR Cup Series gears up for the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta this Sunday, February 22, 2026, pre-race inspections have already stirred up drama in the garage.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Two Chevrolet teams—Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 driven by Austin Dillon and Live Fast Motorsports’ No. 78 piloted by BJ McLeod—failed their inspections twice, triggering immediate penalties from NASCAR officials. This enforcement underscores the sanctioning body’s commitment to maintaining a level playing field under its stringent rules.

The No. 3 team, led by crew chief Richard Boswell, saw car chief Ryan Chism ejected from the weekend’s activities after the double failure. Additionally, the team forfeits its pit stall selection, a critical disadvantage on Atlanta’s high-banked, drafting-heavy track where pit strategy can make or break a race. Dillon, who has struggled at EchoPark with just one top-10 finish in 18 starts, now faces added hurdles following a lackluster Daytona 500 performance last week. The No. 3 Chevrolet ultimately passed on its third inspection attempt, avoiding further sanctions like a mandatory drive-through penalty at the race start or loss of qualifying privileges.

Similarly, the No. 78 team encountered the same fate: car chief Ryan Henderson was ejected, and pit selection was revoked. However, unlike Dillon’s ride, McLeod’s Chevrolet did not complete its third attempt by evening’s end and is slated for re-inspection Saturday morning. Should it fail again, escalating penalties could apply, potentially including starting from the rear or other on-track handicaps. Live Fast Motorsports, a smaller operation, already navigates the challenges of part-time competition, making this setback particularly stinging ahead of qualifying on Saturday, February 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.

NASCAR’s inspection process is designed to ensure compliance with technical regulations, from aerodynamics to engine specs. A single failure allows teams a chance to rectify issues, but repeated infractions—typically signaling more significant non-compliance—incur these standardized at-track penalties. No specific details on the nature of the failures for either car were disclosed, but sources indicate they occurred before any on-track sessions, allowing time for adjustments.

In contrast, the rest of the Cup field cleared inspections without major issues, and there were no two-time failures reported in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series or the O’Reilly Auto Parts garage, keeping those divisions drama-free heading into their respective events.

This isn’t the first time inspections have bitten teams at Atlanta. The track’s reconfiguration into a drafting-style superspeedway has amplified the importance of setup precision, where even minor discrepancies can lead to big consequences. For Dillon, the penalty compounds a tough start to 2026; his odds to win Sunday’s 260-lap race sit at 55/1, reflecting broader team struggles. McLeod, meanwhile, aims to simply survive and advance in what promises to be a chaotic affair, given the last seven drafting-track races have featured last-lap passes.

As the green flag drops at 3:00 p.m. ET on FOX, all eyes will be on how these penalized teams adapt. Will the setbacks derail their weekends, or will on-track heroics overshadow the garage woes? Stay tuned to AutoRacing1.com for live updates and analysis from EchoPark Speedway.