NASCAR News: 5 Key Cup Team members ejected for trying to cheat at Bristol

Bristol Motor Speedway’s high-banked concrete bullring is one of the most demanding tracks on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, where track position, pit strategy, and crew execution often decide races. On Saturday, April 11, 2026, five teams learned the hard way just how unforgiving pre-race technical inspection can be.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

According to NASCAR’s official announcement, the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Kyle Larson, the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet of Ross Chastain, the No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet of Cole Custer, the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet of Michael McDowell, and the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford of Chad Finchum all failed pre-race inspection twice.

Each car eventually passed on the third attempt, meaning all five drivers remained eligible to qualify and compete in Sunday’s Food City 500 (see qualifying results). However, the penalties are significant: every team loses its ability to select a pit stall based on qualifying position and will instead pick last, after the rest of the field has chosen. Additionally, NASCAR ejected one crew member from each organization for the remainder of the race weekend.

The Ejected Personnel who tried to cheat

– Jesse Saunders – Car chief, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports (Larson)
– David Fero – Car chief, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing (Chastain)
– Scott Brewer – Car chief, No. 41 Haas Factory Team (Custer)
– Dylan Roberts – Car chief, No. 66 Garage 66 (Finchum)
– Adam Sturgill – Engineer, No. 71 Spire Motorsports (McDowell)

Four teams lost their car chiefs—the crew members primarily responsible for car setup, race strategy, and on-the-fly adjustments. McDowell’s Spire team lost an engineer instead. In a short-track environment like Bristol, where adjustments between practice, qualifying, and the race are critical, the absence of these key decision-makers is a tangible handicap.

Why This Matters at Bristol

Bristol rewards precision. The 0.533-mile track demands perfect handling through its high banks and tight turns, and pit selection can be the difference between a clean stop and getting trapped behind slower traffic. Losing the right to choose stalls means these five teams will likely start the race with less-than-ideal pit real estate, potentially costing valuable track position during cautions.

Kyle Larson, the defending spring winner at Bristol and currently ninth in the Cup standings, takes the biggest name hit. Hendrick Motorsports is typically among the most meticulous organizations in the garage; seeing their flagship No. 5 fail inspection twice is unusual. Ross Chastain’s Trackhouse team, Cole Custer’s Haas squad, Michael McDowell’s Spire entry, and Chad Finchum’s one-off Garage 66 effort (his first Cup start of 2026) round out the list—four Chevrolets and one Ford.

NASCAR has not released specifics on the exact violations (common issues in pre-race tech include body templates, ride height, or aerodynamic measurements), nor have the teams issued detailed public statements as of Saturday evening. That silence is typical—teams rarely comment on inspection failures beyond acknowledging the penalties.

Broader Context of cheating in 2026

This isn’t the first time multiple teams have been dinged at Bristol, but the concentration of five high-profile entries (including two playoff contenders in Larson and Chastain) in a single inspection cycle stands out. NASCAR’s rulebook is clear: two failures trigger mandatory crew ejections and loss of pit selection privileges. The sanctioning body uses these measures to enforce compliance without resorting to heavier fines or suspensions for what are often minor, correctable issues.

All five cars cleared on the third pass, so the focus now shifts to how the teams adapt. Car chiefs and engineers are often the unsung heroes of race weekends; their absence forces backup crew members into elevated roles under pressure.

What to Watch Sunday – Can cheaters recover

– Will Larson and Chastain still contend for the win despite the crew disruptions? Larson’s history at Bristol gives him an edge, but setup tweaks will be harder without his usual car chief.
– Pit strategy will be even more critical with suboptimal stalls. Expect teams to be aggressive on adjustments during practice and qualifying to compensate.
– Smaller teams like Spire and Garage 66 could feel the sting more acutely, as they have less depth on the pit box.

The Food City 500 has a reputation for chaos and close racing. These penalties add another layer of intrigue to an already unpredictable short-track showdown. NASCAR’s garage is a zero-excuses environment—fail inspection twice, and you pay the price, even if you’re a championship favorite or a defending track winner.