NASCAR Disqualifies Preece and Logano Post-Talladega
In a significant turn of events following the Cup race at Talladega, NASCAR disqualified RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece and Team Penske’s Joey Logano. Preece, who initially claimed second place in a nail-biting finish to Austin Cindric—separated by just 0.022 seconds—was dropped to 38th. Logano, who originally finished fifth, fell to 39th, with both drivers earning only a single point from the race.
The disqualification stemmed from issues with the rear spoiler of both Ford Mustangs, specifically a loose bolt linked to the spoiler’s surface. Team Penske opted against an appeal, releasing a statement: "This was not intentional," said team owner Roger Penske. "One of the 18 bolts connecting the spoiler to the base was found to be loose… We accept the disqualification."
RFK Racing also chose not to appeal, clarifying that the infraction stemmed from an unintentional adjustment made during pre-race inspection to address a spoiler angle issue. The team emphasized that the adjustment did not confer any competitive advantage but failed to meet NASCAR’s compliance standards. "We respect the ruling and remain committed to integrity," RFK stated.
The disqualification has implications in the standings; Preece has fallen from 12th to 18th place in the regular season standings, while Logano dropped from eighth to eleventh. This marks a setback for both drivers, with Preece losing what would have been his career-best finish, and Logano missing his first top-five result of the 2025 season.
As the NASCAR community processes these developments, both teams express their commitment to adhering to regulations while striving for success in the upcoming races.
