RFK Racing and Team Penske Accept Disqualifications Post-Talladega
In a significant turn of events from Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, both RFK Racing and Team Penske have opted not to appeal their respective disqualifications. Ryan Preece, driving the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford Mustang, initially finished second but was disqualified due to a violation of section 14.5.8.F of the NASCAR Rule Book concerning the spoiler configuration. The team incorrectly installed three shims instead of the required two, resulting in a drop to 38th place and a single point towards the championship standings. This decision moves Preece from 12th to 14th in the overall rankings.
In a formal statement, RFK Racing acknowledged the infraction as an "unintentional adjustment" made during pre-race inspection to correct a spoiler angle issue, asserting that it did not provide a competitive advantage. The team stressed its commitment to NASCAR’s integrity and standards.
Joey Logano, driving the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, saw his fifth-place finish nullified due to violations of sections 14.5.8.E and 14.1.P, relating to the spoiler and overall vehicle assembly rules. Logano was penalized for a missing bolt in the spoiler and was subsequently moved to 39th in the final standings, impacting his points haul and dropping him from eighth to 11th in the championship.
Team Penske released a statement indicating the bolt issue was unintentional and occurred during the race, emphasizing their acceptance of the penalty.
Looking ahead, the Cup Series will return to action this Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway.
