JGR will not appeal Pocono DQs; Chase Elliott’s win stands
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR announced Joe Gibbs Racing will not appeal Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch’s disqualifications from Sunday’s M&Ms Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono Raceway.
Hamlin and Busch initially crossed the line first and second but their cars failed tech inspection for an infraction involving the aero properties of each car’s front fascia.
As NASCAR Senior VP of Competition Scott Miller elaborated Monday to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, the infraction was discovered when officials peeled back the wrap on each car during post-race tech inspection. Miller said they were ‘very surprised’ to find extra layers of vinyl under the wrap, which effectively modified an area of the lower nose.
Regarding the infraction, NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran initially said there was “no reason why the material was somewhere it shouldn’t have been”.
The cars will be taken to the NASCAR R&D Center for further review this week.
Chase Elliott’s win and the results of Sunday’s race will stand. Hamlin and Busch finished 35th and 36th, respectively.
MORE on the M&Ms Fan Appreciation 400:
Hamlin, Busch DQ’d from Top 2; Elliott declared Pocono winner
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com