Truex fails post-race inspection for second consecutive week

Following Sunday’s opening round of the Chase at Chicagoland Speedway, the cars of Martin Truex Jr. – the race winner – and Jimmie Johnson – who finished 12th – both failed to clear post-race sLaser Inspection Station.

The violation is the second consecutive for Truex’s No. 78 Furniture Row Toyota team. It also failed post-race LIS following last weekend’s race at Richmond, Va., in which Truex finished third.

The violations Sunday are considered “the lowest level,” a NASCAR spokesman said, and would not trigger NASCAR’s new “encumbered finish” penalties, which were announced on Wednesday.

Under the new policy, significant lug nut and LIS violations by teams can cause them to lose the benefits of their finish in qualifying for, or advancing in, the Chase. Truex’s win locks him into the second round of the Chase.

Low-level LIS penalties in the past this season have ranged from a 10 to 15 points plus a monetary fine. Truex’s crew chief, Cole Pearn, received a $15,000 fine and the team was docked 10 points for last weekend’s violation.

FRR Statement

Monday afternoon, Furniture Row Racing released a statement about the failed inspection, citing that contact between their car and Kevin Harvick's is what caused the car to fail LIS.

“The right rear of our car was well within the tolerance margin, which showed that we were trying to be conservative. However, the left rear wheel alignment was off by approximately ten- thousandths of an inch, which in high probability was due to damage in that area as a result of being hit by the No. 4 car. We believe the laser inspection numbers were correct and accept NASCAR’s decision that was made following Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway.”

After the race, Truex stated that he believes Harvick hit him intentionally and will continue to believe that until Harvick decides to tell him otherwise.

Jimmie Johnson's situation a bit more dire

The likely penalty will have a much harsher effect on Johnson’s team, which finished 12th Sunday and is currently eighth in the series standings. A 10 or 15-point penalty could drop him to the bottom of the Chase standings.