Two NASCAR Cup Series teams suffered car‑chief ejections after their machines required three rounds of pre‑race inspection at Michigan International Speedway.
Inspection setbacks for RFK Racing and NY Racing
Chris Buescher’s No. 17 RFK Racing Ford and J.J. Yeley’s No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet each failed inspection twice before finally passing on a third try, prompting the removal of car chiefs Josh Sisco and Lee Leslie from the event.
Out of 37 entries, 26 cleared inspection on the first attempt, while nine succeeded on their second run; the two flagged cars were the only ones needing three inspections.
Consequences on pit strategy and race penalties
Both squads lost their chosen pit stalls, relegating Buescher and Yeley to the two rearmost positions regardless of where they qualified, as the remaining teams select before Sunday’s race.
Although three inspection failures normally trigger a pass‑through penalty during the race, the two drivers avoided that sanction by ultimately receiving approval on their third attempt.
These incidents echo a similar situation in March at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where four car chiefs were also ejected for inspection violations, underscoring the strict enforcement of NASCAR inspection standards this season.
With the pit‑selection penalty in place, the affected drivers will have to navigate a more challenging race day, a factor that could influence their points chase as the 2026 campaign progresses.
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