A broken pre‑race inspection at Richmond Raceway forced two Cup Series cars to fail twice before finally clearing on a third run.
The setbacks hit the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driven by Christopher Bell and the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet of Cody Ware, each failing the mandatory check twice but passing on their last attempt.
Both crew chiefs were ejected from the track for the remainder of the race weekend, while the teams lost their pit stall selection rights, leaving Bell, who qualified eighth, vulnerable to a lower‑mid‑field stall.
Crew Chief ejections and pit stall losses
Clay Chris Sherwood and Dave Jone, chief engineers for JGR and RWR respectively, were barred from the facility, forcing the operations to rely on backup crews and whatever stalls remained after the rest of the field chose theirs.
Race day developments and unforeseen impacts
Ryan Blaney claimed the pole, marking the fourth time the No. 12 Team Penske Ford has opened the field in 2026. Bell was slated for a Truck Series race that was delayed by rain, leading to his exit and Leland Honeyman Jr. stepping into the No. 62 Toyota.
With the inspection failures, the ejected crew chiefs and lost pit stalls turning the weekend into a high‑stakes opportunity for Bell to salvage a strong finish.
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