Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Denny Hamlin, KyleBusch and Erik Jones will have to drop to the back for the start of the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night, because their cars failed pre-race inspection twice.
According to a tweet from FOX Sports reporter Bob Pockrass’, Hamlin’s #11, Busch’ #18, and Jones’ #20 had body issues the first time through inspection. Those issues were fixed when the cars made second passes through the inspection process, but rear-alignment issues were, then, discovered with all three cars.
Hamlin and Busch are in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The Bristol race is the first elimination race, so after Saturday night’s race, the playoff field will be reduced from 16 to 12 cars. Hamlin already has clinched a second-round berth. Busch is ninth in the standings, 18 points behind William Byron, who is in the provisional first elimination spot.
Jones failed to make the playoffs.
Hamlin was supposed to start seventh at Bristol, Busch in the ninth position and Jones 20th.
