Rudy Fugle, crew chief for the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, was one of two crew members ejected from the NASCAR Cup Series race weekend at Daytona International Speedway after Friday’s pre-race technical inspection.
After the No. 24 car passed inspection on its second attempt through all stations, NASCAR officials said the team was observed making an unapproved adjustment to the splitter at the front of the race car. The struts were reinstalled, NASCAR said, and the car was sent back through the Underbody Scanning Station (USS), where the vehicle failed measurements as a result of the adjustments.
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As a result, Fugle was ejected from the event and the No. 24 team will lose its pit-stall selection for Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Peacock). The team announced that engineer Brandon McSwain will serve as interim crew chief for the remainder of the weekend. Additionally, driver William Byron, who clinched the Regular Season Championship last week at Richmond Raceway, will start from the rear. Byron must also serve a stop-and-go penalty on pit road after taking the green flag. Byron was due to start the event eighth after lightning forced the cancellation of Friday’s qualifying session.
The No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet piloted by team owner BJ McLeod was also penalized after failing pre-race inspection twice. Car chief Lee Leslie was ejected from the event and the team also lost its pit-stall selection.