The No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford was penalized at Phoenix Raceway after the team was seen making an unapproved adjustment to the car’s underbody during NASCAR Cup Series practice and pre-qualifying adjustments.
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Car chief Will Norris was ejected from the event, NASCAR officials announced Saturday afternoon, leaving driver Zane Smith without a key member of his team ahead of Sunday afternoon’s Straight Talk Wireless 500 (3:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN Radio, HBO Max, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Additionally, Smith – who qualified 24th for Sunday’s 312-lap event at the 1-mile Arizona track – must drop to the rear of the field and perform a drive-through penalty after taking the green flag.
Officials reinspected the No. 38 Ford before Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions.
Additionally, NASCAR announced Sunday that Carson Hocevar, who qualified seventh, will drop to the rear due to unapproved adjustments. Brad Keselowski will also start from the rear after a practice crash resulted in a backup car.