Among the announcements made on Monday was NASCAR’s new plan to move its thorough post-race inspection to the race track immediately following each national series race. If a vehicle fails post-race inspection, it will be disqualified, resulting in a last-place finish and the loss of all benefits from the win/finish, as well as any stage points. All other vehicles would move up in the finishing order under this scenario.

NASCAR will inspect the first- and second-place vehicles, as well as a random vehicle, after each event. Previously, full post-race inspections took place at the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, N.C. While they’ll still take a car back to R&D, no penalties will stem from that visit. NASCAR will see what trends they’ll find on that car and share with the entire garage area as a result. 

 “Our industry understands the need to focus on what happens on the race track,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president of competition and racing development. “We cannot allow inspection and penalties to continue to be a prolonged storyline. Race vehicles are expected to adhere to the rule book from the opening of the garage to the checkered flag.”

 The disqualification procedure will be implemented for all three NASCAR national series, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series.

NASCAR says that the race winner will be known on Sunday nights now and that a post race tech should only take around 90 minutes or so.

If the race winner is DQ’d then the win and all the benefits would go to the second place car. If that car passes, then he wins. If that car fails, then he goes to the back and third place is declared the winner.

Also, if any one of the failed cars appeals, their case will be heard on the following Wednesday.

Pre Race Inspections Too

This isn’t just post race stuff, pre race inspection was addressed too. If a car fails pre race tech two times, they’ll start at the rear and get docked 15 minutes of practice as well as have a crew member ejected. If a car fails three or more times, it costs the team 15 additional minutes of lost practice time (30 minutes overall) and a pass thru penalty at the start of the race.

Also, if a car fails tech off the truck or in practice, they’ll immediately get handed an L-1 penalty.

NASCAR said that the message wasn’t delivered strong enough last year and that they’re taking a tougher stance and getting their sport back.