Joey Logano left Charlotte Motor Speedway thinking his bid for a 2024 NASCAR Cup Series title was toast. His unique streak of making the Championship 4 every other year for a decade, winning twice, appeared to be at an end.
And then, out of nowhere, Logano was saved by the refs.
The driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford was reinstated into the Round of 8 Sunday night when Alex Bowman unexpectedly failed post-race inspection. Bowman’s car did not meet minimum weight by at least 17 pounds, erasing what was an 18th-place finish and the points necessary to advance.
Late Monday, Hendrick Motorsports announced they will not appeal, claiming the failure was their mistake.
“NASCAR allows a clear margin to account for the difference in pre- and post-race weight,” HMS said in a statement. “After a thorough review by our team and the sanctioning body, we simply did not give ourselves enough margin to meet the post-race requirement.
“Although unintentional, the infraction was avoidable. We are extremely disappointed to lose a playoff spot under these circumstances and apologize to our fans and partners.”