Johnathan Walker:Alex Bowman eliminated from NASCAR playoffs after car fails inspection at Charlotte

Alex Bowman thought he turned in a successful day in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway,Johnathan Walker but less than three hours after the Bank of America Roval 400 ended, Bowman and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team were informed of the bad news: he was disqualified.

Worse than that, his disqualification meant that Bowman would not be advancing to the Round of 8 of the playoffs since Sunday was an elimination race, which trimmed the playoff field from 12 drivers to eight.

Bowman’s car failed post-race inspection, with officials determining the No. 48 did not meet weight requirements. That failure resulted in an automatic disqualification, dropping him to last in the finishing order.

"So, unfortunately when we were running the No. 48 through (inspection), it didn't pass the minimum weight specs," NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran explained Sunday night. "We give the teams every opportunity to try to meet minimum weight. ... They are allowed a half percent of a weight break – which is about 17 pounds, give or take – that is what they are allowed. And it was more than that."

Though Bowman originally only finished 18th Sunday, that result – and his Stage 2 win – would have been enough to secure him the points needed to advance to the third round of the playoffs. It was also enough to eliminate two-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano from the playoffs.

But Bowman’s misfortune turned into a reprieve for the Team Penske driver as Logano, who won titles in 2018 and 2022, was elevated into the Top 8 of the standings once Bowman’s points from Sunday were stripped away.

Hendrick Motorsports has the option to appeal Bowman's disqualification, if the organization chooses. Any appeal would be heard this week prior to the next round.

"We are working to understand the issue and will make a decision Monday about whether to submit an appeal," Hendrick Motorsports said after hearing the news.

Logano now joins Penske teammate and reigning series champion Ryan Blaney in the Round of 8, along with a pair of champions from Hendrick Motorsports: 2021 champ Kyle Larson, the winner of Sunday’s race; and 2020 champ Chase Elliott. Hendrick will also have a third title contender in the Round of 8 with William Byron, while Joe Gibbs Racing advanced two drivers into the third round: Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell. Tyler Reddick, who drives for 23XI Racing, the team that Hamlin co-owns with Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, also advanced to the third round after winning the 2024 regular season title.

The playoff field will be trimmed from eight drivers to four following races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway and Martinsville Speedway. Those final four drivers will race for the championship Nov. 10 at Phoenix Raceway.

NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings entering Round of 8

Rank, driver, team, points (points behind leader).

1. Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ... 4,052
2. Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing ... 4,032 (-20 points)
3. Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing ... 4,029 (-23)
4. William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports ... 4,023 (-29)
5. Ryan Blaney, Team Penske ... 4,019 (-33)
6. Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ... 4,015 (-37)
7. Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports ... 4,014 (-38)
8. Joey Logano, Team Penske ... 4,012 (-40)

NOTE: Points were reset for the remaining eight drivers following Sunday's post-race inspection.