Alex Bowman Disqualified from NASCAR Playoffs

Alex Bowman was disqualified from the NASCAR Cup Series race at the Charlotte Roval due to his car being underweight during post-race inspection, which eliminated him from the playoffs and allowed Joey Logano to advance. Retired NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace defended co-owners Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon, attributing the disqualification to human error rather than intentional wrongdoing. Hendrick Motorsports decided against appealing the disqualification, with Jeff Gordon admitting that the team 'cut it too close' regarding the car's weight limit. Gordon expressed embarrassment and disappointment about the situation, noting that it overshadowed a previously successful race day for the team. Despite Bowman's strong performance in earlier playoff rounds, the penalty has led to a reassessment of team procedures to prevent similar issues in the future. The incident highlights the competitive pressures teams face to maximize performance while adhering to strict regulations.