When the checkered flag waved, beers we’re getting cracked all around the Hendrick camp. All of Rick Hendrick’s drivers advanced to the Round of 8. As well as Kyle Larson getting a very impressive win at the Roval. Byron finished third, Elliott fifth and Bowman 18th.

Then it was time for NASCAR to do their post-race inspections which is a little bit different for playoff drivers (OSS, which is the body and mechanical measurements, USS, underbody scanning and last but not least, weighing the car) but everything seemed to be going as normal, Denny Hamlin on his podcast even said it felt like normal until his phone buzzed. It was a text from a member of the 45 crew saying that Bowman’s car got taken to jail.

NASCAR notified Hendrick and the 48 team that the reasoning, was due to them being underweight. NASCAR teams have a set weight requirement that they need to make. The team felt like they we’re low on fuel anyways so they we’re allowed to refuel the car and also purge the water system and refuel the water.

NASCAR ran the car through again but it was still found underweight. Ultimately disqualifying the 48 from the race. Now Hendrick can and more then likely will appeal this decision by NASCAR, that would be heard this week so we will be able to get a better understanding of the issue and how far below they we’re the weight requirement. Until then, this situation is pretty hush hush with us not knowing much information.

But what we do know is that the teams are allowed a 0.5% weight buffer which equals out to about 17lbs over or under. So it’s not like the 48 team was under by a pound or anything. They we’re under by at least 18lbs, if not maybe even more. Now Bowman was involved in a incident that saw some pieces fly off of his car but Denny Hamlin spoke on the issue from a driver standpoint which you can find below!

As i mentioned before, Hendrick can appeal this and they more then likely will. There is absolutely no reason for them not too, there is no repercussions for losing a appeal so you have to throw everything you can at this to keep your driver in the Round of 8. HMS issued a statement last night which summed up too, they are gathering all the possible information they can, and will make a decision on Monday (today) if they will appeal this penalty. As of the writing of this story, Hendrick’s team account hasn’t shared anything, so it’s a matter of waiting.

A important thing to note in this appeal process is that the car was weighed prior to practice/qualifying on Saturday. After qualifying, the cars are ‘impounded’ which means that the teams are not allowed to touch them until the following morning when they are doing their pre checks for fluid, mechanical issues, etc. Also, NASCAR confirmed on Sunday morning that no drivers we’re forced to go to the rear, the main reasons drivers will go to the rear is if they fail pre-race inspection. Which is obvious that Alex Bowman did pass.

There is a clip surfacing around that i will enter down below but you do see parts of Bowman’s car go flying off as he hit the rumble strips coming out of the final turn. Now if those parts equaled out to 17lbs. I don’t know, but Hendrick can bring forward what the cars weight was when it was inspected on Saturday, bring how much the weight is of the pieces that could have potentially fallen off, and prove to NASCAR that it happened during the race.

Without not knowing much information until Wednesday which is more then likely when the appeal hearing will happen, i can tell you guys this. Hendrick has one of the best track records in the whole appeal process, so don’t be surprised to see them win this appeal. But at the end of the day, in my opinion, a win for Hendrick is them having a opportunity to sit down with NASCAR and prove to them and all the other fans that they didn’t do this on purpose. It was due to a incident on track that they couldn’t fix without either A. going to the garage, or B. just retiring the car. Now when a team is battling for a spot in the Round of 8, a little damage is not going to stop them, and you can see if you just go back and watch replays of all the cutoff races in past years. Now like i said, i wouldn’t bet on Bowman getting back into the Round of 8, since at the end of day, they will still be underweight. But a win for Hendrick could be clearing their names of any wrong doing.

This story will be updated at the top once Hendrick announces their decision on the appeal, but a new story will be released moments after the appeal decision is released.