NASCAR is performing a deeper inspection process after the Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway last weekend. Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 car for Joe Gibbs Racing has been taken to the NASCAR R&D Center for further inspection after Chicagoland, the sport announced. Hamlin finished in fourth place on Sunday night.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been sensational during the 2026 Cup Series season and earned another top-5 finish at Chicagoland. NASCAR taking Hamlin’s No. 11 car to the R&D Center doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong; however, it does heighten the risk of a potential penalty.
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In the NextGen car era, drivers and teams have received significant penalties when NASCAR takes a car to the R&D Center. There have been several occasions when they have lost over 100 points due to an infraction. Most cars are cleared after going to the R&D Center, but exceptions exist.
Hamlin will likely be OK; however, NASCAR has blasted teams in the past for any wrongdoing.
More: Chase Briscoe wins NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland in June 2026
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR to further inspect Denny Hamlin’s car after Chicagoland in 2026
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