NASCAR is performing a deeper inspection process after the Cup Series Chase race at Kansas Speedway this weekend. Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 car for Joe Gibbs Racing has been taken to the NASCAR R&D Center for further inspection after Kansas, the sport announced. Hamlin finished in third place on Sunday afternoon.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has struggled over the last few weeks and finally earned another top-5 finish at Kansas. 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.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR to further inspect Denny Hamlin’s car after Kansas in 2026
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