Jimmie Johnson has failed post-race inspection in his final Coca-Cola 600.
After finishing second in the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR announced after the race that the No. 48 car of Johnson failed post-race inspection. Johnson started on the outside pole and lead six laps in Sunday’s race. As race leader Chase Elliott and others pitted in the closing laps, Johnson stayed out on old tires and maintained his second position through the green-white-checker finish. Johnson’s disqualification relegated him to a last-place finish, which also shuffled the starting order for Wednesday’s Cup race at Charlotte; William Byron will now start from the pole.
NASCAR Cup Series managing director Jay Fabian in a press conference stated that the rear alignment on the car was off when the car went through the optical scanning station. Fabian said, “There is a pre-race number and a post-race number that does give a pretty decent tolerance. It was outside of those post-race numbers.”
No. 48 team crew chief Cliff Daniels had this to say after the news broke early Monday morning.
Disappointed about our post-race OSS. We think something must've broken but won't know until we get it back to the shop tomorrow and can diagnose. Tough news after a strong night. This team is getting stronger We are focused forward. We’ll be back Wednesday with another great car
— Cliff Daniels (@DanielsCliff) May 25, 2020
Johnson had scored three tops 10s in the last four Coca-Cola 600 before this race. Johnson’s disqualification ties his worst finish at Charlotte with the 2015 Coca-Cola 600. This is the first disqualification of Johnson’s career and the first one for any driver during the 2020 season. Johnson is now tied for 15th in points with Tyler Reddick.
The Cup Series returns to Charlotte on May 27 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.
Jared Haas joined the Frontstretch staff in May 2020. During his time at Frontstretch, Jared has grown the Frontstretch YouTube channel from less than 200 subscribers to well over 23,000 subscribers.