Chandler Smith Disqualified Following Truck Post-Race Inspection at Rockingham

What’s Happening?

It was an oddly quiet day for the Front Row Motorsports duo of Chandler Smith and Layne Riggs at the Rock today. Though Riggs ended up leaving Rockingham with 14 stage points, Smith ran in the outside of the top 10 for most of the afternoon. Making a late race play amidst a caution in the middle of green flag pit stops, Smith suddenly found himself in contention for a top 5 finish. When he crossed the line, he was 4th. However, now as it is reported by Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, Chandler Smith has been disqualified from his 4th place position and is now credited with 36th place points.

Notes:

• Smith is said to have failed inspection because his No. 38 Ford failed to meet the rear-end height requirements set by the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
• Earlier in the race, Smith changed rear shocks, which could have been a contributing factor in his failing post-race inspection.
• With this 36th-place finish, Chandler Smith loses his points lead. Smith had a firm grasp on the points lead, leaving Rockingham with his prior 4th place finish. However, with this disqualification, Corey Heim assumes the top of the standings, albeit with an asterisk. While Corey Heim, today’s race winner and last year’s Series Champion, is a declared driver for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, he is ineligible for the series title and the Chase due to not attempting every race this season.
• This is a devastating turn of events for Smith, who started out this year strong with a win in the season-opening race at Daytona. He followed that up with a 6th at Atlanta, a 4th at St. Petersburg, and a 17th at Darlington.
• On the bright side, next week is Bristol, where Chandler won just one year ago.

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