In 2019, NASCAR introduced a new policy mandating that race-winning cars that fail post-race inspection will be disqualified and stripped of their win. Since then, several drivers have lost out on a hard-fought win due to a post-race inspection failure.
In one of the most dominating performances in recent NASCAR truck series history, Ross Chastain led 141 of 200 laps at Iowa Speedway in June 2019. However, Ross would be the first victim of NASCAR’s new policy when he failed post-inspection as his No. 45 did not meet post-race height requirements.
Due to this disqualification, NASCAR awarded the win to Brett Moffit, who did not lead a single lap that day.
Denny Hamlin was the first driver in the Xfinity Series to have his win revoked via disqualification at Darlington Raceway in 2019. Once again, this was a DQ based on Hamlin’s No. 18 not meeting post-race height requirements. Hamlin wasn’t the dominant car that day. However, he prevailed over Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, and Cole Custer.
Custer, who led no laps that day, was awarded the win following Hamlin’s disqualification.
At Texas Motor Speedway in 2020, Kyle Busch battled with tough competition en route to an Overtime victory. This win would have been Busch’s 98th in the series; much like Hamlin in 2019, Busch’s No. 54 did not meet post-race height requirements.
The second-place driver, Austin Cindric, would be awarded the victory, his third of the season.
At Pocono in July 2022, Denny Hamlin became the first Cup Series driver to have his win taken away. This was the result of unapproved modifications to the front fascia of his Toyota Camry. Hamlin and his teammate Kyle Busch, who finished second, were the dominant cars that day.
However, though he finished second, NASCAR did not award Busch the win, as he failed post-race inspection for the same reason as Hamlin. As a result, the third-place finisher, Chase Elliott, was awarded the win.
In the 2025 Truck Series season opener, Parker Kligerman and underdog team Henderson Motorsports found themselves the victim of not meeting post-race height requirements. NASCAR disqualified the winning team and driver following his emotional victory. This was the first disqualification since 2022 and the first Truck Series disqualification since 2019.
As a result of this DQ, Corey Heim would be awarded the win, the 12 of his Truck Series career.
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