Disqualification Puts Damper on Ryan Preece’s Solid Run at Talladega Superspeedway

Ryan Preece’s impressive performance at the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway took a disappointing turn when he was disqualified after initially securing a career-best second-place finish. The disqualification came as a result of post-race inspections that revealed technical violations in the rear spoiler of his No. 60 Ford, specifically the presence of “unapproved shims” and loose bolts. These infractions led NASCAR to drop Preece to 38th place in the official standings. 

Joey Logano, who originally finished fifth, faced a similar fate. His No. 22 Ford was found to have a loose bolt on the spoiler, leading to his disqualification and relegation to 39th place. Team Penske acknowledged the violation, stating it was unintentional and occurred during the race. 

The disqualifications reshaped the race results, awarding Austin Cindric his first win of the season and moving Kyle Larson up to second place. NASCAR announced that Larson’s No. 5 car and Josh Berry’s No. 21 vehicle would undergo further inspections at the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina. 

This incident adds to a series of challenges for Preece, who previously faced penalties for technical infractions at Atlanta Motor Speedway, resulting in a 35-point deduction.  Despite these setbacks, Preece remains a formidable competitor, demonstrating resilience and determination throughout the season.

As NASCAR continues to enforce strict technical regulations, teams are reminded of the importance of compliance to maintain the integrity of the sport. The disqualifications at Talladega serve as a cautionary tale, emphasizing that even minor infractions can have significant consequences.