POCONO, Pa. – The starting grid for the Gander RV 400 got a significant overhaul on Sunday morning, as nine cars failed pre-race inspection for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Among those who came afoul of technical inspection at Pocono Raceway included fifth-starting Austin Dillon, whose No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 actually failed twice after the right-rear corner of the car was found to be too low.
As a result, Dillon’s team had a crew member ejected, and his qualifying time was disallowed – as were the times of all those who failed inspection, as is standard procedure during an impound weekend.
Also bitten by the inspection bug was seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, whose No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 originally qualified sixth but drops to the tail of the field due to an issue at the Optical Scanning Station.
Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron, who was to grid up eighth, saw his time disallowed too, making for a tough start to the day for Rick Hendrick’s camp.
Other cars who will lose their scheduled starting positions due to inspection failures include Michael McDowell (17th), Ryan Blaney (20th), Chris Buescher (28th), Corey LaJoie (30th), Ross Chastain (35th) and Reed Sorenson (36th).
The pole-winning machine of Kevin Harvick did pass inspection, meaning that the 2014 Cup Series champion and former Pocono winner will lead the field to the green flag on Sunday afternoon in the No. 4 Busch Beer Ford Mustang.
Harvick will be joined on the front row by fellow Ford driver and defending series titlist Joey Logano.
Coverage of the Gander RV 400 begins at 3 p.m. ET, live on NBCSN, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.