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Riley Herbst Disqualified for Failing Post-Race Weights at Charlotte Roval
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Highlights
- Riley Herbst disqualified for post-race underweight car at Charlotte Roval
- Disqualification did not affect any NASCAR playoff drivers’ standings
- Herbst’s No. 35 Toyota moved from 30th to 37th place
- Cars of Herbst and Custer sent to NASCAR R&D Center for checks
- First Cup race disqualification since April, involving Preece and Logano
- NASCAR enforces strict car weight standards to ensure fair competition
Riley Herbst is disqualified from Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval for failing post‑race weight inspection.
The penalty does not change the playoff picture, with all postseason drivers passing technical checks.
NASCAR finds the 23XI Racing No. 35 Toyota under minimum weight. Officials also dispatch Cole Custer’s Haas Factory Racing No. 41 Ford to the R&D Center for further analysis.
Herbst’s No. 35 fails minimum weight; NASCAR issues a post‑race disqualification at the Roval.
Herbst initially finishes 30th and collects seven points. The disqualification drops him to 37th and one point.
That promotes Erik Jones, Austin Dillon, Josh Bilicki, Cody Ware, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Austin Cindric one position in the final classification.
Herbst’s race proves bruising even before inspection. A clash with Ty Dillon prompts retaliation under caution early on.
Later, contact at the frontstretch chicane exit sees Kyle Busch spin Herbst, compounding a difficult afternoon.
The drop from 30th to 37th slashes Herbst’s score from seven points to one.
The ruling marks NASCAR’s first post‑race Cup disqualification since April, when Ryan Preece and Joey Logano lost results at Talladega.
Last season, Alex Bowman’s weight disqualification reshaped the playoffs, eliminating Bowman and reinstating Joey Logano. Charlotte avoids similar upheaval this time.
Minimum weight underpins competitive equity. A lighter car can accelerate, brake, and change direction faster, eroding parity across the field.
NASCAR enforces this through systematic in‑event checks and rigorous post‑race inspections, reflecting processes often contrasted in F1 vs NASCAR discussions.
Both the No. 35 Toyota and No. 41 Ford head to NASCAR’s R&D Center for a detailed teardown.
Within the broader types of motorsports, NASCAR’s centralized R&D tear‑down remains a powerful deterrent against technical infringements.
For playoff teams, the inspection phase is uneventful. Contenders preserve their points and focus on upcoming rounds.
Teams receive a clear reminder: marginal gains in weight or specification risk severe penalties when stakes are highest.
Visual Summary
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Riley Herbst
Disqualified for Underweight Car
⏬ Herbst drops from 30th to 37th
Lost 6 places — only 1 point awarded
7 other drivers moved up: Erik Jones, Austin Dillon, Josh Bilicki, Cody Ware, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Austin Cindric
7 other drivers moved up: Erik Jones, Austin Dillon, Josh Bilicki, Cody Ware, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Austin Cindric
🛡️ Playoffs Unchanged
All playoff contenders passed inspection. Unlike last year, no drivers were eliminated.
⚖️ Tech Rules Strike
Car failed weight check.
No. 35 Toyota sent to NASCAR’s R&D Center.
Reminder: Every gram matters.
No. 35 Toyota sent to NASCAR’s R&D Center.
Reminder: Every gram matters.
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Technical inspection decides your fate.
John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.
