NASCAR: Kyle Busch disqualified after Texas victory
By Asher Fair
Kyle Busch has been disqualified from Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway after winning, giving Austin Cindric the victory.
In his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start in 54 days, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch thought that he had secured the 98th victory of his career at the sport’s second highest level of competition at Texas Motor Speedway this afternoon.
A win this afternoon would have moved him to just two wins away from his desired retirement win total of 100.
However, his #54 Toyota failed post-race inspection after he took the checkered flag as the apparent winner of the 201-lap My Bariatric Solutions 300 around the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) oval in Fort Worth, Texas.
More from Xfinity Series
- NASCAR: Two new drivers linked to Joe Gibbs Racing
- NASCAR: Frankie Muniz linked to surprise landing spot
- NASCAR: How a sudden downfall inadvertently created a champion
- NASCAR: Kaulig driver linked to Joe Gibbs Racing for 2024
- NASCAR: Another top prospect leaves Toyota for 2024
The #54 Toyota was found out of compliance with the height requirements, according to the NASCAR Rule Book. According to Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, it was the fact that the left rear was too low which triggered this inspection failure and the subsequent disqualification.
As a result, second place finisher Austin Cindric of Team Penske has been declared the race winner. His #22 Ford passed post-race inspection after finishing 0.949 seconds behind Busch.
Cindric has now won three consecutive races, as he swept last weekend’s doubleheader at Kentucky Speedway. He had never won an oval race prior to last week.
Cindric now sits alone in second place in the wins category this season behind Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe, who was promoted from third to second this afternoon as a result of Busch’s disqualification. He finished 0.409 seconds behind Cindric and has won five races this year.
Busch’s #54 team will have 24 hours to appeal this disqualification if they opt to do so.
dark. Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time
Busch is set to make one more start in the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, although it has not been confirmed where he will make that start. He had one win in three starts entering today, as he finished in third place at Phoenix Raceway in March and second at Darlington Raceway in May before winning at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May.