NASCAR: One playoff driver penalized before Kansas
By Asher Fair
Martin Truex Jr. is set to drop to the rear of the field after his #19 Toyota failed inspection twice before the NASCAR Cup Series round of 8 playoff race at Kansas Speedway.
Due to the current starting lineup format, the eight drivers remaining in contention for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series championship were slated to start in the top eight in the opening race of the round of 8 at Kansas Speedway, the Hollywood Casino 400.
That will not be the case.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. is set to start today’s 267-lap race around the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) oval in Kansas City, Kansas from the rear of the field after his #19 Toyota failed pre-race inspection twice and passed on the third attempt.
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The 40-year-old Mayetta, New Jersey native was slated to have started the race on the third row in fifth place alongside Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman in sixth.
The current starting lineup format is based on three factors: most recent finish (50%, with 25% on car and 25% on driver), position in owner standings (35%) and rank of fastest lap in the most recent race (15%). All remaining championship contenders start ahead of those no longer eligible for the title.
Truex entered this race ranking in seventh, sixth and 12th place in these three categories, respectively.
Truex’s penalty does not carry a points deduction with it, so he is still slated to begin the round of 8 with 4,017 points, a total that is good for sixth place in the championship standings and 10 points shy of the Championship 4 cut line.
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Tune in to NBC now for the live broadcast of the Hollywood Casino 400 from Kansas Speedway. Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott is set to start this race from the pole position alongside Team Penske’s Joey Logano in second place on the front row.