One of the things that many fans and even those inside the NASCAR community wondered after the announcement of Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch failing the post-race inspection test, and consequently, being disqualified was, how come their cars pass the pre-race inspection?

After all, the pre-race inspection is just as strict and thorough as the post-race one.

But what many failed to realize, simply because of lack of knowledge, was that the process of pre-race testing and post-race testing are very different. And that in pre-race, NASCAR’s hands are tied in terms of what they can do with the cars.

Fortunately, journalist Kelly Crandall was quick to come up with an explanation for why it was the way it was, extinguishing the burning fire of suspicion, assumptions, and doubts.

“For those questioning why the infraction with the Joe Gibbs cars wasn’t found before the race started: NASCAR says to find this particular infraction they have to take the wrap off the car, which is done weekly in post-race inspection. (Obv. they don’t take wraps off pre race),” she tweeted.

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NASCAR isn’t messing around with rules and penalties this season

Before this season, the Next Gen era started, NASCAR made a point that they would be following the newer, stricter penalties very religiously. And they have.

There’s hardly been any team this season that hasn’t been hit with penalties such as the suspensions of crew chiefs, pit crews, and such.

Then there’s also the massive penalty that Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing received at the start of the season, which completely derailed their entire campaign.

During the press conference where Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch’s disqualification was announced, NASCAR’s Brad Moran made a point about them following their strict structures of penalties.

So, yes, individually, all these decisions seem harsh and cruel, but if we zoom out, they have been the same in terms of the severity and ‘cruelness’ throughout the season so far.

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