The Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway saw some incredible storylines play out. Austin Cindric picked up his first win of the season to end Team Penske’s drought in 2025, and Kyle Larson secured a top-3 finish at a superspeedway! However, two narratives that dominated were Ryan Preece, securing his highest ever finish at 2nd place, and the defending Cup Series Champion, Joey Logano, finally getting a top-5 finish. Just as fans of these drivers started to celebrate, they got hit by the dreaded post-race inspection.

Post-race inspections rain on RFK and Penske parade

Following the Jack Link’s 500, NASCAR announced that both Ryan Preece and Joey Logano were disqualified after their cars failed post-race inspection. Preece’s No. 60 RFK Racing Ford was found to have three shims on its rear spoiler instead of the mandated two. This violates Rule 14.5.8.F., leading to a technical infraction.

According to this rule, teams are required to use exactly two shims on the spoiler to control its angle and aerodynamic properties. The rule aims to ensure aerodynamic parity by preventing any unfair advantage that could be gained by altering the spoiler’s positioning or flexibility. Using more or fewer shims than allowed can alter the spoiler’s positioning, potentially providing an unfair aerodynamic advantage.

Similarly, Joey Logano’s No. 22 Team Penske Ford was missing a spoiler bolt. This breaches Rules 14.5.8.E and 14.1.P. The former mandates that all components of the spoiler, including bolts and fasteners, must be properly installed and intact to ensure the spoiler meets the standardized aerodynamic specifications. A missing spoiler bolt, as in Joey Logano’s case, can alter the spoiler’s stability and aerodynamic effect. This can potentially provide the driver with an unfair advantage.

On the other hand, the latter rule ensures that every part conforms to NASCAR’s specifications and that no unauthorized modifications have been made. It acts as a catch-all to maintain parity and safety by verifying that the entire vehicle, as assembled, complies with the rulebook. What makes things even worse for Logano is that Team Penske have already stated they will not appeal the disqualification. Their statement read, “One of the 18 bolts on the surface of the spoiler that connect to the base was found to be loose, and NASCAR penalized the team as a result. This was not intentional and happened throughout the course of the race event. Team Penske accepts the disqualification.”

So what was supposed to be a day of celebration for Preece and relief for Logano quickly turned sour, as they were relegated to 38th and 39th place finishes, respectively. Both have been awarded only one point each, and this disqualification has reshuffled the top positions at Talladega. Kyle Larson has now moved up to second place, and William Byron to third.

RFK still has the option to appeal the disqualifications, and such appeals are typically heard before the next race. Do you think RFK will appeal these infractions? Well, before they could do that, fans had their say on the disqualifications, and it was clear which side they were leaning toward.

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Sympathy for Preece, but none for Logano

Following the shocking disqualifications of Ryan Preece and Joey Logano at Talladega, fans quickly took to social media, and the reactions were as varied as they were passionate. One fan, clearly frustrated by Preece’s disqualification after such a strong performance, wrote, “As a Preece fan HA I’m jumping off the Brooklyn bridge tomorrow.” This comment encapsulates the heartbreak many Preece supporters felt after he worked so hard for his best Cup Series finish.

There was already a tinge of disappointment in the fans as Preece was just 0.022 seconds off the winner before the disqualification. Nonetheless, fans had hoped that this race, even without the win, would mark the start of Preece’s redemption story. However, the aftermath of the penalty feels like rubbing salt into the wounds. Others, too, echoed in the sentiment, with one fan stating, “Hate this for Preece man…”

On the flip side, another fan shared their sympathy for Preece but couldn’t resist taking a jab at Logano: “I feel bad for Preece… Logano on the other hand not so much. Joey is turning into a major jackh—.” Similarly, another user commented, “Feel bad for Preece, but LOL JOEY.” Logano’s disqualification felt like poetic justice to some, given his controversial history. His aggressive driving style and history of feuds with both fans and competitors had earned him a polarizing reputation. This latest penalty seemed to add to the sentiment that Logano had it coming, especially after his expletive-laden rant toward his teammate, Austin Cindric, at the end of Stage 2.

Many fans expressed disbelief, questioning the legitimacy of the infractions. One comment summed it up with, “What!?! This is garbage!! Spoiler infractions? Y’all just making things up naw.” This sentiment was familiar, especially after Chase Briscoe’s hefty penalty at Daytona and Erik Jones’ Martinsville disqualification earlier in the season. Fans felt the penalties were trivial and wondered if NASCAR was going too far in enforcing minor technicalities, with this particular penalty feeling like an example of NASCAR overreaching.

Finally, one fan added, “Another race…another…” This was a reflection of broader frustration with the 2025 NASCAR season, which had been marred by a series of penalties and controversies. From confusion over cautions and inconsistent track limit rules to Open Exemption Provisional and Damage Vehicle Policy, almost every race seemed to be overshadowed by some form of rule dispute. This constant drama, combined with disqualifications like those seen at Talladega, left fans feeling that the integrity of the competition was being called into question.

For many, it felt like the off-track controversies were becoming just as important, if not more so, than the on-track action. What do you think of NASCAR’s decision? Let us know in the comments!