This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series enters a high-stakes elimination at the Bristol Motor Speedway. In this stretch, every point can define a season. And apart from on-track performance, post-race inspections can be equally decisive at this stage. Last year’s Charlotte Roval race saw Alex Bowman disqualified and knocked out of contention after his car failed to meet minimum weight standards. This was a reminder of how unforgiving NASCAR’s rule book can be. Now, officials have signaled that any questionable activity during the post-race cooldown lap could carry similar consequences.

Recent weeks have shown how close teams are willing to push the rulebook. NASCAR allows a 17-pound tolerance in post-race weight checks. Hence, playoff cars have run within a single pound of disqualification, a

See Full Page