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Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 78 Front Row Toyota, won the pole for the Hellmann’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, with the speed of 193.423 mph.
Brad Keselowski (193.365 mph) and Matt Kenseth (193.189 mph) will start second and third.
Topping off the top-five were Chase Elliot (193.166 mph) and Greg Biffle (193.123 mph).
Completing the top-10 are Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Austin Dillon and Paul Menard.
There were two major issues following qualifications.
Despite winning the pole position Truex Jr’s. No. 78 car was found to have a jack bolt screw that NASCAR felt didn’t meet the specifications as stated in the rule book, Rule 20.14.5.1.a this covers the car’s suspension, Front jack screws must be constructed of solid, magnetic steel.
If NASCAR feels the infraction falls under either a P3 or P4 level penalty it can cause huge upset in the chase for the team. NASCAR has taken the part and are currently looking further into it.
Cole Pearn the crew chief for the No. 78 team stated that the piece was a mistake made by the manufacture and that they would make a change like that at Talladega. He added that if they did it, it would not have just been on the one side of the car but on both, so he hopes NASCAR realizes that it was not intentional.
If NASCAR were to rule it a P3 Penalty that would carry the following consequences: a loss of 15 championship driver and owner points, a $20,000 to $50,000 fine, suspension for the crew chief or any team members for one or more races as well as probation for those team members.
If NASCAR were rule it a violation of safety this would raise the penalty level to a P4 and the consequences would be loss of 25 championship driver/owner points and any where $40,000 to $75,000 in fines and suspension of crew chief/team members for three races plus probation.
“It’s just a front jack screw with the top drilled down to put the wedge wrench there I guess they went too deep,” Truex quoted. “It was just a part that was machined wrong, versus what’s been said all over twitter.”
NASCAR Vice President of Competition Scott Miller stated he felt it wouldn’t give them a competitive advantage and will most likely not cost the team any points,but because its the playoffs its urgent and will be addressed like it has been all year long. NASCAR will put it through their process by analyzing everything to figure out what they are going to do.
Also after qualifications Joe Gibbs Racing drivers, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth were asked back to inspection to be re-looked at again.
“Nothing, yet. It’s not my problem.” Kyle Busch stated when asked about the inspection issue. “I just worry about driving and do the best job that I can do there. I did what I could, and ended up where I thought we were end up.”
“Didn’t take a whole lot, but nothing I’m going to complain about,” Hamlin added. “We’re always trying to get all we can get, so I’m not going to get on my crew chief as I’m always on him trying to get him so we don’t get beat by that little bit.”
“There was an emotional toll as I was watching all the cars, hoping we weren’t doing the same thing, Carl Edwards stated after his JGR teammates got called back to inspection again. “But hey, a Stanley hammer can fix anything. It’s amazing with all the technology how much a hammer can do.”
