NASCAR director clarifies Jesse Love disqualification at Rockingham

Following what was thought to be a brilliant performance and win from Jesse Love in NASCAR's return to Rockingham Speedway, the driver was ultimately disqualified after his car was found to be in violation of the rules during the post-race inspection. NASCAR Xfinity Series Director Eric Peterson has now spoken out on the disqualification, which awarded Sammy Smith the win.

Talking with the media following the race, Peterson detailed the issue with the car that led to the surprising disqualification. 

"Only at the end of the race and post-race tear down, the No. 2 car of Jesse Love for RCR failed post-race inspection," Peterson said. "The rule that they violated was 14.14.2 I5.H. So that's truck trailing arm spacers and pinion angle shims as the area of that rule.

"And that way that rule reads is all mating surfaces between the truck trailing arms and the U-bolt saddle must be in complete contact with each other at all times, and unfortunately that was not the case when we did the tear down on the No.2 car and they were disqualified."

Speaking on a possible appeal, Peterson added: "This is an appealable infraction so I can't go into too much details on it, but those parts all are together for sure and need to be tight and touching each other the whole time."

Jesse Love, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet; Sammy Smith, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Getty Images

But is he expecting the team to appeal?

"I'm not really sure. We'll have to wait and see. They have a little period of time before they have to decide that and they're digesting it right now so we'll have to wait and see what they say."

The No. 8 Chevrolet of Sammy Smith, driving for JR Motorsports, also underwent a full teardown and passed inspection.