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NASCAR Xfinity winner Kyle Busch faces "encumbered finish" penalty

Saturday’s Xfinity Series winner Kyle Busch failed post-race inspection and his Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota team could face penalties for an “encumbered finish.”

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota celebrates his victory

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota celebrates his victory

Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images

Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota celebrates his victory
Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota celebrates his victory
Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota celebrates his victory
Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

NASCAR officials said Busch’s car was too low in both the left-front and right-front.

According to NASCAR’s rulebook, such violations are likely to be considered an “encumbered finish” which would mean the team could not use the win or the playoff points that come with it to compete for the owner’s title in the NASCAR playoffs.

Since Busch only earns driver points in the Monster Energy Cup Series, the penalties would not affect the ability of Busch to qualify for the playoffs.

After the Truck race, Busch said he hadn’t been told yet that his car had failed inspection.

“I didn’t feel anything happen over the course of the day. I don’t remember all the adjustments we were making. I know we were going track bar down and wedge out – so that should have actually kind of lifted the front maybe,” Busch said.

“I don’t know how low it was or anything.”

Busch held off fellow Cup driver Brad Keselowski to win Saturday’s Rinnai 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was the 87th victory of Busch’s Xfinity career.

In the offseason, NASCAR altered its penalty structure, with most offenses during the weekend handled during course of a race weekend.

The most severe penalties, called L1 and L2, are still dealt after the race weekend. They include issues with certified chassis, fuel storage, gear ratios, minimum weight and height, traction control, telemetry, electronic fuel injection, fuel additives, tires, illegal testing and fewer than 17 lug nuts. 

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