Following the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega, NASCAR sent shockwaves through the garage by disqualifying both Ryan Preece and Joey Logano. Preece’s No. 60 Ford had one too many shims on its spoiler. Logano’s Team Penske Ford? Missing a bolt entirely. In a race built on inches and instincts, these infractions were enough to wipe away two solid finishes.
And just when you thought the weekend’s chaos had peaked, another bombshell dropped. This time from the Xfinity garage. As pre-race scrutiny swept through Talladega like one of its signature wrecks, two drivers, one a fan favorite, the other a rising name, were hit hard.
Talladega tech trouble costs Matt DiBenedetto and Austin Green big
Matt DiBenedetto’s No. 99 Viking Motorsports car and Austin Green’s No. 87 Jordan Anderson Racing entry were both found in violation of Sections 14.4.A and 14.4.11.C&D of the NASCAR rule book. The issue? Rear bumper cover modifications. NASCAR’s inspection team spotted the infraction during their pre-race routine, long before either driver had a chance to prove themselves on the superspeedway.
As a result, NASCAR dropped the hammer with a Level 1 (L1) penalty, which is hefty by Xfinity standards. Both teams were fined $25,000. On top of that, DiBenedetto and Green were each docked 20 driver and owner points, along with five valuable playoff points. For DiBenedetto, the penalty stings, but it doesn’t change his place in the standings. He stays 24th. Green, driving a part-time schedule, isn’t chasing points this season.
Matt DiBenedetto and Austin Green have been docked 20 driver (and owner) points and 5 playoff points and the team fined $25K for rear bumper cover violation found in Xfinity prequalifying/prerace tech at Talladega.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 29, 2025
Neither team has indicated plans to appeal the penalty. Unlike the disqualifications in the Cup, which affected post-race results, these infractions were flagged before a single lap was turned. Still, it underscores NASCAR’s increased scrutiny across all three national series. And with more superspeedway races coming, it’s a clear message: even the smallest tweaks to bodywork can bring major consequences.
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