Carl Edwards' Dover winning car failed the post race inspection. Reports indicate that the right rear is over the 1/2 inch tolerance too low. Nascar allowed the team to let the car settle (as all cars failing inspection are allowed to do), but the car was the same illegal height. The car was then confiscated by Nascar.
Opinions vary as to whether the height issue will result in a points penalty. As it does not appear that the issue is a "COT Tinkering" problem, Nascar is unlikely to penalize the Roush car too severely. However, Nascar does have a history of disproportionally penalizing Jack Roush's cars, so anything is possible. (See Mark Martin penalty that cost him the Championship a decade or so ago).
Edwards attributes the height violation to the "love tap" Greg Biffle gave him after he took the checkers. Edwards believes the brackets inside the decklid were bent due to the contact. He also noted that the height tolerance was the wrong direction - crew chiefs want the right rear to be high, not low.
Interestingly enough, last week, Tony Stewart's car failed inspection but Nascar deemed the height tolerace was not met due to damage on the car during the race. No penalties were given.
Will Edwards get the same break? Or will the draconian COT penalties affect the Chase standings?
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