NASCAR officials ejected two key team members from Pocono Raceway on Saturday following multiple failed pre-race inspections. Hendrick Motorsports car chief Jesse Saunders and Live Fast Motorsports engineer Chris Stanley were removed from the track for the remainder of the weekend after the No. 5 and No. 78 Chevrolet entries failed inspection twice.
According to reports from Motorsport.com, both vehicles eventually passed on their third attempt, allowing Kyle Larson and Daniel Dye to participate in practice and qualifying sessions. NASCAR’s penalty structure mandates that teams failing twice forfeit their choice of pit stall, leaving them to accept the remaining available spots. Had either car failed a third time, the teams would have faced additional in-race penalties.
The incident marks a recurring theme in the 2026 season, which has seen several similar technical infractions. While inspection failures are relatively common—notably occurring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway earlier this year where four car chiefs were ejected—the removal of personnel remains a standard enforcement mechanism for compliance with NASCAR’s technical regulations. Larson, the defending Cup Series champion, continues his weekend at Pocono despite the setback, while Dye prepares for only his second career Cup Series start.