NASCAR is performing a deeper inspection process after the Cup Series Chase race at Kansas Speedway this weekend. Ryan Blaney's No. 12 car for Team Penske has been taken to the NASCAR R&D Center for further inspection after Kansas, the sport announced. Blaney finished in fifth place on Sunday afternoon.
The Team Penske driver has struggled over the last few weeks and finally earned another top-5 finish at Kansas. NASCAR taking Blaney's No. 12 car to the R&D Center doesn't automatically mean something is wrong; however, it does heighten the risk of a potential penalty.
In the NextGen car era, drivers and teams have received significant penalties when NASCAR takes a car to the R&D Center. There have been several occasions when they have lost over
100 points due to an infraction. Most cars are cleared after going to the R&D Center, but exceptions exist.
Blaney will likely be OK; however, NASCAR has blasted teams in the past for any wrongdoing.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR to further inspect Ryan Blaney's car after Kansas in 2026
