Three-time NASCAR Cup champion Joey Logano, needing postseason surge, wins pole at Gateway

At WWT Raceway, also known as Gateway, NASCAR Cup inspections for the upcoming race on Sunday revealed issues with two teams' cars. Chris Buescher, driving for RFK Racing, and Cody Ware, piloting the Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet, both failed the inspection twice during pre-race checks. As a result, car chiefs Joshua Sisco and Dave Jones were ejected from the team and can no longer participate in the race weekend.

They have also forfeited their pit stall selection, meaning Buescher and Ware will be assigned the last two pit stalls on pit road, which are typically less desirable spots. Following the practice session, Buescher was found to be the slowest of 16 title contenders, placing him 35th in the standings. Despite the failures, the teams managed to pass the inspection on the third attempt, avoiding a costly pass-through penalty during Sunday's race.

This is a common occurrence, and while it doesn't significantly impact the weekend, another failure could have put the teams in a much worse position. Thankfully, both cars ultimately passed inspection, allowing them to compete in the race without further penalties.