NASCAR confirm Hendrick Motorsports cars set for further scrutiny after Pocono inspection

NASCAR has confirmed that the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet is set for further scrutiny this week following post-race inspection at Pocono.

Cup Series champion Chase Elliott raced in the car at Pocono Raceway, performing double duty in the Xfinity Series on Saturday in the No. 17 before returning to more familiar territory and the No. 9 in the Cup Series on Sunday.

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After securing pole and remaining inside the top 10 for the majority of the race, Elliott's chances of winning were scuppered after late contact with Justin Allgaier on a restart, seeing both drivers drop into the midfield.

The Hendrick Motorsports star could only recover to P4, with Connor Zilisch winning the race in the No. 88.

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Brought speed, not his day.

P4 for @chaseelliott. pic.twitter.com/e9SbAAOFqA

— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) June 21, 2025

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NASCAR confirm cars set for further inspection

Post-race, NASCAR confirmed that there were no issues in technical inspection, making Zilisch's fourth place official.

However, NASCAR also revealed that they would be taking two cars - the No. 17 from Hendrick Motorsports and the No. 16 from Kaulig Racing - for further inspection at their research and development center in Concord, North Carolina, on Monday.

UPDATE: NASCAR has also taken the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for further inspection following Sunday's Cup Series race.

What does this mean for those cars exactly? Well, cars are taken back to the R&D center from time to time, and often, it is just routine.

However, if something illegal or that violated a rule were to be found during the added inspection, there would naturally be consequences.

However, for the most part, the further inspections are for educational purposes, as outlined on NASCAR's official website: "Sometimes, NASCAR will choose cars to take back to the R&D Center, but that’s more for engine education than anything else."

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