{"id":7776,"date":"2025-09-13T11:59:48","date_gmt":"2025-09-13T15:59:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/?p=7776"},"modified":"2025-09-13T11:59:48","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T15:59:48","slug":"34904-gateway-warning-reveals-possible-dq-risk-for-2-playoff-drivers-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/34904-gateway-warning-reveals-possible-dq-risk-for-2-playoff-drivers-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Gateway Warning Reveals Possible DQ Risk For 2 Playoff Drivers In 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Outrage flared on Sept 10, 2025<\/strong> as NASCAR announced it would formally warn teams after Gateway for post-race off\u2011track laps. The reminder matters now because officials signaled future infractions could trigger penalties up to disqualification, affecting playoff math immediately. NASCAR cited Rule 6421.b<\/strong> and a 17-pound<\/strong> post-race tolerance while naming the Trackhouse cars driven by Chastain and van Gisbergen as examples under review. This is a clear league-wide escalation; how will teams change their end\u2011of\u2011race behavior this playoff stretch?<\/p>\n

Why NASCAR\u2019s Sept 10, 2025 warning matters for playoff teams today<\/h2>\n
\n
    \n
  • NASCAR<\/strong> warned teams on Sept 10, 2025<\/strong>; future off\u2011track cooldown laps risk penalties.<\/li>\n
  • Rule 6421.b<\/strong> bars adjustments during cooldown laps; violations could lead to disqualification.<\/li>\n
  • Chastain<\/strong> and van Gisbergen<\/strong> drove through grass; both face post\u2011race inspection scrutiny.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    How rule 6421.b and the 17-pound tolerance suddenly matter today<\/h2>\n

    NASCAR elevated a routine reminder into a practical threat: teams that try to manipulate post\u2011race conditions to hit minimum weight will be watched. The series\u2019 weekly competition update and Hauler Talk comments from Mike Forde made the warning explicit, tying the conduct at World Wide Technology Raceway to a rules citation. Given that playoff cars are being measured within pounds, a single post\u2011race tactic can cost a driver an entire round. If you follow the playoffs, expect teams to scrub risky cooldown theatrics immediately.<\/p>\n

    Who\u2019s reacting to the warning, and which crews are bracing for penalties?<\/h2>\n

    NASCAR\u2019s communications team framed the reminder as a fairness and safety issue, noting teams have pushed weight math to the limit. Trackhouse drivers Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen were singled out from the Gateway cooldown lap and face standard post\u2011race inspection. Industry commentators are split between calling for strict enforcement and warning that aggressive DQs would produce headlines and playoff fallout.<\/p>\n

    \n

    This was awesome … <\/p>\n

    Special Edition Hauler Talk with new #NASCAR<\/a> Commissioner Steve Phelps!<\/p>\n

    Some newsy stuff too … please give it a listen:https:\/\/t.co\/CtOIR1n1y2<\/a><\/p>\n

    — Mike Forde (@mforde) April 1, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n