The 2024 Ambetter Health 400 is almost here, and there is already drama. NASCAR’s pre-race inspections have concluded and the whips have cracked down hard. For the race, Chase Elliott initially qualified in 28th place, but it is about to get a lot worse for him. As it happens, some unapproved adjustments to his car, means that he will drop to the back of the 37-car grid.

He won’t be alone though, as Joey Logano is also joining him at the rear. This hurts even harder because he had qualified in 2nd place, behind pole-sitter Michael McDowell in an all-Ford front row. Logano’s offence had to do with his racing gloves not meeting the SFI specification. To make matters even worse, he will also have to serve a pass-through penalty in the race. However, Kyle Busch will certainly not be complaining, as he will move up to the front row.

Joey Logano got into trouble over a pair of racing gloves?

At face value, Logano’s penalty seems a little harsh, because the offending objects were his gloves. There were some suggestions that the gloves he used were same as the ones he used at Daytona last weekend. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr sensed that there was more to the story than just outdated gloves.

Sure enough, it soon transpired that the Team Penske driver had made some adjustments to the gloves. As per an insider, “From what we were told by NASCAR this morning that the glove was altered in an attempt to gain a potential competitive advantage (by sticking his hand out the window). NASCAR said when they put the gloves side by side, there was a noticeable difference.”

Chase Elliott will be gutted as he continues his redemption arc

Coming back to Chase Elliott, the details behind his penalty is a little murky, though it can be chalked down to the car itself. Unfortunately, this does put a massive damper on his championship aspirations. Last year was a season to forget, as he failed to reach the Playoffs for the first time in his career. To say that 2024 is his chance to redeem himself, is a massive understatement.

So far though, things are not exactly going the way the 2020 Cup Series champion had hoped. At the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, he crashed out and was classified 2022. Meanwhile, the opening Bluegreen Vacations Duel saw him finish 2nd behind Tyler Reddick. Sadly, he could only muster 14th fastest in the Daytona 500, and the lowest-ranked Hendrick Motorsports car. So heading to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the man is on a mission, but his challenge has been hampered with the penalty.

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