​NASCAR has begun a deeper inspection process after the Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway last weekend. Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 car for Joe Gibbs Racing was sent to the NASCAR R&D Center for additional review following Chicagoland, where Hamlin finished fourth on Sunday night. The JGR driver has been standout in the 2026 Cup Series season, adding another top-five finish at Chicagoland. While taking Hamlin’s No. 11 to the R&D Center does not automatically indicate a problem, it does raise the possibility of a penalty. In the NextGen era, teams have faced significant penalties when NASCAR brings a car to the R&D Center, including substantial point deductions for infractions. Most cars are cleared after review, but exceptions do occur. Hamlin is likely to be fine, though NASCAR has historically not hesitated to penalize teams for any violations. For reference, Chase Briscoe won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland in June 2026. This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR to further inspect Denny Hamlin’s car after Chicagoland in 2026.