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Martin Truex Jr. to start at rear Sunday after inspection failures

Auto Club Speedway - Day 1

FONTANA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 28: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the Bass Pro Shops Toyota, practices for the NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on February 28, 2020 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

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Martin Truex Jr. will start from the rear in Sunday’s Cup race at Auto Club Speedway after his No. 19 Toyota failed pre-qualifying inspection three times Saturday.

Truex had his car chief, Blake Harris, ejected and he will lose 30 minutes of practice next week in Phoenix.

Truex also was not allowed to make a qualifying run.

“We failed a really small spot on the body the first time through,” crew chief James Small told FS1. “Mechanically, everything was super legal. Then rolled back through the next time, another spot on the body came up. Then we failed mechanically. The right-rear toe jumped crazy all of a sudden. Then we’re in some kind of LIS death spiral right now.”

The car passed inspection on the next time through.

Kurt Busch’s No. 1 Chevrolet failed inspection twice. His car chief, Nick Case, was ejected and he’ll lose 15 minutes of final practice next week.