Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin fail Daytona inspection

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin failed post-qualifying inspection for the Daytona 500 on Sunday, meaning they'll have to start at the back for Thursday's Budweiser Duel qualifying races.

Earnhardt's No. 88 car was found to be too low in the left front and Hamlin's No. 11 was found with a track bar split that was too wide (3.75 inches; only 3 inches are allowed).

NASCAR disallowed the drivers' times for all three of their qualifying sessions. Hamlin had qualified third and Earnhardt 10th.

Now, Earnhardt will be battling for position in Thursday's Budweiser Duel.

Earnhardt's response was to tweet an angry face Emoji.

"That's a shame," Earnhardt added. "The boys will figure out why. Makes the duels a lot more interesting.​"

"Ain't nothing but a thang," he continued. "Starting last in the duels makes the challenge of winning steeper and also more enjoyable.​"

While NASCAR abolished the minimum height requirement last year, it is still in effect for restrictor-plate races like Daytona.

Earnhardt crew chief Greg Ives said the team was "definitely not trying to do anything intentional here."

"I don't feel it was an advantage that got us to our 10th-place position, but it is definitely something that can be frowned upon and not looked as being complaint to the rules and that is what we need to stick to," he said.

Meanwhile, Hamlin seemed to shrug off the infraction.

"Crash damage.. It was the wreck I say!!! Lol" Hamlin tweeted.

Hamlin is already locked into the Daytona 500 based on his points position from last year. Earnhardt does not yet have a secure spot in the race. Both drivers were sent to the rear of the Duels fields as punishment.

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