The 2025 NASCAR 500 at Talladega Superspeedway looked like a Ford Mustang blowout. First across the finish line was Austin Cindric’s #2 Ford Mustang. Hot on his heels was Ryan Preece’s #60 Mustang. Fifth place went to Joey Logano’s #22 Mustang. Then tech got involved—and it was a Mustang massacre.

How NASCAR tightened the screws on Ford Mustang spoilers

For years, teams twisted sheet metal to run skewed “Twisted Sister” bodies at Talladega and Daytona. But the 2022 Next Gen car is symmetrical, spec-built, and ready for any track. These new cars feature underbody diffusers and full trays to boost downforce. On superspeedways, they run massive 7-inch spoilers to slow things down.

That aero setup keeps cars grounded and reduces the chance of airborne disasters—like Preece’s wild rollovers at Daytona in 2023 and again this year. But it also means every inch counts. “Any deviation in aero components can affect parity and safety,” NASCAR’s Elton Sawyer told nascar.com. Cue the teardown.

Logano’s Mustang found loose at the tail

Post-race inspection revealed a loose fastener on the rear spoiler of Logano’s #22 Ford Mustang. According to NASCAR, the bolt could allow spoiler movement at speed, changing airflow and drag. Team Penske said the error was an unintentional loosening throughout the course of the race, and “a mistake on our part.” Logano got the boot from fifth place and was credited with 39th.

Preece’s Mustang had one shim too many

Inspectors found an extra shim under the spoiler on Ryan Preece’s #60 RFK Racing Mustang. That third spacer was not approved in the rulebook. RFK issued a quick mea culpa, saying, “We respect NASCAR’s process and accept the penalty.” Preece lost his runner-up finish and dropped to 38th.

The Ford Mustang that survived the NASCAR crackdown

Despite all that drama, Cindric’s #2 Mustang Dark Horse cleared inspection. That means the Ford blowout wasn’t totally a bust. He kept the win, scoring his second career Cup victory. “We had the car to beat today,” he said post-race.

Even with the disqualifications, Ford still logged two Mustangs in the final top five. Noah Gragson’s #4 climbed to fourth. The rest of the top ten? A Chevrolet party, with Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Chase Elliott all moving up.

It’s a tough break for Preece and Logano. But in a sport where one bolt or shim can flip the script, that’s racing. The NASCAR Ford Mustang has the muscle—but the rules are the rules.