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NASCAR drops the hammer on Harvick

The NASCAR playoffs have taken a dramatic turn after Kevin Harvick's automatic berth was stripped after his winning car at Texas failed inspection.
Credit: Jerome Miron, USA Today
NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick waves to the crowd during driver introductions.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Kevin Harvick has been stripped of his berth in NASCAR's championship race because his winning car failed inspection after Texas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR said Wednesday the discovery made after Harvick's win negates the automatic berth he earned into the finale. The No. 4 had an illegal spoiler.

The rule in question states that spoilers must be used exactly as supplied from the manufacturer and not altered. The infraction was discovered when NASCAR gave the car a further inspection in North Carolina.

Harvick won Sunday's race to join Joey Logano as drivers locked into next weekend's championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Now, three spots will be up for grabs this Sunday in Phoenix.

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