CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR has penalized Robby Gordon 50 points for failing a postrace inspection at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Crew chief Kirk Almquist has been fined $50,000 and placed on probation until the end of the season.

Gordon's car was inspected after he placed third in Monday's rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600, his best Sprint Cup finish since 2005. Afterward the rear housing of his Toyota did not meet NASCAR's specifications.

Knowing rain was coming, Gordon didn't pit with the leaders under caution and moved into third. The race was stopped five laps later because of rain.

Had Gordon not finished third, his car would not have been inspected.

The loss of points does not knock him outside the important top-35 mark.