NASCAR penalized Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota, Austin Dillon’s No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, and Ross Chastain’s No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet after an investigation into their actions during the closing laps of the Round of 8 elimination race at Martinsville.
The penalties, which include suspensions and point deductions, were issued for potential race manipulation based on radio communications from the teams.
In the final laps, William Byron was struggling on old tires, with Christopher Bell just a lap down and needing to pass Byron to secure a spot in the Championship 4.
Dillon and Chastain appeared to form a “rolling roadblock,” running side-by-side and preventing others, including Bell, from gaining positions.
Dillon’s team even inquired if Chastain’s team understood the situation, and directed their crew chief to communicate with the No. 1 team.
Meanwhile, Wallace, whose Toyota was a half-lap ahead of Bell, expressed frustration on his radio about not helping a Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) car and then intentionally slowed down, citing a possible tire issues
Despite his spotter confirming all tires were inflated, Wallace’s pace fluctuated dramatically, allowing Bell to catch up and pass him for the crucial point he needed.
NASCAR deemed these actions to be part of a coordinated effort to manipulate the outcome of the race, benefiting Bell’s playoff chances.
As a result, crew members from RCR and Trackhouse were suspended for one race, and Dillon was penalized 50 points, dropping him in the standings. 23XI Racing also announced their intention to appeal, maintaining they did not violate any rules.
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