"That's a fact": Kyle Petty defends NASCAR amid dual controversy involving Chevrolet and Christopher Bell
Retired NASCAR driver and NASCAR on NBC analyst Kyle Petty weighed in on the controversies that stemmed from Chevrolet drivers trying to influence William Byron and Christopher Bell's last-lap wall ride maneuver in Sunday's Round of 8 finale at the Martinsville Speedway. The eight-time Cup Series winner said that while one scenario was against the rules, the other wasn't.
In the closing laps of Sunday's 500-lap event, Byron held a slim one-point advantage over Bell for the final Championship 4 spot. Chevrolet drivers Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain, hot on Byron's heels, sought to overtake him and knock him below Bell in the standings. However, the two Chevy drivers formed a protective barrier around Byron, effectively blocking any potential challengers and ensuring his spot in the Championship 4.
Meanwhile, Bell made a daring move in the final two turns, diving his #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota under Bubba Wallace to gain a position. He then executed a bold maneuver, sliding his car against the outside wall in Turn 4 to gain speed and maintain the lead over Wallace. This decisive move propelled Bell above the cutline and into the Championship 4.
However, Bell's wall-riding maneuver, similar to Ross Chastain's "Hail Melon" move from the previous year, was deemed illegal by NASCAR due to safety concerns. NASCAR had banned such aggressive tactics following Chastain's incident at the same track in 2022. Therefore, following a thorough review by NASCAR, Bell was penalized with a four-position drop in the finishing order for the safety violation, ultimately handing the final Championship 4 spot to Byron.
Both instances sparked controversy as to whether they were fair or not. Petty took to his personal X account to note that there's no rule that says drivers can't block for their manufacturers. However, he pointe dout that there is a rule against wall riding, something Bell violated. Petty wrote:
"I’m not arguing tonight because I don’t feel like dealing with some of you honestly. 1st there is no rule against blocking and manufacturers have been working together for years! (See Daytona and Talladega) 2nd wall ride is against the rules, that’s a fact. Conversation over…"
The Championship 4 was set at Martinsville
Despite the controversial finish, the Championship 4 contenders were decided as Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, and William Byron will compete for the championship this Sunday at the Phoenix Raceway. Logano, Reddick, and Blaney each won races in the Round of 8 to secure their spots while Byron took the final spot by virtue of points.
Logano seeks his third Cup championship while his Team Penske teammate Blaney is looking for his second straight Cup title. Reddick and Byron, meanwhile, aim for their first Cup championship. If Logano or Blaney manage to hold the trophy at the end of the race, it'll be Team Penske's third straight championship.