Who got engulfed in NASCAR’s $600,000 penalty slap? Exploring the governing body’s scathing take on Martinsville controversy
NASCAR has revealed its decision regarding the controversies that brewed at the Martinsville Speedway. The XFINITY 500 came under scanner for alleged race manipulation by the Chevrolets and Toyotas. But two days after the controversial 500-lap battle, the governing body issued harsh measures against the rule book infringers, slapping a total penalty of $600,000.
Following the 35th Cup Series race weekend, which saw Ryan Blaney punch his Championship 4 ticket and Christopher Bell get stripped from the playoffs due to a wall-ride move, the radio communications of several drivers and teams pointed toward a manipulative intent to help the OEM teammates.
After carefully listening to the transfer of information from the teams to the drivers, NASCAR concluded that Trackhouse Racing, Richard Childress Racing, and 23XI Racing were involved in the illegal act. The team's conduct violated the NASCAR rule book's sections 4.4.B&D: NASCAR Member Conduct of the Rule Book, which also addresses race manipulation and actions damaging to the pinnacle of stock car racing.
As a result, the organization penalized Trackhouse driver Ross Chastain and owners Justin Marks and Pitbull, RCR driver Austin Dillon and boss Richard Childress, and 23XI's Bubba Wallace and owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. The driver and the team owner(s) were each slapped with a $100,000 fine and stripped of 50 driver and owner points. Moreover, the governing body suspended nine team members for the Martinsville infraction.
NASCAR Senior VP of Competition Elton Sawyer broke the silence on the illegal racing practice and the following penalties. He said.
“We took and looked at the most recent penalty that we had written for an infraction, very similar, which was the 41 (Cole Custer) car a couple of years ago (for helping Chase Briscoe) at the Roval. We felt like we wanted to ramp this one up and we did, we did that in a way that we included team leadership," Sawyer said via NASCAR."And this one, something that we feel like that, you know, we want to get our point across that it’s a responsibility of all of us, the team owners, the team leadership as well as ourselves here at NASCAR to uphold the integrity of our sport,” he added.
Sawyer also emphasized Chastain, Wallace, and Dillon were lucky that they were not suspended.
23XI Racing responds to NASCAR's scathing penalty
23XI Racing came under scanner following Bubba Wallace's final lap maneuver, where his #23 Toyota slowed down owing to mechanical failure, paving the way for his Toyota teammate Christopher Bell to overtake.
While Wallace and his team denied any foul play to let a second Toyota propel in the Championship 4 race after Tyler Reddick, the radio communication of the #23 team did mention how far Bell's #20 was.
“Fight the 24 all you got Freddie. Relay to him.” - Crew Chief Bootie Barker. "Tell him how far back the No. 20 is, Freddie.” - Barker. "No. 24 and No. 20 are separated by a point right now.” - Spotter Freddie Kraft. "Coming to 2 to go.” - Kraft, an excerpt of Wallace radio communication read via Davey Segal on X.
Following the radio chatters' scrutiny, the Stock Car Racing body deemed the #23 team's acts as violative and brutally reprimanded the organization. However, the Huntersville-based outfit denied doing any illegal act and revealed they would appeal the governing body's ruling against them.
"23XI is aware of the penalty issued by NASCAR stemming from Sunday's Martinsville race. We feel strongly that we did not commit any violations during Sunday's race and we will appeal NASCAR's ruling," the statement read via 23XI Racing on X.
Despite the penalties, the playoff order remains undisturbed. Thus, the fans would see Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and William Byron fight for the 2024 Cup Series title.