Watch the video; NASCAR had a lengthy review of the finish following a controversial move at Martinsville Speedway
On Sunday, NASCAR Cup Series drivers raced at Martinsville Speedway. The 500-lap race was the final playoff elimination race ahead of next week’s championship race.
In the closing laps, Bubba Wallace was told over his team radio that Bell needed 1 point to advance. Moments later, Wallace noted that he thought he had a tire going down.
The No. 23 team told their driver, “10 to go at the line. 5 back to the No. 11 then 10 to the No. 24. The No. 24 and 21 are separated by a point right now.”
Later the team stated, “Three to go.” Bubba Wallace responded, “I think I got a tire going down.” The team responded, “10-4. Just nurse it. Nurse it home.”
The 23XI Racing driver began to slow drastically. Note that 23XI Racing has an alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing and the No. 20 team.
In the final corner, Bell worked by the slow car of Wallace. He slid Wallace into turn three and then drove into the wall. Bell stepped on the gas and rode the wall to the finish line.
While Bell was a lap down, passing Wallace was for position, placing him 18th over 19th.
That single pass gave Bell the position he needed. As they crossed the finish line, Bell was tied with Byron for the final transfer spot into the championship race.
The tie-breaker would go to Christopher Bell.
However, after the finish, NASCAR officials went into a lengthy review of the closing laps.
Ross Chastain rode the wall at Martinsville Speedway 2 years ago, the move has since been deemed illegal. The move by Bell wasn’t the same, but it was in a similar realm.
Chastain rides wall at Martinsville; Passes 5 cars (Video)
NASCAR places wall riding into the rulebook
NASCAR penalizes Christopher Bell for riding the wall
With the lengthy review, NASCAR issued a penalty to Christopher Bell for riding the wall. It was ruled a safety violation.
After crossing the finish line in 18th, NASCAR relegated him to the last car on the lead lap, a 22nd place finish.
With the penalty, Bell was removed from the championship battle next week. Byron will join Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick and Joey Logano.
Martinsville Results: November 3, 2024 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Christopher Bell comments
“I don’t know what to say,” Christopher Bell told NBC Sports after the call was made.
“I understand that the rule was made to prevent people from riding the wall. But, my move was completely different than what Ross’ was. I got loose getting into the corner and slid right into the fence.”
Bell concluded, “I don’t know what else to say.”
William Byron comments
“Well, I mean, he rode the wall and there’s a clear rule against riding the wall,” Byron stated before NASCAR made the call.
“In my eyes, that’s what counts. And, the No. 23 stuff is what it is. There was a lot going on there.”
“There’s a rule against it. We all sat and talked in meetings and talked about whether there should be a rule against it.”
Front tires were off the ground coming off of four there against the fence. It happened in the past and it was fair game. But, now the rule’s against it.”
“I’m not happy about anything,” William Byron said after the ruling was made.
“But, the rule is what it is for the crossover gate over there and riding the wall. It is what it is.”
Byron added, “We’ll go race. Just proud of my team overall.”
Bubba Wallace comments
“I went loose or something broke. Just nursing it,” Bubba Wallace told Dustin Long.
He added, “Then, he tried to slide me. I’m like, ‘Brother, just trying to not crash or jumble up the whole field.”
NASCAR has penalized teams in the past for race manipulation after slowing down at the end of a race. Any additional penalties will be announced mid-week.
NASCAR comments
“If you go back a couple years ago, when we had the situation with the No. 1 car riding the wall,” NASCAR’s Elton Sawyer opened.
“We met with the industry. We met with the drivers. Everyone decided we didn’t want that move to be accepted.”
“We had language in the rulebook. It is a violation. When we saw the No. 20 car, that’s exactly where we went.”
“We looked at it a couple different times. Just to make sure. That was the call.”
“It’s two different situations. They’re very similar in the fact that we had two cars that rode the wall and was in the gas. When you look at that, it is a safety violation.”
“That’s to protect our competitors as well as our fans.”
Joe Gibbs noted that he would not be allowed to appeal the penalty.
Sawyer explained, “In race penalties are not protested. Not appeal-able I should say. No different than an uncontrolled tire or too many men over the wall.”
“I’m not going to speculate on Christopher did or what he said he meant to do. That wouldn’t be fair. We looked at the data. We looked at the video. And we think very clear, based off our conversations with our industry, based off that move two years ago that that was not being tolerated.”
NASCAR on the Bubba Wallace situation
Sawyer later added that the situation with the No. 23 will be investigated as well as a similar situation with the No. 1 and No. 3 cars there were behind William Byron.
“If you look at the other situations that were going with the No. 23 and the cars behind the No. 24, really no bearing.”
“We’ll look at those at a later time. When we dissect exactly what happened. The No. 20 up against the fence then riding the fence. Which is clearly stated in our statement after Ross did that that, that would not be accepted.”
“The table is set for one of the best championship weekends that we’ve had in a long time.”
