NASCAR has issued significant penalties following an investigation into race manipulation during the penultimate round of the playoffs at Martinsville. Three teams — Bubba Wallace’s #23 23XI Racing Toyota, Austin Dillon’s #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, and Ross Chastain’s #1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet — have been penalized for their roles in what NASCAR determined was an attempt to manipulate the race outcome. These penalties include fines, points deductions, and suspensions for key team members.
Each of the three teams has received identical penalties: a $100,000 fine, the loss of 50 driver and owner points, and the suspension of key team personnel for one race. The suspended members include crew chiefs, spotters, and executives. In Wallace’s case, the points penalty drops him from 17th to 18th in the standings. Chastain’s points position remains unaffected, while Dillon drops from 28th to 33rd due to the loss of points.
The penalties stem from a series of suspicious radio exchanges during the final laps of the Martinsville race. As Christopher Bell, who was a lap down, fought to secure a Championship 4 spot, both Dillon and Chastain appeared to work together to hold up William Byron, who was also in the hunt for the final spot. Despite being in a position to pass Byron, Dillon and Chastain ran side-by-side, impeding other drivers from challenging Byron. In one exchange, Dillon’s team asked if Chastain understood “the deal,” referring to their apparent strategy.
In addition to the blocking tactics, Wallace’s involvement raised suspicions when he radioed in frustration about not helping a Joe Gibbs Racing car (JGR). Shortly after, Wallace dramatically slowed down, citing a potential tire issue, even though his spotter confirmed that all tires were intact. This led to a dramatic shift in the race, with Bell closing in on Wallace and ultimately passing him on the final lap, securing the points he needed to advance to the Championship 4.
The situation took another twist when Bell was penalized by NASCAR for making contact with the wall while passing Wallace, disqualifying him from the Championship 4 just 27 minutes after the initial confirmation. All three teams have announced their intention to appeal the penalties, with 23XI Racing strongly asserting their belief that no violations occurred during the race
