NASCAR set to “look at” race manipulation allegations featuring Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain
NASCAR Senior VP Elton Sawyer has confirmed that NASCAR will be looking into the race manipulation allegation from Martinsville.
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Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain (Via IMAGO)
Martinsville hosted one of the most dramatic races of the 2024 NASCAR Cup season. The race determined the champiuonship-4 line-up, with race winner Ryan Blaney joining Tyler Reddick and Joey Lognao for the finale alongside Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron, who got in under controversial circumstances.
William Byron got the final four berth after NASCAR disqualified JGR’s Christopher Bell for a banned wall ride on the final lap. The two drivers were also involved in an alleged race manipulation situation. Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon supposedly helped their Chevy teammate Byron by blocking rest of the cars while Bubba Wallace suddenly slowed down to help Toyota teammate Bell pass him.
NASCAR senior VP Elton Sawyer in his post-race press-conference was asked about NASCAR investigating the allegation. He pointed out that they would look into everything including the race data and radio conversation, as they have been doing after every event, to make sure no rule infractions were committed.
Yeah, we’ll look at everything. As I said earlier, we want to go back, as we would have done anyway. We’ll get back, we’ll take all the data, video. We’ll listen to in-car audio. We’ll do all that, as we would any event.
Elton Sawyer said via Jayski.
Elton Sawyer explained the delay for Christopher Bell DQ call
It took NASCAR almost 30 minutes to announce the disqualification of Christopher Bell for the wall ride, despite the rules being pretty strightforward. Sawyer pointed out that the race officials took their time to make the call, because it had huge playoff implications and they were determined to make sure it was the right call.
We want to get it right, first and foremost. This is not something that happens every week. We want to be prepared. I thought our team in the tower did exactly what we needed to do. Let’s get this right.
Elton Sawyer said.
Though the delay was bit too much, NASCAR deserves the appreciation for making the right call and investing time in it. It will be interesting to see if they will put in the same effort towards the race manipulations drama.
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Justin P Joy
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