NASCAR Suspends Nine Individuals from Three Teams Following Martinsville Speedway Race
The recent actions taken by NASCAR have resulted in fines and suspensions for drivers, spotters, and team executives.
Three different NASCAR teams have seen nine individuals suspended by the sanctioning body, receiving a total of $600,000 in fines for alleged race manipulation at Martinsville Speedway on Nov. 3.
Consequently, drivers Ross Chastain from Trackhouse Racing, Austin Dillon from Richard Childress Racing, and Bubba Wallace from 23XI Racing have each lost 50 driver points and were fined $100,000.
Each team owner was fined $100,000 and had 50 owner points deducted, while team executives Tony Lunders, Keith Rodden, and Dave Rogers were suspended for one race.
The crew chiefs involved, Phil Surgen, Justin Alexander, Bootie Barker, along with their respective spotters Brandon McReynolds, Brandon Benesch, and Freddie Kraft, have all been suspended for one race.
NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer stated that the sweeping action was based on a similar infraction involving the 41 car a couple of years ago at the Roval.
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“We felt like we wanted to ramp this one up and we did, we did that in a way that we included team leadership,” he said.
“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,” Sawyer added.
Following the race at Martinsville Speedway, Christopher Bell was initially set to qualify for the championship final four at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 11.
However, NASCAR determined that using the wall for momentum and gaining a boost by hitting it violated a safety rule and thus, Bell was moved to a 22nd-place finish. This allowed driver William Byron to gain enough points to secure the final spot.
Allegedly, Toyota driver Wallace faked a flat tire to assist Bell in moving out of the way and hitting the wall for the boost, as per NASCAR’s ruling.
It was also found that Chastain and Dillon interfered to help Byron maintain his position, ensuring his spot in the championship.
All teams involved have the opportunity to appeal before the finale. Richard Childress Racing, 23XI Racing, and Trackhouse Racing have all stated their intention to appeal the decision.
The Epoch Times reached out to Trackhouse Racing, Richard Childress Racing, and 23XI Racing for comment on the accusations.
