In a stirring finish overshadowed by a massive controversy, Ryan Blaney earned a title berth with a victory at Martinsville Speedway for the second consecutive year, advancing to the Championship 4 to defend his 2023 title.
The Nov. 10 championship race at Phoenix will feature Blaney vs. Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano and William Byron, who was awarded the final slot in the title race when NASCAR officials ruled that Christopher Bell committed a safety violation on the final lap by riding the wall to pass Bubba Wallace in the last corner.
“I’m not happy for anything, but the rule is what it is for riding the wall,” Byron told NBC Sports’ Kim Coon. “We’ll go race. Just proud of my team. Really a hard-fought day overall. Proud of that.”
Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet were on the verge of being shut out of the Championship 4 on the move by Bell, who drove his No. 20 Toyota deep into Turn 3 and then slammed into the outside wall at full speed through Turn 4 in a move that was similar to Ross Chastain’s “Hail Melon” wall ride two years ago.
NASCAR outlawed that move before last season.
“I don’t know what to say,” Bell told NBC Sports’ Dave Burns. “I understand the rule is made to prevent people from riding the wall, but my move was completely different than Ross riding the wall. I don’t know what to say.”
A side-by-side comparison of Ross Chastain and Christopher Bell’s wall ride at Martinsville. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/5pYInQk7Hh
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 3, 2024
In an earlier interview with Burns, Bell said, “I knew I had to get past (Wallace) and got really loose going into Turn 3. And once I got in the marbles, I was in the wall.
“I had no intention of riding the wall. That’s unfortunately where I ended up trying to get all I could get.”
Bell and Byron waited beside their cars in the pits for more than 25 minutes after the finish as NASCAR officials reviewed the final lap.
“He rode the wall, and there’s a clear rule against riding the wall,” Byron told Coon in an earlier interview. “In my mind, that’s what counts. The (Wallace) stuff is what it is, but there’s a lot going on here. We’ll see what they say in a second.
“There’s a rule against it. We all sat in meetings and talked about there being a rule against it. I don’t see how they can call it any different.”
After the penalty for the safety violation, Bell was demoted from 18th to 22nd, breaking a tie with Byron in the points standings for the last spot in the title race and putting Byron in the Championship 4.
Byron’s Hendrick Motorsports teammates both failed to advance even though Chase Elliott (second place) and Kyle Larson (third) took turns leading in the final 30 laps before getting passed by Byron.
Denny Hamlin, who started from the rear and finished fifth, also was eliminated from contention.
Suspect things that happened at the end:
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) November 3, 2024
-- Chevy ran a blockade for Byron, who was in by one point and couldn't lose a spot
-- Bubba Wallace slowed wayyyy down to give Bell a chance for final spot
-- Bell rode the wall to make it
NASCAR still deliberating. No call yet.
In a scene reminiscent of the race manipulation and team orders scandal in the 2013 regular-seaon finale at Richmond Raceway, the final 20 laps were filled with moves and radio communications that raised questions about manufacturer alliances and team ethics.
NASCAR on NBC analysts Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte noted that the Chevrolets of Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain seemed to be forming a blockade to prevent Byron from losing positions (and thus points). Radio chatter indicated the teams were working off a preformulated plan together.
Wallace also dropped well off the pace in the final few laps. Wallace, a Toyota teammate of Bell’s, radioed with about three laps to go that he was losing speed because he had a tire going down.
In an interview with NBC Sports’ Dustin Long, Wallace said he was nursing his car home and trying to avoid a crash.
#NASCAR … Bubba Wallace on the last lap and Christopher Bell getting by him pic.twitter.com/kBupKOdOVo
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) November 3, 2024
The controversial finish overshadowed the victory by Blaney, who joined Logano in the Championship 4 to give Team Penske half of the title field.
“So proud of the effort by everyone at the 12 group never giving up,” Blaney, who led the final 15 laps after passing Elliott, told NBC Sports’ Marty Snider. “To have another shot at the championship is really special.”
Blaney earned his third victory of the season and 13th of his career.
Stage 1 winner: Chase Elliott
Stage 2 winner: Brad Keselowski
Next: The Championship 4 race will be held Sunday, Nov. 10 at Phoenix Raceway (3 p.m. ET on NBC)
