AVONDALE, Ariz. — Christopher Bell expressed his frustration on Saturday, claiming that NASCAR unfairly deprived him of a chance to compete for the Cup Series title due to penalties for his reaction to race manipulation in the last playoff qualifying event.
Last Sunday, at Martinsville Speedway, Bell diverted from fellow Toyota driver Bubba Wallace’s path after observing that Wallace seemed to have a flat tire. This action prompted Bell to collide with the wall during the final lap, a tactic designed to build momentum, but has been deemed unacceptable following Ross Chastain’s last-minute maneuver in 2022 that secured him a spot in the championship finale.
“My goal was never to ride the wall; I didn’t gain anything by hitting it,” Bell stated. “I genuinely believe I didn’t violate any regulations. I feel wronged. I feel wronged by being denied the opportunity to vie for a championship, especially since this situation arose from the manipulation of the race orchestrated by Chevrolet.”
Bell maintained that the only reason he ended up in such a position was due to the unfair tactics employed by Chevrolet drivers, particularly Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon, who were evidently impeding other drivers trying to pass Byron, his main competitor for the final championship position. “I witnessed the clear manipulation of the race occurring,” Bell commented.
Following the race at Martinsville, NASCAR spent nearly half an hour deliberating whether Bell had breached safety rules and which driver, Bell or Byron, would secure the final spot in the championship. Ultimately, NASCAR favored Byron, thereby keeping Bell from making his third consecutive appearance in the championship four.
Joe Gibbs, Bell’s team owner, acknowledged Bell’s sentiments, indicating that the situation could have been managed more effectively. “I understand why he feels that way,” Gibbs remarked.
NASCAR imposed fines totaling $600,000 and suspended nine crew members from the teams of Chastain, Dillon, and Wallace for their roles in the season finale. In the organization’s annual state of the sport address, COO Steve O’Donnell expressed his outrage over the events that transpired at Martinsville, stating, “What happened there infuriated all of us at NASCAR because we know better.”
To address the troubling matter of race manipulation, NASCAR has already consulted with Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota, promising that there will be a stringent rule against such practices in the upcoming season. Officials held a private meeting with drivers to discuss potential solutions and enforce stricter policies.
“I believe I should be in the championship four, yes,” stated Bell. He elaborated that during the race, as Wallace dropped back, Bell seized the opportunity to move up and had he been treated fairly, he would have easily qualified for the championship event.
Although NASCAR contemplated suspending the involved drivers, Bell expressed uncertainty about whether he fully agreed with that course of action. However, he emphasized that manufacturer cooperation, particularly during races at Daytona and Talladega, has been a longstanding practice in the sport.
In a reflection on recent races, Bell noted that at Talladega Superspeedway, Kyle Larson didn’t support Ford driver Brad Keselowski, allowing Chevrolet’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to secure a victory instead. “Team racing has a long history in speedway racing, and I find it difficult to navigate the complexities of this situation,” he said.
In related news, Denny Hamlin, the owner of Wallace’s car at 23XI Racing but also Bell’s teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, remarked that Wallace’s tire was “completely bald” upon post-race inspection.