Bell penalized for a "Hail Melon-type" move at Martinsville; meanwhile, race manipulation accusations fly surrounding William Byron's path to the Championship 4 as Ryan Blaney wins his way in.
Christopher Bell didn't commit the "Hail Melon" that Ross Chastain executed two years ago at Martinsville Speedway to earn a berth in the Championship Four, but NASCAR ruled the Joe Gibbs Racing driver's turn-four wall-riding on the final lap of Sunday's Xfinity 500 at Martinsville was close enough to be a safety violation.
NASCAR took nearly 30 minutes to render its decision that gave Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron the final spot in the Championship 4 and removed Bell. The other three drivers vying for the title are defending series champion and Sunday's Xfinity 500 winner Ryan Blaney, two-time series champion Joey Logano and first-time Championship Four contender Tyler Reddick.
"You go back to two years ago when we had the situation with Ross here," Elton Sawyer, NASCAR's senior vice president of competition, said in explaining the sanctioning body's decision Sunday night at Martinsville Speedway.
"We went to Phoenix. There was a lot of dialog with the drivers that that's not a move that we want to have to make on the last lap. In the off-season, we met with the industry, met with our drivers and ... it was a move they didn't want to have to make. There was language in the rulebook. When you look at it today, he clearly got up against the fence there in (turns) three and four and rode the fence all the way off four. So, it was pretty straight forward."
Before rendering the decision, Sawyer said officials reviewed video. He also noted the ruled couldn't be appealed because it occurred during a race, noting it was equivalent to an uncontrolled tire or too many men over the wall.
A disappointed and dejected Bell admitted he didn't know what to say immediately after being informed of NASCAR's decision.
"I understand the rule was made to prevent people from riding the wall, but my move was completely different than what Ross' was," Bell said. "I got loose getting into the corner and slid right into the fence.
"I knew that I had to get past the 23 (Bubba Wallace) and got really loose getting into turn three. 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."
When the checkered flag waved, Bell and Byron were tied in points. The tire breaker would have gone to Bell if NASCAR hadn't ruled that he committed a safety violation.
Even though NASCAR's decision provided Byron with a berth in the Championship Four, the Charlotte, N.C., native said he wasn't "happy for anything, but the rule is what it is for the crossover gate over there and riding the wall."
"He rode the wall and there's a clear rule against riding the wall," Byron said. "In my eyes, that's what counts. We all sat in meetings and talked about whether there should be a rule against it. His front tires are off the ground coming off turn four against the fence. It happened in the past. It was fair game, but now the rule's against it. I don't see how you can call it any different."
Byron Also Under the Microscope?
Whether or not Bell rode the wall wasn't the only question after the race.
After Denny Hamlin passed Byron with about 10 laps remaining, Byron's crew chief Rudy Fugle told him he couldn't afford to lose another position. It was then that Chevrolet drivers Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain rode side-by-side behind Byron, preventing anyone from passing Byron. Directly behind Dillon and Chastain were Ford driver Brad Keselowski and Chevrolet driver Carson Hocevar.
Radio communications involving Dillon and Chastain indicate there was a game plan to prevent anyone from passing Byron so he would be guaranteed of getting into the Championship 4.
Team member: "I'm trying to find him to tell him. Does the 1 (Chastain) crew chief know the deal?"
"Nice and smart with the 24 (Byron) car. 24 is one to the good. One point to the good. They're even. The 6 (Keselowski) is lined up to the 3."
When Sawyer was questioned about Dillon and Chastain lining up behind Byron, he said that "really had no bearing at this time."
"We will look at those at a later time," Sawyer said.
Click here to hear the Dillon and Chastain radio transmission in question from Sunday's race.
Lap Leaders: M. Truex Jr. 1-41;C. Elliott (P) 42-84;W. Byron (P) 85-86;C. Elliott (P) 87-140;W. Byron (P) 141-185;C. Elliott (P) 186;R. Blaney (P) 187-202;B. Keselowski 203-263;R. Blaney (P) 264;B. Keselowski 265-373;B. Wallace 374-379;C. Elliott (P) 380-401;W. Byron (P) 402-405;K. Larson (P) 406-476;C. Elliott (P) 477-485;R. Blaney (P) 486-500.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Brad Keselowski 2 times for 170 laps; Chase Elliott (P) 5 times for 129 laps; Kyle Larson (P) 1 time for 71 laps; William Byron (P) 3 times for 51 laps; Martin Truex Jr. 1 time for 41 laps; Ryan Blaney (P) 3 times for 32 laps; Bubba Wallace 1 time for 6 laps.