NASCAR has penalized the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota of Bubba Wallace, the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet of Austin Dillon, and the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet of Ross Chastain, due to what the Series has deemed potential race manipulation after the review of Sunday’s radio communications of those teams during the Martinsville Cup race.

The penalties are the same for the all three drivers and teams across the board: A $100,000 fine, the loss of 50 driver and owner points, and one-race suspensions for crew chiefs, spotters and key team executives.

A closer look at how the penalties impact each team

23XI Racing team executive Dave Rogers, No. 23 crew chief Bootie Barker, and spotter Freddie Kraft have all been suspended. The points penalty drops Wallace from 17th to 18th in the championship standings.

Trackhouse team executive Tony Lunders, No. 1 crew chief Phil Surgen, and spotter Brandon McReynolds have been suspended for the championship finale as well. Chastain’s points position does not change as he remains 19th. 

At RCR, team executive Keith Rodden, No. 3 crew chief Justin Alexander, and spotter Brandon Benesch have been suspended for one race. The loss of 50 points affects Dillon the most, dropping him from 28th to 33rd in the driver standings.

All three teams will appeal. 23XI released the following statement, saying they are “aware of the penalty issued by NASCAR stemming from Sunday’s race at Martinsville. We feel strongly that we did not commit any violations during Sunday’s race and we will appeal NASCAR’s ruling.”

What did they do? 

Now, these punishments come as a result of what happened in the closing laps of the Round of 8 elimination race. As the checkered flag approached at Martinsville, Christopher Bell was trapped a lap down unable to gain any positions. William Byron was near the front, but fading on old tires. Only one point separated them with Byron having the edge.

Dillon and Chastain formed a rolling roadblock of sorts behind Byron, running side-by-side and never truly attempting to pass him. More importantly, they prevented anyone else from challenging the No. 24. At one point, the No. 3 team openly asked if the No. 1 knew “the deal” before instructing Dillon’s crew chief to inform Chastain’s crew chief.

While this was happening, the Toyota of Wallace was about half-a-lap ahead of Bell. “God forbid if we don’t help a f****** JGR car,” he radioed to his team. As the situation grew more dire for Bell, Wallace abruptly slowed, reporting a possible tire issue despite later observations from his spotter that all of the tires were fully inflated. Wallace’s pace fluctuating wildly but he remained on the track. On the final lap, he dropped nearly three seconds off the pace and Bell caught him entering the final corner on the final lap.

Bell got the point he needed — he was in the Championship 4 — for 27 minutes before NASCAR penalized him for the accidental wall-ride that followed his pass on Wallace.

“We’ve been saying this for quite some time — manufacturers have way too much say in the outcomes of these races and the manufacturers — I’m part of one, but they’ve ruined superspeedway racing.”

Speaking on his popular podcast, Actions Detrimental, Denny Hamlin made his feelings about manufacturer meddling clear to his co-host Jared Allen. The 23XI team co-owner, who partners with Toyota, understands manufacturers are crucial for the series, but believes there needs to be a line drawn in the sand at some point.

“I don’t know what you do about this. NASCAR’s not going to do anything to the manufacturers because that is their bread and butter. They do not want to do anything that upsets manufacturers. They’ve been trying for a decade now to get another one into our sport and they certainly cannot afford for one to leave.”

What can NASCAR do about manufacturer influence?

So how can the series crack down on manufacturer influence without losing one of the three OEMs? Hamlin’s idea involves a NASCAR championship that is rarely talked about.

“Fine them manufacturer series points?” he openly asked. “The manufacturers really do care about that quite a bit. We’ve got to do something to reel this back in because its happening way too often.”

But of course, Hamlin’s own manufacturer and the team he co-owns has been swept up in some of the controversy following Sunday’s Round of 8 elimination race. Bubba Wallace was being kept apprised of the fluctuating points situation and Christopher Bell‘s place on track. He then appeared to have an issue that caused him to rapidly slow. Bell caught him on the final lap for the critical point that would have put him in the Championship 4, but the wall-ride that followed made it all for not as NASCAR later penalized him.

As for what was wrong with Wallace’s car, the initial radio discussed a possible tire issue before his spotter later observed the tires to be fully inflated. They then connected it to the mechanical failure that put his teammate out of the race earlier. Whatever it was, NASCAR likely knows the answer by now as they tore the car down after the race.

No Toyota team orders

As for any possible shenanigans, Hamlin was adamant that such things aren’t part of how Toyota Racing operates.

“The only thing I can tell you for a fact because I am part of Toyota racing is Toyota racing never — not once this week — told 23XI to do anything for JGR,” said Hamlin. “They were not involved whatsoever. I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of a conversation saying if this happens then you have to do this. They’ve never said that, even on superspeedways. They’ve left it up to the teams to just kind of: ‘You guys figure it out. We’re going to provide you what we provide you but we hope you work together,’ but that’s it.

“There’s never been any rules that Toyota has laid out to say ‘this is what we want you to do.’”

We now wait to see if NASCAR will take any action against Wallace, or the Chevrolet duo of Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain, who appeared to be guarding the No. 24 of William Byron in the closing laps. Any possible penalties would normally be announced within the next 24 hours.

Jeff Gordon had his own thoughts on manufacturer allegiances with a far more positive outlook than Hamlin.

It’s no secret that OEM-aligned teams work together in modern NASCAR, but did Sunday’s finish cross the line into race manipulation? Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gordon, who now serves as the Vice Chairman at Hendrick Motorsports, saw nothing wrong with what unfolded in the closing laps.

Speaking in a Monday media availability, Gordon said: “One thing that we do all year long … this is something that you build on year after year as an organization with your teammates and your OEM in Chevy, it’s having these conversations: How do we work together, how do we not work against against one another, how do we share information, and what do we do about being aware of one another on the race track — no matter what race it is all year long but especially when you get into the playoffs.

#24: William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro, #3: Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing, Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro

Photo by: John K Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images

“That’s your job as a driver and as a team and a crew chief — it’s to be aware of what’s on the line. Who is in the championship hunt, who (has) got a shot to transfer through if they win, who is tight on points and so I think that’s what you saw really play out yesterday.”

Radio communication indicated that there might have been some sort of organization from manufacturer allies, or at the very least an intense focus on what was happening with the No. 24. Byron could not afford to lose a single spot, and the No. 3 of Austin Dillon rode behind him for the final leg of the race. When the No. 1 Chevrolet of Ross Chastain arrived, chatter on the Dillon radio wanted to make sure that Chastain’s team knew what was on the line. Neither driver ever passed Byron, forming a rolling blockade of sorts that stopped anyone else from getting close to the HMS driver.

Ultimately, Gordon saw nothing wrong with how things transpired from within the Chevrolet camp in the closing laps. He only saw drivers “racing as hard as they could, but also racing to advance and racing to make sure you’re aware of what others are doing and what they had on the line. That means you don’t go wreck somebody or turn somebody. You just give them a little bit more room and leniency and I feel like that’s what I saw from a Chevy side of things”

Gordon thought a Bell penalty was coming

After the race, NASCAR deliberated for 27 minutes. Gordon was right there with William Byron on pit road during the agonizing wait for NASCAR to hand down their ruling. His initial gut reaction after the race was that NASCAR would act on Bell’s wall-ride, which would put them in a good position to get Byron into the Championship 4.

“Immediately my focus went to watching the 20 [Bell] car ride the wall,” said Gordon. “It looked like he was accelerating and even though it wasn’t the same with what happened with the #1 car and Ross Chastain … it looked very, very similar to me.

“When you saw what happened with the 20 get loose and get up into the wall — we were watching that intently. And then when he rode the wall, I did feel like … NASCAR may have a ruling there.”

Ultimately, he was correct. NASCAR ruled it as a safety violation and Bell was moved to the end of the lap, ending his 2024 title bid. Had NASCAR left it alone, three of the four drivers eliminated on Sunday would have been Hendrick drivers and none would have remained to fight for the championship.

NASCAR stated on Sunday that the radio communications were not part of their immediate decision post-race but that they would review it this week. While the Championship 4 likely will not change, it’s possible NASCAR could choose to penalize the No. 1 and No. 3 teams, and perhaps even the No. 23 Toyota of Bubba Wallace, who slowed with an alleged issue on the final lap. 

Hendrick Motorsports will have a driver in the final four, but it won’t be either of their champions as both Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott were eliminated Sunday. Denny Hamlin’s title hopes also came to end, leaving the seasoned veteran Cup-less in his 19-year quest for the biggest prize in NASCAR.

All three faced unique challenges at Martinsville, and each one came agonizingly close to the ‘golden ticket’ that would have secured their place in the Championship 4 — a win at Martinsville. No one can say they didn’t have a shot, but the defining moments came during caution period with around 100 laps to go.

Larson chose to stay out on 30-lap old tires while Elliott pitted from the lead, taking four fresh tires and dropping to seventh place for the restart. Hamlin pitted as well, but he only took two fresh right-sides, which allowed him to restart ahead of Elliott in sixth. In truth, Hamlin’s shot was already over as this call ultimately put him in a sort of purgatory where he was able to challenge some of those who stayed out, but didn’t really gain any ground as the fast cars with four fresh tires overtook him as well. 

Three champions fighting for one transfer spot

Elliott, to his credit, marched all the way to the front and was set to challenge his Hendrick Motorsports teammate head-on in the battle for the win. Over the course of the final 87-lap run, Larson faded and Elliott was able to pass him for the lead with just 25 laps to go.

He may have thought this race was his to lose, but another driver with fresh tires was closing fast from several seconds back. Defending NASCAR Cup champ Ryan Blaney had both the best long-run car and better tires in a combination that made him extremely formidable. It was now three champions fighting for one transfer spot. Blaney wasted no time, shoving his way past Larson, and although they were on the same strategy, Elliott could do little to withstand him after burning off his rears in his earlier pursuit of Larson. Blaney snatched the lead away with 14 laps to go and never looked back.

Elliott finished second, Larson third, and Hamlin fifth — all were eliminated.

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro

Photo by: Peter Casey – NKP – Motorsport Images

“I was pushing really hard trying to get to the No. 5 [Larson],” said Elliott after the race.”I just felt like Ryan [Blaney] had been really good. I was scared to give him an opportunity to get to the No. 5 first. I just really wanted to try to get the lead. And then you never know, maybe a caution comes out or something. It just didn’t work out for us”

When asked in a later interview what he needed in the closing laps, Elliott quipped:”A new set of rear tires would have done me a lot of good.”

The title favorite falls

While Elliott has been one the most consistent drivers all, it was Larson who asserted himself as the title favorite. But much like 2020 with Kevin Harvick, the driver with the objectively strongest year did not even get a shot at the crown. 

When the final caution flag flew, perhaps Larson should have chosen to pit with Elliott. He was strong enough to hold the lead for as long as he did and perhaps fresh rubber could have salvaged his title hopes.

Larson has more wins than any other driver this year, but we could certainly look back at all of the race wins he almost had as the moments that changed the trajectory of his season. Just two more wins would have granted him enough bonus points to advance into the final four. There’s also the five points left on the table from the regular season title battle, which he only missed out on due to not making it to Charlotte in time after contesting the Indianapolis 500. It’s a lot of little things that added up for the No. 5, and unfortunately for him, the math just didn’t work out.

“This whole Round of 8 has been a fight,” said Larson following the race. “From the first stage at Las Vegas on, it’s been a fight. I feel like we made the right pit call to give ourselves the best opportunity. I’m proud of my team; the car, the pit crew, everyone at Hendrick Motorsports. We just didn’t have enough.”

No matter what happens next weekend, he will end the 2024 season with the most wins and laps led, but he can place no higher than fifth in the standings. 

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro

Photo by: Peter Casey – NKP – Motorsport Images

A valiant fight but no reward for Hamlin 

While Larson’s exit is shocking, the end of Hamlin’s title run felt expected. It’s been a bumpy playoffs for the driver of the No. 11 Toyota from pit road errors to conservative strategies that backfired and just a curious lack of race-winning speed. He also had to overcome more than any other playoff driver on Sunday. When a stuck throttle destroyed the rear of his car in Cup practice, the team spent hours making repairs before race day. He charged from the rear of the field in an admirable effort.

“Just a fourth or fifth place car today and that’s kind of where we hung out,” said Hamlin, who will still have a shot at the Bill France Cup on the owner’s side of things. “Even when we were at our best, it was just good enough to keep up.”

Watch: Denny Hamlin: ‘Overall, I just want to win’ after coming up short of Championship 4

Hamlin, the winningest driver in NASCAR Cup history without a title, hasn’t won a race since April. He feels lack of speed is what cost them more than anything, noting: “That’s something you gotta have at the end of the season.” This is the third consecutive year his playoff run has ended one-race shy of the championship race and at 43 years old, one has to wonder how many more chances he’ll have.

It’s strange to look at the split standings after Martinsville as one might mistakingly believe that those who are eliminated are the real Championship 4 based on the names. They very well could have been, but a surprise fuel-mileage win by Joey Logano in Vegas and a stunning last-lap pass by Reddick at Homestead created a narrow path none of them were able to navigate. Bell certainly tried, but we know how that worked out.