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Bubba Wallace spoke to the media about the final lap at Martinsville, where he had an incident with Christopher Bell. Wallace, a NASCAR figure often involved in controversies and reactions due to his behavior, found himself in another situation this time.
The 31-year-old driver explained how things looked from his perspective. He felt that something was off with his car while his opponent, Bell, was trying to adapt to the new situation. Bubba wanted to avoid any kind of incident.
“I went loose or something broke and he’s nursing it,” Wallace said, as quoted by On3.
“And then he tried to slide me. I’m like ‘Brother.’ Just trying to bide our time and not crash and bring out out a caution. So that was it.”
29-year-old Bell was determined to achieve a strong result and secure a spot in the Cup Series Championship final. Christopher Bell was driving along the wall next to Wallace, and after the race, NASCAR decided to penalize him for a safety violation. The well-known driver commented on the penalty in a media interview, expressing confusion over why such actions were taken. It was clear he wasn't very satisfied with what had happened, which is completely understandable. Christopher was left speechless, especially since the penalty dropped him to 22nd place.
“I don’t know what to say,” Bell said.
“I understand that the rule was made to prevent people from riding the wall, but my move was completely different than what Ross [Chastain’s] was. I got loose getting into the corner and slid right into the fence. I don’t know what else to say.”
Elton Sawyer was asked whether he believed Bell intentionally rode the wall, given that Bell claimed it was an accident. Sawyer responded by saying that he wouldn't speculate on Bell's intentions, as it wouldn’t be fair to make assumptions based on that.
He explained that they reviewed the data and video footage and emphasized that, based on discussions with the industry and a similar incident from two years ago, such moves would not be tolerated.
NASCAR has strict rules that it intends to uphold, regardless of who is involved. Their philosophy will remain unchanged in upcoming races. Recently, there have been more and more incidents that officials are not happy about, and it’s clear that some individuals are approaching races aggressively, ignoring the rules. More experienced names and older drivers, like Martin Truex Jr., are particularly frustrated with the behavior of some individuals on NASCAR tracks. Truex is not alone; many NASCAR legends point to this problem week after week.
Kyle Petty reacts
One of the legends of the sport, Kyle Petty, shared his opinion on social media, stating that NASCAR officials made the right decision. Now, Byron will have a chance to win the championship.
“[NASCAR] got it right!” Kyle Petty wrote on X.
“[William Byron] to Phoenix to race for the championship!” Because of Bell’s elimination, Byron claimed the final spot in the Championship 4 race. He will join Martinsville winner Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick to compete for the title."
Of course, many do not share his opinion, believing that NASCAR should not have penalized Bell. Kyle Petty emphasized that he does not want to get into any debates, aware that NASCAR fans have different opinions, which he respects. He points out that the rules are what they are, and any discussion regarding the recent case is illogical since the rules are clearly defined and must be followed. While many question the justification of certain regulations and whether they are truly logical, they exist, and they will not change.
“I’m not arguing tonight because I don’t feel like dealing with some of you honestly. 1st there is no rule against blocking and manufacturers have been working together for years! (See Daytona and Talladega) 2nd wall ride is against the rules, that’s a fact. Conversation over."-Petty wrote.
Ross Chastain's move in 2022 changed a lot in the NASCAR world, as he executed something we had never seen before.
Elton Sawyer explained that they reviewed all the video footage of the races. He referenced a situation from two years ago involving Ross Chastain, highlighting that after that incident, there was extensive discussion with the drivers about not wanting to see similar moves on the last lap. He stressed that they managed to get through the Phoenix race that year without any issues, leading to a successful championship race.
NASCAR leaders do not want identical situations and debates that lead to nothing to be repeated. The goal is for NASCAR to improve and improve the rules.
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