NASCAR has but to evaluate the radio communications from the closing laps of Sunday’s race (they intend to take action within the week forward). And whereas Ryan Blaney drove off with the race win, unusual issues had been taking place all through the sector as Chevy and Toyota grappled for the ultimate spot within the Championship 4. If we break down the communications ourselves although, it is clear that producer loyalty performed an important function in what transpired at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday.
Setting the ‘remaining’ stage
When the ultimate restart got here with 87 laps to go, Christopher Bell was trapped a lap down and unable to make any ahead progress from nineteenth. He was three factors behind William Byron for the ultimate switch spot. Up entrance, Kyle Larson was main the race and within the Championship 4 — till his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott took the lead for himself with 25 laps to go. But it surely was all for naught as reigning NASCAR Cup champ Ryan Blaney handed them each within the laps that adopted.
None of that modified the scenario for Bell and Byron who had been in a relentless wrestle for that remaining switch spot. When Austin Cindric and Denny Hamlin managed to move Byron and the margin was all of the sudden a single level. The mathematics was easy: One place is one level. With 12 laps left, the bleeding all of the sudden stopped for the No. 24 Hendrick Chevrolet (Byron) as fellow Chevy driver Austin Dillon pulled as much as his rear bumper.
Now for a more in-depth have a look at what the late-race radio communications between producer allies reveals about this controversial end that determined the Championship 4.
Dillon rides behind the #24
Earlier than the race even started, the No. 3 Chevy radio of Dillon brazenly talked about being cognizant of the Hendrick playoff drivers. That is common in these playoff races, however as Dillon was catching Byron within the closing laps, they made it clear that there was just one precedence — defend Byron.
“The 24 is barely two factors to the great proper now and there’s two spots between them,” crew chief Justin Alexander defined to spotter Brandon Benesch. He then informed Dillon in regards to the factors scenario, and Alexander shortly added: “If we move him, he’ll be out.”
Dillon wished to know who Byron was racing and so they flatly informed him: “He simply cannot hand over spots.”
Does Chastain know the deal?
As Chastain within the No. 1 Chevrolet quickly closed, pulling alongside Dillon, the radio turned extra fascinating. “Does he know the deal?” requested the No. 3 crew chief. Atop the spotter’s stand, Benesch replied: “I’m attempting to inform him. Justin are you able to inform the crew chief?”
With 12 laps to go, the identical query lit up the radio once more — however with extra urgency — as Chastain pulled alongside Dillon. “Does the 1 crew chief know the deal?” requested Benesch. “Yeah he ought to,” replied Alexander, however he did not sound totally certain.
Issues had been a lot quieter on Chastain’s radio. Spotter Brandon McReynolds knowledgeable him of the factors scenario. Nonetheless, there was a second when the always-aggressive Chastain nonetheless acquired to the surface of Byron with seven laps to go. His spotter shortly keyed the mic: “Good and sensible with the 24 right here down there.” Chastain didn’t reply, however by no means pulled alongside Byron once more.
Dillon and Chastain ran side-by-side for a lot of the remaining 10 laps, transferring like a rolling roadblock that made it not possible for anybody else to get close to the No. 24 automobile. Proper behind them, the sector was stacking up with Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Carson Hocevar all packed tightly collectively.
Wallace: “God forbid we do not assist a f****** JGR automobile”
Whereas Byron couldn’t afford to lose a single spot, Bell was determined to realize only one. He knew he would win any tiebreakers, courtesy of his runner-up end at Las Vegas two weeks prior.
“God forbid if we don’t assist a f****** JGR automobile,” radioed Bubba Wallace whereas driving round in 18th place. Crew chief Bootie Barker instructed spotter Freddie Kraft to inform Wallace the place the No. 20 of Bell was on observe. “Relay it to him,” mentioned Barker. “10-4, I’ll. 24 is half a straightaway behind us,” answered Kraft.
They continued to offer Wallace updates on Bell’s whereabouts and with 10 laps to go, he was informed in regards to the factors scenario. With 5 laps left, one thing occurred to the No. 23 Toyota. Getting into Flip 3, Wallace went up out of the groove. “I believe I’ve acquired a tire taking place,” mentioned Wallace. Barker informed the spotter to tell Wallace that his teammate, Tyler Reddick, “had a hearth” in a difficulty that put him out of the race earlier. This might need been a option to attempt to join the difficulty to no matter was taking place to the No. 23.
Slowing down simply sufficient
On Lap 495 of 500, Wallace’s occasions abruptly fell off and he ran a full second slower than the earlier lap. He gained about half-a-second of that again the following lap earlier than abruptly falling off once more. Bell was gaining a couple of second per lap now. The automobile stored driving up into the marbles, slowing down as his lap occasions fluctuated wildly.
Coming to the white flag, he acquired in the way in which of the Byron group and there was a tense three-wide second with Chastain and Dillon. Chastain even bumped into the again of Byron. Wallace slowed down sufficient that Bell caught him simply as the sector entered the ultimate nook on the ultimate lap.
Bell entered Flip 3 deep and flew by Wallace, however hit the wall as he slid up the observe. At that time, he proceeded to place the throttle down, driving the wall to the end line. He did not acquire any further spots by doing that. It additionally regarded like a slower, related model of Chastain’s now-banned wall-ride transfer from two years in the past.
Wallace’s remaining lap was over three seconds off the tempo and a pair of.3 seconds slower than his earlier lap. Bell acquired the purpose he wanted — he was within the Championship 4 — for 27 minutes.
On the cool-down lap, the crew requested if Wallace wanted a hearth extinguisher, once more connecting it to the difficulty that put Reddick out of the race earlier.
“I am okay, I believe,” replied Wallace.
“Tire regarded up,” noticed Kraft. “Seemed identical to s*** the final couple laps there. Simply watch out getting in right here. Could also be on hearth just like the No. 45.” It was not on hearth.
The fallout
Within the background, Bell and Byron emerged from their automobiles however nobody was celebrated. NASCAR instantly moved to evaluate the end, with out considering the assists from Byron’s fellow Chevys or the Toyota of Wallace. As a substitute, they centered on the wall trip. Though Bell didn’t acquire any spots from it, NASCAR deemed it to be a security violation, and in a stunning twist, eliminated Bell from the Championship 4 whereas Byron was reinstated. Officers additionally knowledgeable Joe Gibbs Racing that they haven’t any proper to enchantment.
When NASCAR does get to reviewing the comms this week, the conclusion nonetheless will not change the ultimate 4 drivers, however the 1, 3, and 23 groups might see penalties, equally to what occurred two years in the past when Cole Custer slowed on the ultimate lap to assist Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Chase Briscoe advance into the Spherical of 8. NASCAR fined Custer $100,000, suspended his crew chief, and docked the crew 50 factors.
