NASCAR has suspended nine Cup Series team members for their involvement in manipulating the finish via actions detrimental to stock car racing in Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway.
The crew chief, spotter, and team executive from Trackhouse Racing’s No. 1 team, Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 team, and 23XI Racing’s No. 23 team have been suspended from this weekend’s finale at Phoenix Raceway.
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Additionally, each team and driver has been docked 50 points and fined $100,000. That is $200,000 in total, which is $100,00 for the driver and team.
Those suspended are:
– Phil Surgen of the No. 1 team for Ross Chastain
– Trackhouse Racing team executive Tony Lunders
– Chastain spotter Brandon McReynolds
– Justin Alexander of the No. 3 team for Austin Dillon
– Richard Childress Racing team executive Keith Rodden
– Dillon spotter Brandon Benesch
– Bootie Barker of the No. 23 team for Bubba Wallace
– 23XI Racing team executive Dave Rogers
– Wallace’s spotter Freddie Kraft
In the closing laps of Sunday’s race, which set the Championship 4 for the Cup Series title, Chevrolet drivers Dillon and Chastain appeared to play blocker for William Byron. The two drivers were behind Byron and did not make an attempt to pass, and also ran side-by-side for multiple laps.
Wallace appeared to slow on the final lap, with Toyota teammate Christopher Bell making a pass going into Turn 3. Bell needed the position to transfer into the championship race, as he had the tiebreaker over Byron.
NASCAR ended up penalizing Bell for riding the wall in Turns 3 and 4 and took him out of the playoffs.
All three teams have announced plans to appeal.
There was one additional penalty issued on Tuesday. Richard Childress Racing crew members Josh Sobecki and Michael Russell were suspended for the next two NASCAR Cup Series point races at Phoenix Raceway and Bowman Gray. The two are members of Kyle Busch’s crew, which had the right front wheel come off during Sunday’s race.