NASCAR Issues Major Penalties for Race Manipulation

NASCAR has imposed significant penalties totaling $600,000 on Ross Chastain's No. 1 team, Austin Dillon's No. 3 team, and Bubba Wallace's No. 23 team for alleged race manipulation during the Martinsville Speedway race. Each driver has been fined $100,000 and lost 50 points in the championship standings, while their team owners face similar fines and penalties. The penalties stem from actions deemed as creating a 'rolling roadblock' to support William Byron's advancement to the Championship 4, while Bubba Wallace reportedly faked a tire issue to aid Christopher Bell's position. NASCAR has suspended nine team members, including crew chiefs and spotters, from the upcoming season finale at Phoenix. The affected teams have signaled their intention to appeal the penalties, asserting their innocence in the matter. NASCAR's decisive actions reflect ongoing vigilance against race manipulation following historical controversies in the sport.