NASCAR Championship Marred by Race Manipulation Penalties

The NASCAR Cup Series Championship is set to conclude this weekend at Phoenix Raceway with Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick competing for the title. Ryan Blaney is favored to win, having secured his spot with a recent victory at Martinsville, and has a strong track record at Phoenix. The lead-up to the championship has been marred by controversy, with several teams penalized for 'finish-manipulation' during the Martinsville race to assist playoff drivers. These penalties included fines and suspensions for team personnel from Trackhouse Racing, Richard Childress Racing, and 23XI Racing, impacting drivers like Ross Chastain and Bubba Wallace. Kevin Harvick has voiced support for NASCAR's decision to penalize drivers like Christopher Bell for unsafe racing maneuvers, emphasizing the importance of safety. The penalties have spurred debate within the NASCAR community about race manipulation and the integrity of the playoff format.