NASCAR Hands Out Penalties After Highly Controversial Final Lap of Martinsville Race

The racing world was rocked by a wild ending in Virginia.

Austin Dillon at Michigan International Speedway in 2024. / Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

After a bizarre end to the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Va. Sunday, NASCAR has handed out penalties to several individuals.

Three drivers' competition directors, crew chiefs, and spotters have been suspended for the final race of the season Sunday, NASCAR announced Tuesday afternoon. Per the stock-car racing governing body, the penalties stemmed from "race manipulation and actions detrimental to stock car racing."

Additionally, drivers Ross Chastain, Austin Dillon, and Bubba Wallace were docked 50 points and $100,000 apiece. Each driver's team was also hit with a $100,000 fine.

During the waning laps of Sunday's race, Chastain and Dillon appeared to effectively run interference for Chevrolet teammate William Byron, who was gunning for a spot in NASCAR's Championship 4. Radio communication between Chastain and Dillon's teams made opaque reference to "knowing the deal."

Wallace—who also had skin in the game in the form of Toyota teammate Christopher Bell, who was bidding for the spot that eventually went to Byron—slowed substantially when told of Bell and Byron's respective standings, with radio communication from his team telling him to "nurse" a tire issue.

Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, and Byron will race for the Cup Series title Sunday at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Ariz.

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