Joe Gibbs reacts to controversial NASCAR ruling on Christopher Bell at Martinsville, possibility of appeal
NASCAR penalized Christopher Bell for his final lap move at Martinsville, and Joe Gibbs was very emotional about the decision. After the race, reporters asked Gibbs about Bell missing out on the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race due to his wall-riding move on the final lap.
“They said it’s over,” Gibbs said while adding that he’s “still dealing” with the decision. One reporter asked Gibbs if Bell and Joe Gibbs Racing can appeal NASCAR’s decision. “I love to. They said we can’t appeal,” Gibbs added.
During the final lap, Bell got past a falling Bubba Wallace before contacting the outside wall through Turn 4 to finish ahead of William Byron for the final spot in the Championship 4. After reviewing the move, NASCAR determined that it was a “safety violation,” and Bell was demoted from 18th to 22nd place, one lap down.
Christopher Bell sounds off on NASCAR’s controversial decision
“I don’t know what to say,” Bell told NBC Sports after the decision was made. “I understand that the rule was made to prevent people from riding the wall, but my move was completely different than what Ross [Chastain’s] was. I got loose getting into the corner a slid right into the fence. I don’t know what else to say.”
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Bell also called out Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain for “manipulating the race” at Martinsville. “I mean that was disappointing,” Christopher Bell said in another interview. “That was disappointing to see them blocking like that and manipulating the race. I don’t know.”
Joe Gibbs Racing had all four of its full-time Cup Series drivers reach the playoffs (Bell, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs). However, none of them will be competing in the Championship 4 as Gibbs and Truex were eliminated earlier in the postseason while Bell and Hamlin were eliminated on Sunday.
The four drivers who will compete for the title next Sunday are Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, William Byron and Ryan Blaney who won the Martinsville race and is the defending champion. The Championship 4 race will take place at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. ET.