NASCAR insider ‘expects’ Bubba Wallace No. 23 team to face penalty after Martinsville

The Xfinity 500 at Martinsville ended in controversy. Bubba Wallace was seemingly involved as the laps wound down in Virginia. NASCAR has a lot of decisions to make this week.

Let’s put the Chevrolet issues aside. They have their own hand in the alleged manipulation of the finish. Instead, let’s take a look at Bubba Wallace.

The things working against Wallace are clear. He was told the points situation between William Byron and Christopher Bell. Then, he radioed in that he was having a tire issue. So, he slowed down to “nurse” it.

On the final lap, Wallace was roughly 4 seconds off the pace as Bell passed him for the one point he needed to beat Byron. Of course, Bell then wrecked into the wall and rode it to the finish line, an illegal move since the Hail Melon in 2022.

So, he was penalized and Byron advanced to the Championship 4.

Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports believes that NASCAR will penalize Bubba Wallace. But it comes down to one caveat. Officials tore the 23 car down on Sunday night and if a problem isn’t found with the car, then a penalty is likely to happen.

Thoughts:
—NASCAR tore down Wallace car. Would expect if nothing broke, penalty coming to team.
—hard to predict Dillon/Chastain b/c didn’t lose spots (don’t expect anything to Byron). There isn’t a no blocking rule. 100% rule but does that require risk on outside or a bump?

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 4, 2024

Bubba Wallace was adamant that he had a mechanical issue. He made sure to voice that on his radio, anyway. Of course, NASCAR will know if that is true or not after taking the car apart and looking over everything.

Bubba Wallace explains Christopher Bell situation

To his credit, Bubba Wallace made his car at least LOOK broken. And it didn’t appear that Christopher Bell was aware of the plan or what was going on, either. The drivers were not on the same page in that last corner.

Bell sent it in deep. He basically did a slide job on a half-mile track. That is what led Bell to hit the wall and get penalized for the wall ride. It is kind of how Wallace explained the situation after the race, too. Although I’m not sure I’m a believer.

“I went loose or something broke and he’s nursing it,” Wallace said. “And then he tried to slide me. I’m like ‘Brother.’ Just trying to bide our time and not crash and bring out out a caution. So that was it.”

Let NASCAR be the judge. They have all of the data and radio communications. Bubba Wallace might find himself paying a pretty penny later this week. Even if Bell wasn’t in on the plan, Wallace made a conscious effort to slow up, it appears, and give him the spot he needed.