NASCAR point standings updated after massive penalties from Martinsville

The NASCAR Cup Series standings have been impacted by a penalty ruling assessed to Austin Dillon, Ross Chastain and Bubba Wallace.

The governing body penalized all three teams on Tuesday for violations of the member code of conduct stemming from the finish to Sunday’s race at Martinsville.

Each team had its crew chief and spotter suspended, as well as one team executive, while being fined $100,000 and docked 50 driver points.

With the driver points penalties assessed, the following changes in the standings occurred, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck:

— Bubba Wallace fell from No. 17 to No. 18
— Ross Chastian remained at No. 19
— Austin Dillon dropped from No. 28 to No. 33

All three organizations — 23XI Racing, Trackhouse Racing and Richard Childress Racing — have announced plans to appeal NASCAR’s ruling.

In any case, it’s a significant penalty for behavior NASCAR clearly deemed detrimental to the sport. Accusations of teaming and collusion flew in the wake of the final lap.

On the one hand, the Chevrolet drivers Dillon and Chastain appeared to block for fellow Chevrolet driver William Byron. Byron was attempting to hold onto a narrow points lead over Christopher Bell down the stretch, while his car was struggling to keep up with the field.

On the other hand, Bell seemed to take advantage of a remarkably easy pass on fellow Toyota driver Wallace in the final lap. Wallace later said that he felt like he had a tire going down on the lap, thus his rapid deceleration.

In any case, the appearance it gave was not a positive one for NASCAR amid an otherwise fascinating finish.

Now the points standings will reflect the penalties, though, as noted, the organizations plan to appeal the ruling.