AVONDALE, Ariz. — Christopher Bell didn’t sugarcoat any of his thoughts on last Sunday’s (Nov. 3) controversial finish at Martinsville Speedway. He’s still furious a week later about how everything went down, and he made sure to let everyone know in his Saturday afternoon (Nov. 9) press conference at Phoenix Raceway.
“I feel cheated,” Bell said. “I feel cheated out of a championship or out of a chance to compete for a championship.
To start the presser, Bell reiterated his belief that his last-lap wall ride at Martinsville — which garnered a penalty that eliminated from the Championship 4 — was not worthy of a penalty.
“I hate calling the last lap a move, because it was not a move,” Bell said. “My intentions were never to ride the wall. I didn’t gain an advantage riding the wall, so it was not a move. I don’t believe that I broke the rule.”
NASCAR rules that William Byron will advance to the Championship 4 over Christopher Bell for a safety violation (wall ride).
Here is what happened on the last lap at Martinsville: https://t.co/lH1WDUkRem pic.twitter.com/drhRKLvdbD
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) November 3, 2024
But the source of Bell’s anger came from the controversial Martinsville finish, going as far to say that the race was “fixed” by Chevrolet.
“It all stems from what happened with 15 or 20 to go, whenever the race got fixed and manipulated by Chevrolet,” Bell said. “That forced our hands to do what we did, and ultimately it forced me into a mistake on the last lap to get into the wall. I feel like I should never have been in that position. Had the race been run fairly, the No. 24 car would have lost enough spots to get me into the final race.”
William Byron was holding on for dear life in sixth place during the closing laps, and Bell would have had enough points to advance to the Championship 4 had the No. 24 car lost one more spot.
“I was not aware of the point situation until the closing laps, and I was informed, with probably 20 or 25 to go, that the No. 24 was bleeding positions, and it appeared at that point that we were going to be fine and make it on points,” Bell said.
Instead, the Chevys of Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain put themselves in a double-file formation behind Byron, effectively serving as a blockade to prevent any cars from passing the No. 24 car. NASCAR reviewed the radio communications and ruled that their actions were worthy a penalty that was…
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