Did NASCAR Make the Right Call in Martinsville Collusion Caper?

The closing laps in the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway last Sunday (Nov. 3) brought back images of a couple of regrettable incidents from a decade ago. In 2013, Clint Bowyer developed the dreaded itchy arm syndrome, lazily spinning down the frontstretch at Richmond Raceway to preserve Martin Truex Jr.’s spot in the playoffs while Michael Waltrip Racing also intentionally pitted teammate Brian Vickers.

Unfortunately, it led to sponsors abandoning MWR late in the season, causing its ultimate demise in the weeks to follow.

This year, NASCAR saw all this play out on TV in similar fashion at Martinsville … and then all over social media afterwards with in-car audio. That forced officials to make a decision: William Byron in, Christopher Bell out.

But did they get it right? This week, Vito Pugliese and Garrett Cook take issue with the outcome at Martinsville, and if NASCAR made the right call.

Send the Message That Everyone Is Expendable

While the two principal parties involved at Martinsville didn’t bring out a caution, it was almost worse as it was multiple teams and manufacturers working in concert to get their respective brand into the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. The penalties levied against the Nos. 1 and 3 Chevrolet and No. 23 Toyota teams targeting the spotters, crew chiefs and team executives are severe, but being as none are involved in the playoffs at this point, missing the final race of the season before “Cabo on three” rings a little hollow.

I think NASCAR missed the call here on a number of levels.

First off, Byron had two other Chevrolets from two different teams conspiring to not pass him. Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain should try out for The Blue Angels with how perfectly they rode in formation behind Byron for 10 laps. For a series that has gone out of its way to promote drama and all-racing, all-the-time with stage points, lucky dog passes, choose cones and mandated green-white-checker finishes, just not passing intentionally for 10 laps looks like textbook race-outcome manipulation.

And it looks like it because it is.

With as big of an institution that sports gambling has become, when does a Vegas Phone Call start becoming an allegation? It’s one thing if Patrick Mahomes gets a pass interference flag for a defensive back existing; it’s another when you have multiple sponsors and auto manufacturers involved. If NASCAR wants to send a message, disqualify them with no money,…