Whereas Ryan Blaney received his approach into the finale, chaos was unfolding behind him within the struggle for the fourth and ultimate switch spot.
William Byron had two fellow Chevrolets side-by-side behind him with Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain. Radio communication from the the No. 3 of Dillon talked about ‘realizing the deal’ after which somebody requested: “Does the 1 [Chastain] crew chief know the deal.”
Neither driver ever handed the No. 24, who was one level up on Christopher Bell.
In the meantime, Bubba Wallace radioed that he had a tire happening and quickly slowed across the observe. Within the ultimate nook, fellow Toyota driver Bell closed in and handed him. However Bell additionally entered the nook too scorching and slid up the observe. Upon hitting the wall, Bell stored his foot within the gasoline and rode the wall to the checkered flag in a slower/unintended model of what Chastain did at Martinsville two years in the past — which is now unlawful.
Bell and Byron had been tied with Bell successful the tiebreaker, however there have been no celebrations available. NASCAR spent a whole lot of time reviewing the end earlier than lastly asserting that Bell wouldn’t make the Championship 4 for the third consecutive yr. He was thrown out for a security violation, citing the wallride.
Nonetheless, there have been diminished celebrations from Byron camp, who remained stone-faced when interviewed by NBC. “I am not blissful for something,” mentioned the 2024 Daytona 500 winner. “However the rule is what it’s for the crossover gate over there and using the wall. It’s what it’s. Simply pleased with my workforce. A extremely exhausting fought day general so pleased with that.”
Bell was despondent. “I do not know what to say. I do not know … I perceive the rule was made to forestall individuals from using the wall however my transfer was utterly totally different from what Ross’s was. I bought free entering into the nook and slid proper into the fence. I do not know what to say.”
It was a surprising finish to the Spherical of 8 elimination race. Byron and Blaney will now battle Tyler Reddick and Joey Logano for the 2024 NASCAR Cup title.
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