It is no secret that OEM-aligned groups work collectively in fashionable NASCAR, however did Sunday’s end cross the road into race manipulation? Corridor of Fame driver Jeff Gordon, who now serves because the Vice Chairman at Hendrick Motorsports, noticed nothing unsuitable with what unfolded within the closing laps.
Talking in a Monday media availability, Gordon mentioned: “One factor that we do all 12 months lengthy … that is one thing that you simply construct on, 12 months after 12 months, as a company together with your teammates and your OEM in Chevy, it is having these conversations: How can we work collectively, how can we not work in opposition to in opposition to each other, how can we share info, and what can we do about being conscious of each other on the race observe? It doesn’t matter what race it’s all 12 months lengthy — however particularly if you get into the playoffs.
#24: William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Liberty College Chevrolet Camaro, #3: Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing, Bass Professional Retailers Chevrolet Camaro
Photograph by: John Ok Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
“That is your job as a driver and as a crew and a crew chief — it is to concentrate on what’s on the road. Who’s within the championship hunt, who (has) obtained a shot to switch by in the event that they win, who’s tight on factors? And so I believe that is what you noticed actually play out yesterday.”
Radio communication indicated that there might need been some type of group from producer allies, or at the least an intense give attention to what was occurring with the No. 24 of William Byron. Byron couldn’t afford to lose a single spot, and the No. 3 of Austin Dillon rode behind him for the ultimate leg of the race. When the No. 1 Chevrolet of Ross Chastain arrived, chatter on the Dillon radio wished to be sure that Chastain’s crew knew what was on the road. Neither driver ever handed Byron, forming a rolling blockade of types that stopped anybody else from getting near the HMS driver.
In the end, Gordon noticed nothing unsuitable with how issues transpired from inside the Chevrolet camp within the closing laps. He solely noticed drivers “racing as onerous as they might, but additionally racing to advance and racing to be sure to’re conscious of what others are doing and what they’d on the road. Which means you do not go wreck any individual or flip any individual. You simply give them a little bit bit extra room and leniency. And I really feel like that is what I noticed from a Chevy aspect of issues”
Gordon thought a Bell penalty was coming
After the race, NASCAR deliberated for 27 minutes on Christopher Bell’s last-lap wall journey. Gordon was proper there with William Byron on pit highway in the course of the agonizing look ahead to NASCAR handy down a ruling. His preliminary intestine response after the race was that NASCAR would act on Bell’s wall-ride, which might put them in a great place to get Byron into the Championship 4.
“Instantly my focus went to watching the 20 [Bell] automobile journey the wall,” mentioned Gordon. “It appeared like he was accelerating. Regardless that it wasn’t the identical with what occurred with the #1 automobile and Ross Chastain… it appeared very, similar to me.
“If you noticed what occurred with the 20 get unfastened and stand up into the wall — we had been watching that intently. After which when he rode the wall, I did really feel like… NASCAR might have a ruling there.”
In the end, Gordon was right. NASCAR dominated it as a security violation and Bell was moved to the top of the lap, ending his 2024 title bid. Had NASCAR let the wall journey slide, three of the 4 drivers eradicated on Sunday would have been Hendrick drivers and none would have remained to battle for the championship.
NASCAR said on Sunday that the radio communications weren’t a part of their quick choice post-race, however that they might evaluation the scenario this week. Whereas the Championship 4 doubtless is not going to change, it is potential NASCAR may select to penalize the No. 1 and No. 3 groups, and even perhaps the No. 23 Toyota of Bubba Wallace, who slowed with an alleged challenge on the ultimate lap.
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