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The race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday sparked heated debates among NASCAR fans, with questions raised over the ethical conduct on the track. Christopher Bell’s championship slot was seemingly handed over to William Byron, who claimed the fourth position, but with apparent support from Chevrolet allies. Fans voiced concerns about this move, questioning whether Byron’s advantage was earned fairly. Denny Hamlin seized the opportunity to defend his team, especially amid allegations that other Toyota cars might have similarly aided Christopher Bell.
Hamlin, the co-owner of 23XI Racing, has firmly denied that his team engages in any organized lobbying, despite ongoing scrutiny from fans. During the final laps of the race, Byron from Hendrick Motorsports fought to secure his Championship 4 spot, reportedly benefiting from a buffer created by Chevrolet drivers Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon. This support from his Chevrolet teammates appeared to prevent competitors like Brad Keselowski from overtaking him, prompting further allegations that team collaborations might be undermining fair competition.
While Chevrolet was the focus of fan frustration, Toyota was also drawn into the conversation. Christopher Bell, who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, another Toyota-supported team, received assistance from Bubba Wallace, whose car experienced a sudden reduction in speed that allowed Bell to advance. Wallace attributed the slowdown to tire issues, but his position with 23XI Racing, a team closely aligned with Joe Gibbs Racing, fueled more speculation about orchestrated moves.
In response, Hamlin took to his podcast, Actions Detrimental, to clear up the rumors. He asserted that no one at Toyota, including Toyota Racing, had directed 23XI to assist Joe Gibbs Racing in any way. “Toyota Racing has never asked 23XI to do anything for JGR. They were not involved whatsoever,” Hamlin explained. He emphasized that Toyota’s approach has always been hands-off, allowing teams to make their own decisions, even on superspeedways where teamwork is common. According to Hamlin, there is no formal directive from Toyota instructing teams to strategize in specific ways for the benefit of other Toyota cars.
Fans, however, remain skeptical, concerned that similar team collaborations may threaten the spirit of competition. Hamlin acknowledged that Toyota encourages cooperation but insisted that there’s no strict rulebook forcing teams into pre-planned moves. This situation with Chevrolet has fueled fan suspicions that manufacturers – Chevrolet, Toyota, and Ford – might quietly advocate for inter-team alliances.
The Martinsville race has left many fans uneasy, as visible teamwork between Chevrolet drivers helped push Byron to a qualifying position. If such trends continue unchecked, some fear it may harm the sport’s integrity by creating an environment where team loyalty trumps individual competition.