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Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks recently addressed the brewing controversy from Sunday’s Martinsville playoff, where his driver, Ross Chastain, found himself at the center of speculation. In the final lap of this high-stakes playoff race, tensions ran high as drivers William Byron and Christopher Bell battled for the last spot in the Championship 4.
During this intense stretch, Chastain and Austin Dillon were observed seemingly blocking other racers behind Byron’s No. 24 Chevy, prompting suspicions that the maneuver was aimed at helping Byron secure a spot in the final championship showdown.
In a recent conversation with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Marks pushed back on these claims, emphasizing that the intense positioning on the track was coincidental rather than strategic. Marks explained that the end-of-race dynamics often lead to drivers becoming “stuck side by side,” and he strongly denied that there was any plan to orchestrate Byron’s advance. “We’re trying to be respectful of those around us… I will tell you that there’s no plan to orchestrate anything like that,” Marks clarified, aiming to put to rest any rumors about a planned alliance.
Marks went on to underscore how difficult it would be to execute such a scheme without notice, especially with NASCAR’s open radio communications. “It would be too hard to do something like that,” Marks added, noting that all spotter and driver communications are public, making any collaboration nearly impossible to conceal.
Yet, videos and radio transmissions suggest that Dillon and Chastain might have coordinated at some points during the race, keeping the debate alive. Another layer of controversy arose when Christopher Bell attempted a move reminiscent of Chastain’s 2022 “Hail Melon,” where a driver deliberately rode along the wall to gain an advantage. Bell’s move, however, led to a penalty from NASCAR, dropping him down to 22nd position.
This penalty proved significant, as Byron, who was tied in points with Bell, finished sixth and clinched his spot in the Championship 4 by a single point. Bell later clarified his intentions, asserting that his wall slide was unintentional and differed from Chastain’s bold maneuver last year. “I got loose and slid right into the fence,” Bell stated, arguing that his move wasn’t a calculated risk but an unintended error.
With NASCAR officials still reviewing the events, Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s Senior VP of Competition, acknowledged that they will thoroughly examine all aspects of the race before deciding on any further action, leaving fans eager for the final verdict.