NASCAR Cracks Down on Race Manipulation Before Phoenix Championship

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series saw a major controversy unfold at Martinsville Speedway, where allegations of race manipulation rocked the sport. Teams from multiple manufacturers appeared to engage in questionable tactics aimed at manipulating the race, leading NASCAR to step in with significant penalties. As the championship race in Phoenix approached, NASCAR made it clear: the integrity of the sport would not be compromised.

At the heart of the controversy were two Chevrolet teams: Ross Chastain’s No. 1 car and Austin Dillon’s No. 3 car. Both were fined $100,000 along with their team owners, totaling $400,000 in penalties for Chevrolet. While NASCAR chose not to penalize the drivers directly—stating they likely acted on team instructions—this move sent a clear message that such tactics would not be tolerated. “We’re not going to let people, drivers, teams, or OEMs challenge the integrity of the sport,” NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell said, signaling that the sport would be tightening rules moving forward.

The incident at Martinsville involved strategic blocking and pace manipulation to aid teammates or hinder rivals from advancing to the Championship 4. NASCAR officials recognized the potential long-term damage such behavior could cause to the sport. If left unchecked, it could lead to a breakdown of fair competition. “If you go into Phoenix after something like that, it’s gonna be like, ‘Jeez,’” said Joey Logano, who would go on to win the 2024 Cup Series title. “Everybody will be blocking everybody.”

The penalties levied against the teams came after NASCAR’s investigation into radio communications between team members and drivers. These transmissions confirmed that the race tactics were, in fact, orchestrated by team instructions. NASCAR’s decision to impose fines was seen as necessary to preserve the integrity of the race. Without these radio messages, NASCAR may not have had enough concrete evidence to impose penalties, potentially leading to a much more complicated situation.

As the championship race in Phoenix loomed, NASCAR was under intense pressure to ensure no further manipulation occurred. The threat of additional penalties was a clear warning to teams: act dishonestly, and face the consequences. NASCAR’s swift response to the Martinsville incident was widely seen as a step in the right direction, reaffirming that the sport would not allow its reputation to be tarnished by such behavior.

Ultimately, NASCAR’s actions before Phoenix helped restore order to the sport. With its promise to tighten rules in 2025, NASCAR reinforced that the championship would be decided on the track, not in the garages.