Christopher Bell’s emotions ran high after the Martinsville race. He felt the race was manipulated by Chevrolet teams, ultimately costing him a shot at the Championship 4. With Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain blocking other drivers to help William Byron maintain his position, Bell was frustrated, convinced that the outcome had been unfairly influenced. But while Bell was upset about the strategic moves made by his competitors, his complaints would soon spark a much larger debate within the NASCAR world.

In the aftermath, Dale Earnhardt Jr. weighed in on Bell’s accusations, offering a reality check that would quickly stir up conversation. While Bell’s frustration was understandable, Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t quick to jump on the “race manipulation” bandwagon. Instead, he gave Bell a few words of advice that might make him rethink the situation.

Dale Earnhardt Jr’s take on the Martinsville race

In a recent conversation, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took a moment to address Christopher Bell’s controversial comments about race manipulation, specifically related to Martinsville and the Championship 4. Bell accused some drivers of engaging in “race manipulation” and “race fixing”. He called it one of the hardest things he’s dealt with as a race car driver. While Bell’s frustrations were clear, Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t buying into the idea that this was something new or unprecedented.

Earnhardt Jr. didn’t mince words on the Dale Jr Download while responding to Bell’s accusations. “This isn’t anything new,” he said, adding that he’d advise Bell to take a look at Martinsville from a few years ago when Bell himself was driving a car that played a similar role for Denny Hamlin at the end of the race. Dale pointed out that while Bell’s frustration was understandable, it wasn’t exactly a situation without precedent. “I get it, he’s frustrated, and he has every right to say whatever he wants to say, but I don’t think anyone is entirely innocent of some manipulation,” Earnhardt Jr. noted. He made it clear that, in his view, all drivers have to make tactical moves and sometimes that includes a bit of strategic racing.

Earnhardt Jr. seemed surprised by Christopher Bell’s strong language, acknowledging that calling it “race manipulation” and “race fixing” might be “a little strong.” In a sport that thrives on competition and the will to win, Earnhardt Jr. shrugged off the allegations, suggesting that there’s always a certain level of strategy involved that isn’t always seen by fans.

Moreover, Steve Phelps, President of NASCAR, had his say too. During the State of the Sport address, he echoed similar frustrations, stating that what happened at Martinsville “pissed me off, and it pissed everyone off at NASCAR because we all know better, and we know what happens.” That only added to the sense that this wasn’t just a one-off incident, but something NASCAR had been working to manage for years.

Lastly, Phelps teased that NASCAR would be taking action, saying, “Will we have a rule next year? 1,000%.” So, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. made it clear that what Bell was accusing wasn’t exactly new to the sport, it sounds like NASCAR is ready to address the issue with new rules in place.

In summary, while Bell’s accusations about race fixing were a big talking point, Dale Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t shaken by them. He reminded everyone that such tactics have been part of the sport for a long time, and while frustration is understandable, this is just the nature of racing.

Christopher Bell’s comments on the race manipulation

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Christopher Bell was candid about his frustration heading into the final race weekend of the season, expressing that he felt “cheated” by what he saw as manipulation during last weekend’s Martinsville race. Bell is upset that Chevrolet teams, particularly those of Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain, blocked competitors to help William Byron maintain his position.

“This has been one of the hardest things that I have had to go through as a race car driver,” Bell said. “I believe cheated is the right word.” He contends that the blocking actions altered the outcome of the race, ultimately preventing him from advancing to the Championship 4. Bell explained that if the race had been run fairly, Byron would have lost enough positions to allow Bell to secure the transfer spot instead.

Bell’s anger continued as he described the events leading to his own mistake on the final lap, which saw him ride the wall, reminiscent of Ross Chastain’s “Hail Melon” move from the previous year. Bell, who was battling for the final spot in the Championship 4, passed a slowing Bubba Wallace on the final lap but slid into the wall, which NASCAR penalized, dropping him from 18th to 22nd and eliminating him from the championship race.

Bell made it clear that he never intended to use the wall as an advantage. “My intentions were never to ride the wall,” he explained. “I didn’t gain an advantage riding the wall. It was not a move.” NASCAR’s response, including suspending team members and issuing fines, shows how serious they took the alleged manipulation. Still, Bell remains bitter about the whole situation, stating, “Something has to change to get us out of this box that we are in of manufacturer help and manipulating races.”

Do you think that the Martinsville race was manipulated? Share your thoughts in the comments below.