What did you think of the Martinsville call?

[Speedbowl14]

Curious what others are thinking about tonight's officiating call...

I was thinking Bell and Byron should've been penalized. Both manufacturers played games. NASCAR totally ignored that but is able to claim they did "something" by penalizing Bell for safety (but not competition).

 

[2 Sweet]

Don't really care much either way, to be honest.

My interest in NASCAR decreases the moment the "playoffs" begin.

 

[Blaze]

I think DQing bell was perfectly fine, I said it the second it happened he rode the wall and to DQ him. That being said, if there is undeniable proof that the Chevy teams did anything to help Byron, he also should be DQed.

 

[AndyMarquisLive]

I say: Offsetting penalties. Finish stands.

That or penalize both and put Larson in.

 

[AndyMarquisLive]

I would also argue that the shenanigans with the 23 and 20 were a direct result of the shenanigans by the Chevy teams.

And all this **** was a direct result of Bowman dumping Hocevar so Chase Elliott could get a caution.

 

[Charlie Spencer]

While both manufacturers tried to control the situation, neither Bell nor Byron are responsible for the actions of the #1, #3, or #23. Unlike Bowyer's 'sneeze', Bell and Byron weren't aided by teammates of the same owner.

Byron didn't break any rules. In NASCAR's opinion (and mine), Bell rode the wall. They got it right.

Me, I'd have sent all five to the back and put Larson in.

 

[Reck]

This has to be the most lame, vanilla last 4 ever.

None of these 4 drivers deserved to be in. Strugglers all season long and all it takes is luck wins to get in. Terrible

 

[Truex_rox]

I say: Offsetting penalties. Finish stands.

That or penalize both and put Larson in.

Only fair since there was interference on both sides.

Byron didn’t do anything wrong; neither did Truex years ago, but he got the short end of the stick in the form of getting booted from the chase because MWR’s interference was thrown in for his benefit.

 

[Blaze]

This has to be the most lame, vanilla last 4 ever.

None of these 4 drivers deserved to be in. Strugglers all season long and all it takes is luck wins to get in. Terrible

Reddick has been one of the best all season, the **** you mean? He literally was the regular season champion lol

 

[AndyMarquisLive]

Only fair since there was interference on both sides.

Byron didn’t do anything wrong; neither did Truex years ago, but he got the short end of the stick in the form of getting booted from the chase because MWR’s interference was thrown in for his benefit.

Truex’s career almost ended because of that too.

 

[Reck]

Reddick has been one of the best all season, the **** you mean? He literally was the regular season champion lol

Thanks to Larson being forced to sit a race?

None of these drivers bring flavor to the table. No Larson, no Bell, no Hamlin. It's like winning a chamnpionship with a handicap.

This system NASCAR has going for it its garbage. Has been for 20 years. Shoot, I'll take the "Chase" format with the 10 races without reset over the segmented 3 races per.

 

[Greg]

I don't think a penalty should have been issued.

Disclosure: I didn't agree with banning the hail melon, as long as it doesn't wreck another car.

I think Wallace, the trust fund, and Bowman should be investigated and disciplined if needed, but I wouldnt change the finishing order of today's race.

 

[hmmm298]

I say: Offsetting penalties. Finish stands.

That or penalize both and put Larson in.

Offsetting yes. So no penalty there

But after those are offset, the wall ride is next to be looked at separately.

So they got it right there.

 

[Blaze]

Thanks to Larson being forced to sit a race?

None of these drivers bring flavor to the table. No Larson, no Bell, no Hamlin. It's like winning a chamnpionship with a handicap.

This system NASCAR has going for it its garbage. Has been for 20 years. Shoot, I'll take the "Chase" format with the 10 races without reset over the segmented 3 races per.

Lmao even then Reddick would’ve finished 2nd in the regular season you said none of the 4 deserve it, and they struggled all season long. That’s completely false. Hell even Byron was one of the best if you look at full season points. So tell me how either of them haven’t been one of the best all season long? I’ll wait.

 

[hmmm298]

Thanks to Larson being forced to sit a race?

None of these drivers bring flavor to the table. No Larson, no Bell, no Hamlin. It's like winning a chamnpionship with a handicap.

This system NASCAR has going for it its garbage. Has been for 20 years. Shoot, I'll take the "Chase" format with the 10 races without reset over the segmented 3 races per.

Actually beating Logano AND Blaney would make either Reddick or Byron pretty deserving using that logic just based on their resume.

 

[Charlie Spencer]

None of these drivers bring flavor to the table.

I watch drivers for competence. When I want flavor, I have plenty of hot sauce.

According to the rules, at least three of the four met the qualifications. The rules say nothing about 'flavor'. I don’t like the playoffs but these drivers did what was required.

 

[AndyMarquisLive]

Thanks to Larson being forced to sit a race?

None of these drivers bring flavor to the table. No Larson, no Bell, no Hamlin. It's like winning a chamnpionship with a handicap.

This system NASCAR has going for it its garbage. Has been for 20 years. Shoot, I'll take the "Chase" format with the 10 races without reset over the segmented 3 races per.

Forced?

Larson chose to run Indianapolis instead of Charlotte.

I think drivers should be allowed to miss races, but the rule in place was prevented for this very reason, to prevent guys like Tony Stewart (at the time) from going off and running a dirt race if they were in.

But it was good publicity so it was allowed.

 

[Reck]

I watch drivers for competence. When I want flavor, I have plenty of hot sauce.

According to the rules, at least three of the four met the qualifications. The rules say nothing about 'flavor'. I don’t like the playoffs but these drivers did what was required.

NASCAR literally came up with this playoffs shtick preciseley to provide entertainment. It's WWE on wheels.

Haven't figured it out by now? Dont get heated because I pointed out the best drivers are out of contention because of a system that leans into entertainment rather than competition based on who is best.

 

[BobbyFord]

Penalize both or nobody. Be fair.
This is a clown show.

 

[jaqua19]

I say: Offsetting penalties. Finish stands.

That or penalize both and put Larson in.

I would love either to be honest.

Still bitter about Larson.

Most wins. Most laps lead. Most stage wins... But wait for it ... Points leader without reset.

Two wins in the playoffs, most laps lead in the playoffs, and has had race winning cars in 3/4 of the 9 races.

This should be his second championship season, and him not even being able to race for one ultimately because of pit road issues at Vegas and a blown tire at Homestead costing him stage points is very difficult to swallow.

It's just **** luck.

It's all done and over with, but I'm hoping some sort of change. Based on performance, no one in the final 4 deserves it over Larson, and he would be in it without those freak issues in the round of 8.

It blows.

 

[AndyMarquisLive]

I would love either to be honest.

Still bitter about Larson.

Most wins. Most laps lead. Most stage wins... But wait for it ... Points leader without reset.

Two wins in the playoffs, most laps lead in the playoffs, and has had race winning cars in 3/4 of the 9 races.

This should be his second championship season, and him not even being able to race for one ultimately because of pit road issues at Vegas and a blown tire at Homestead costing him stage points is very difficult to swallow.

It's just **** luck.

It's all done and over with, but I'm hoping some sort of change. Based on performance, no one in the final 4 deserves it over Larson, and he would be in it without those freak issues in the round of 8.

It blows.

This is how Kevin Harvick fans felt in 2020, especially with the Texas rain BS.

But most fans forgave that when The Chosen One won the championship.

 

[Charlie Spencer]

Dont get heated because I pointed out the best drivers are out of contention because of a system that leans into entertainment rather than competition based on who is best.

I'm not heated. As far as the playoff system goes, I agree with you.

This is how the current rules define who 'deserves' to compete to be 'best'. You and I can like what we want but the drivers can only race under the rules they're given. They'd be idiots to race as if the 'total points' or 'last ten races' were in effect. Indeed, they'd probably be fired. Rage against it all you want but it is what it is.

Regardless, no system is going to guarantee the 'best' drivers are also the ones with the most 'flavor'.

 

[FLRacingFan]

Bell didn’t really net anything and certainly didn’t intend to wall ride, but by the book it’s an illegal wall ride and a good call. The Chevy rolling blockade is another deal entirely. Everything and everyone involved in that stinks and should be DQ’d themselves. Radio comms indicated as much, but whatever.

 

[Blaze]

This is how Kevin Harvick fans felt in 2020, especially with the Texas rain BS.

But most fans forgave that when The Chosen One won the championship.

And that evened out when Chase lost one he should’ve won. Harvick still a few short, but he won in 2014 when was the 5th best driver, and Jeff Gordon got boned out of another one. Sadly it happens. I much rather have a full season as well by the way.

 

[AndyMarquisLive]

Elton Sawyer said they never even looked at the other shenanigans.

lol.

 

[BobbyFord]

I don’t think Bell on the fence was blatant. He got into the fence after he passed Bubba. But…Bubba rolling out of the gas for a fake tire going down was blatant.
Chastain and Dillon blocking for the 24 was also blatant.
Fooking clown parade.

 

[BobbyFord]

Elton Sawyer said they never even looked at the other shenanigans.

lol.

Sawyer is completely full of schit.

 

[AndyMarquisLive]

And that evened out when Chase lost one he should’ve won. Harvick still a few short, but he won in 2014 when was the 5th best driver, and Jeff Gordon got boned out of another one. Sadly it happens. I much rather have a full season as well by the way.

Gordon was the best driver under the Lattford system which is not used anymore. Harvick was always going to win in 2014. Using the eye test, he was the best driver that year.

This is why I can’t stand discussing the playoffs in here. You Hendrick fans always defend the indefensible.

 

[Charlie Spencer]

I don’t think Bell on the fence was blatant. He got into the fence after he passed Bubba.

Passing Bubba was irrelevant. I'm -assuming- the telemetry showed he made no effort to get off the wall, or maybe that he drove to stay there.

 

[Blaze]

I don’t think Bell on the fence was blatant. He got into the fence after he passed Bubba. But…Bubba rolling out of the gas for a fake tire going down was blatant.
Chastain and Dillon blocking for the 24 was also blatant.
Fooking clown parade.

Doesn’t matter, rules are rules. Maybe if he was forced into the wall, it would be one thing. But rather you do something on purpose or not can’t go into the ruling, because then anyone can just do it and say that they didn’t do it. As far as him being ahead, that doesn’t matter either. The rule has nothing to do with if you get an advantage from it. The rule is that you can’t do it, point blank.

 

[BobbyFord]

Doesn’t matter, rules are rules. Maybe if he was forced into the wall, it would be one thing. But rather you do something on purpose or not can’t go into the ruling, because then anyone can just do it and say that they didn’t do it. As far as him being ahead, that doesn’t matter either. The rule has nothing to do with if you get an advantage from it. The rule is that you can’t do it, point blank.

Do you believe the 1 and 3 blocked for the 24?

 

[acmerocket]

Do you believe the 1 and 3 blocked for the 24?

yes

 

[jaqua19]

This is how Kevin Harvick fans felt in 2020, especially with the Texas rain BS.

But most fans forgave that when The Chosen One won the championship.

Which is what will happen if Byron wins it this year.

 

[FLRacingFan]

This has to be the most lame, vanilla last 4 ever.

None of these 4 drivers deserved to be in. Strugglers all season long and all it takes is luck wins to get in. Terrible

Blaney and Byron have both had really respectable seasons, but they certainly haven’t felt like title seasons - more like ~ Top 5 performances. Reddick was very solid for two-thirds of the year but felt like a paper tiger until he proved me wrong on the final lap last week, so I’d be okay with him winning when you also factor in the MJ and lawsuit angles. Logano is super whatever, of course.

More to your point, it’s not a foursome with a lot of star power. Without looking over previous ten years, I’d argue the least amount of star power yet. Combine that with the absolute stench of how everything unfolded at the end today, and I’m actually glad I have social obligations next weekend.

 

[Blaze]

Gordon was the best driver under the Lattford system which is not used anymore. Harvick was always going to win in 2014. Using the eye test, he was the best driver that year.

This is why I can’t stand discussing the playoffs in here. You Hendrick fans always defend the indefensible.

Lmao. Andy, buddy, I’m not defending anything? I said Chase shouldn’t have won in 2020, but he should have in 2022, which evens out. I’m not even a Gordon fan, and was HAPPY(no pun intended) Harvick won in 2014, you can go see the post from then. I’m just saying this system has screwed a lot of people, some of them then won championships years they shouldn’t have. Get over yourself

 

[BobbyFord]

yes

Waiting for @Blaze to answer

 

[AndyMarquisLive]

Those of us who didn’t want the Hail Melon banned called it.

 

[Charlie Spencer]

Do you believe the 1 and 3 blocked for the 24?

I do, and that the #23 dropped back to help Bell. Those are separate issues and I hope (but don't expect) they'll be dealt on Wednesday.

 

[Blaze]

Do you believe the 1 and 3 blocked for the 24?

That has nothing to do with the wall ride.

But let’s say it happened, Bubba helped Bell, so as mentioned that offset each other or should. Then Bell broke rule as well on top of being helped. But as I said also, if Byron was DQed, I would’ve understood that.

 

[BobbyFord]

That has nothing to do with the wall ride.

But let’s say it happened, Bubba helped Bell, so as mentioned that offset each other or should. Then Bell broke rule as well on top of being helped. But as I said also, if Byron was DQed, I would’ve understood that.

Just answer the question