Ryan Blaney celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday in Martinsville, Virginia. Chuck Burton/Associated Press

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Ryan Blaney earned the chance to defend his Cup championship with a victory Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, where a controversial finish forced NASCAR to decide whether Christopher Bell or William Byron took the final spot in the season in which the winner takes all. end.

The finish was marred by NASCAR’s extensive review of Bell potentially committing a safety violation with his pass of Byron on the final lap. Bell crashed into the wall and rode part of it to gain momentum, the same thing Ross Chastain did two years ago in a move that has since been banned by NASCAR.

Bell’s pass to Byron left the two tied in points for last place in next week’s title-deciding race at Phoenix Raceway. After an uncomfortably long delay, Bell’s move was deemed illegal and Byron was given last place.

“I understand the rule is made to stop people from going over the wall, but my move was completely different than what Ross did,” said Bell, who was denied a third consecutive trip to the championship race.

The ruling saved the playoffs for Hendrick Motorsports, putting three drivers in the round of 16 competing for four spots in the championship. If NASCAR had not declared Bell’s move illegal, not a single Hendrick car would be competing for the Cup title.

Meanwhile, Blaney overtook Chase Elliott with 15 laps remaining to win at the Virginia track for the second straight year and clinch a spot in the championship race next week at Phoenix Raceway. Blaney will compete with Penske teammate Joey Logano, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick and Byron.

The title will go to the driver who finishes best next Sunday.

“To have another shot at the championship is really special,” Blaney said. “Try to come back next week. I have nothing left. “My God, I’m tired.”

Last week, Blaney lost an automatic spot in the finals when Reddick passed him in the final turn at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The victory gives team owner Roger Penske two chances to win a third title this year: Penske’s teams won the sports car championships in both IMSA and Saturday’s World Endurance Championship.

Blaney’s victory was the 100th for Team Penske since partnering with Ford. Logano won the title in 2022, Blaney won in 2023 and now Penske has a shot at three straight Cup titles.

“A lot of momentum. It’s nice to have two Penske cars,” Blaney said. “It’s good to join (Logano) and have a decent chance to give Roger another title, a third title in a row, so these guys are the best at what they do and it’s been a lot of fun racing with them and hanging out.” victories and championships.

“It’s very strong right now in our organization and we hope it continues.”

While Blaney celebrated, Bell and Byron stood silently in front of their cars waiting for a ruling from NASCAR. Byron’s pass at the end left the two tied in points for last place in the championship race and NASCAR had to rule on whether Bell had done anything illegal.

Both drivers stood silently outside their cars waiting for a decision from NASCAR.

“This is strange,” Bell said.

Byron added: “There is a rule against it. “I don’t see how they can call it anything else.”

Elliott finished second at Martinsville, Larson finished third, Penske driver Austin Cindric was fourth but ineligible for a championship spot.

Denny Hamlin drove from last to fifth place, but was eliminated from the finals and Byron was sixth and awarded the last spot in the championship field when Bell’s pass was ruled illegal. Bell finished 22nd after a spin early in the race. He had a large enough points cushion that left him tied with Byron for last place in the championship field.

Byron and Blaney return to the championship race for the second year in a row; Logano is the only two-time champion in the field and Reddick is making his debut in the title race.

The field is represented by a pair of Ford drivers, a Toyota and Hendrick’s Chevrolet.

Martin Truex Jr., who is retiring from full-time NASCAR racing after next week’s race, started the penultimate race of his Joe Gibbs Racing career from the pole.

He led the first 42 laps in his Toyota until he had to make his scheduled pit stop and Truex was penalized for speeding on pit road. The penalty left him three laps off the pace and ruined his race.

Truex, who was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round, then received a second speeding penalty and finished 24th on Sunday.

Copy story link