23XI Racing decides against appealing race-manipulation penalty
Today at 08:00 AM
23XI Racing did not file an appeal of the penalty issued Tuesday for being involved in manipulating Sunday night's elimination race at Martinsville Speedway.
"After internal deliberations, 23XI has decided not to appeal NASCAR's decision to penalize the No. 23 team," a team statement read. "We disagree with the penalty ruling and strongly believe we did not break any rules at Martinsville. It is our conclusion that it is in our best interests, and those of our team members, partners, and fans, to fully devote our personnel and resources this week toward the championship and not an appeal."
NASCAR announced its penalties Tuesday night with 23XI Racing being one of three teams who were docked points, fined, and issued suspensions. Bubba Wallace crew chief Bootie Barker and spotter Freddie Kraft will not be with the team this weekend for the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.
It was a 50-point deduction and a $100,000 fine each to the driver and the team.
Kraft did not give Wallace specific instructions over the in-car radio but did update his driver on the situation with Toyota teammate Christopher Bell and other playoff contenders. Barker also discussed the situation on the team's channels. With a few laps to go, Wallace reported that he thought he had a flat tire.
Wallace slowed at the white flag and nursed his Toyota to the finish. Bell, meanwhile, passed him for a position he needed going into Turn 3. It put Bell into a tiebreaker with Byron, which he would have won and made the Championship 4. Subsequently, NASCAR deemed Bell drove against the wall in Turn 4, which is an outlawed move.
The penalty to 23XI Racing fell under member conduct, which includes race manipulation and actions detrimental to stock car racing.
Tyler Reddick will compete for the Cup Series championship on Sunday for 23XI Racing.
The appeals of Trackhouse Racing and Richard Childress Racing will be heard Thursday.
