NASCAR: The other major penalty that could change the entire season

As a seasoned NASCAR enthusiast with over two decades under my belt, I can’t help but feel a tinge of sympathy for Denny Hamlin. The race-winning engine infraction from Bristol Motor Speedway in March is proving to be quite the thorn in his side, seven months later at Martinsville. It’s like being haunted by an old, unpaid speeding ticket that just won’t go away!

There’s been much discussion surrounding Alex Bowman being disqualified from the final round 12 event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. This decision by NASCAR effectively transferred Bowman’s place in the round of 8 to Joey Logano.

The Team Penske driver clinched victory at the opening event of the round of 8 held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, securing his place in the Championship 4. This implies that due to Bowman’s disqualification, one fewer spot remains open for other drivers in the final winner-take-all round. Essentially, Bowman’s disqualification could indirectly lead to another driver being eliminated.

As a gamer, I’d rephrase that sentence like this: In August, a crucial penalty was given, which could sway the championship’s outcome. This penalty was triggered by an incident during a race back in March.

Denny Hamlin penalty could be felt at Martinsville, seven-plus months later

5 months after Denny Hamlin, racing under Joe Gibbs Racing, clinched a victory at Bristol Motor Speedway in March, Toyota admitted to an infraction linked to that triumph. Before NASCAR could dismantle and examine the championship engine from Bristol, Toyota had already rebuilt it. Once the breach was discovered, NASCAR imposed significant penalties as a consequence.

Hamlin had a deduction of 10 points from the playoffs and 75 points from the regular season. This reduction in regular season points moved him back three spots in the final regular season rankings, resulting in an overall loss of 13 playoff points.

Furthermore, Christopher Bell, William Byon (of Hendrick Motorsports), and Ryan Blaney from Team Penske all earned a playoff point as they advanced one position in the race.

Currently, the driver operating the No. 11 Toyota holds a total of 4,092 points, which places them 18 points beneath the qualifying threshold known as the Championship 4. At present, Byron is the fourth and last competitor above this cut line with 4,110 points to their credit.

If that infraction hadn’t occurred, I’d be sitting on an extra 13 playoff points going into the Round of 8, making my total 4,105 points. Byron, on the other hand, would have 4,109 points. That means I’m just four points shy of the cut line for this upcoming Xfinity 500 race at the 0.526-mile (0.847-kilometer) oval in Ridgeway, Virginia on Sunday afternoon.

Might the missing playoff points potentially determine whether Hamlin advances towards his inaugural Cup Series championship or exits again in the round of 8 for the third consecutive year?

Tune into NBC from Martinsville Speedway for the live broadcast of the Xfinity 500, beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET this Sunday, November 3. Sign up now for a free trial with FuboTV and catch every thrilling moment!

2024-10-31 15:02