Martinsville has tended to hold more exciting NASCAR races than most over the past few years. The 2024 autumn edition of the contest — the Xfinity 500 — did little to buck the trend. Ryan Blaney raced to gold in impressive fashion, outpacing Chase Elliott to capture the checkered flag, and with it, one of the final two spots in the Championship 4.
That left one ticket remaining for entry into the Cup Series' most exclusive club. For a while, it appeared as if Joe Gibbs Racing standout Christopher Bell had claimed it, as the Norman, Okla., native appeared to have surged beyond cut-line hopeful William Byron in the postseason standings with a last-lap move.
After closer examination, that wasn't quite the case. Byron, who looked so forlorn following the conclusion of Sunday's race, was the biggest beneficiary. Here's what you need to know.
MORE NASCAR: Full Xfinity 500 results | Meet Championship 4 drivers Why was Christopher Bell penalized? Bell looked to have notched his third straight Championship 4 appearance after placing 18th on Sunday afternoon. It looked to have been a gutsy showing by the No. 20 car that was jostling back-and-forth with Byron for position in the postseason standings.
Bell tumbled down the rankings after getting caught up in trouble atop the one-mile surface. With one lap to go, he was a few points back of Byron, who was riding high -- albeit precariously -- in sixth place. So, on the last lap, Bell upped the ante.
He looked to have gotten loose head.
