Conspiracies continue to fly high despite NASCAR’s attempt to sweep the issue under the rug

THE Phoenix The showdown between a Championship-4 and a non-contending driver made for a high-octane thriller for NASCAR fans. Since the start of the playoffs in 2014, Championship 4 drivers have rushed forward with virtually no outside competition. However, this season that scenario changed for the first time when Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain maintained his lead to break that long-standing record. What followed was a revelation that became a bone of contention for the auto racing community.

Champion of the season Ryan Blaney did not want to become the first driver to win the title without winning the final race. Consequently, the Team Penske The driver almost destroyed himself while trying to overtake the race winner. Blaney’s obvious frustration at having to compete with a rider outside the Championship 4 did not go unnoticed. And now there are rumors that the governing body also shared its disapproval of ChastainThe desire to defeat the final 4 contenders.

NASCAR would have been “not happy” to field a season-ending race run by a non-competitor.

When the current playoff format was introduced in 2014, it was an experiment to hold viewers’ interest throughout the season. When Jimmy Johnson won the trophy for the 6th time in 2013, the elimination rounds were introduced, and it was not without its own limitations. Fast forward to 2023, while it was an intriguing outcome for racing fans, Ryan Blaney remained fuming over Chastain’s insistence. The situation took a controversial turn when veteran observer Brett Griffin reported NASCAR’s interference on an episode of Door Bumper Clear.

According to Griffin, a NASCAR official approached Chastain’s observer, Brandon McReynolds, to ask the race leader about not prevent Blaney’s run. It quickly became a subject of heated debate problem on Reddit when shared by a social media user. The message stated, “From what they’ve implied, NASCAR wasn’t happy about a non-finalist driver racing a championship contender for the lead and expected Ross to simply let Blaney go.

Afterward, NASCAR communications director Mike Forde stepped in to clarify that the official was simply trying to defuse the situation.

However, the governing body’s direct involvement in the championship race was a source of concern for the racing community. Tempers have flared with widespread controversy and divided opinions over the extent to which NASCAR should be allowed to intervene.

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Even if the Door Bumper Clear hosts had misinterpreted the situation, the damage had already been done. The official’s attempt to communicate with Brandon McReynolds at a crucial moment for his driver was confirmed by Mike Forde. On the other hand, insinuating that NASCAR wanted a specific race outcome was a massive accusation without substantial evidence.

As a result, the Reddit community was sharply divided over the flamboyant incident. One user was perplexed about Ryan Blaney, just wishing Ross Chastain would step aside instead of him. “The fact that anyone or Blaney himself would literally be angry at Ross over this is baffling. If Nascar officials actually did such a thing, it’s a terrible look. »

Others wondered if there was more to the story behind the Championship 4 contenders leading the Phoenix races. “You can thank Jimmy Johnson for this playoff format. Isn’t it funny how the top 4 finishers almost always finish 1,2,3,4 in the last race, even if they aren’t in the top 4? I hate it when everyone comes up and claps @RossChastain for not having done it. »

Another comment read, “If this is true, it’s a *major* bad image for NASCAR. Not necessarily rigging races for Championship 4, but being angry at non-eliminating drivers because they are actually competitive defeats the whole purpose of racing.

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On the other side, there were racing fans who refused to categorically believe DBC’s version of events. One user said: “The DBC is a bunch of drama queens, so I take this with a grain of salt.” Yet another person was skeptical and said: “I I don’t think that’s true. It could be as simple as stirring the pot or starting to do stupid things to piss people off. (I could be wrong though.)”

One commenter reminded users of Ford’s superior position and authority on DBC Spotters. “Mike Forde isn’t even just the coordinator. He is the general manager of racing communications for NASCAR. So I’ll take his word for it with any observer, any day of the week. Which version seems more authentic? Comment below.