“Christopher Bell didn’t use the wall as a tool”: JGR President expresses his ‘disappointed’ feelings about NASCAR’s penalty handling 

NASCAR driver Christopher Bell missed out on advancing to the final 4 in the 2024 Cup Series playoffs following a penalty imposed by NASCAR. Recently, Joe Gibbs Racing's president Dave Alpern shared his thoughts on the fate of the #20 team in the Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway.

Starting P16 in the Xfinity 500 playoff race, Christopher Bell, driving Joe Gibbs Racing's #20 Toyota Camry, skillfully moved up the field and challenged the race leaders by Stage 2. However, a setback on pit road relegated him to the back of the field. The Oklahoma native was then sanctioned a penalty by NASCAR after attempting a last-lap wall ride maneuver, famously used by Ross Chastain in 2022, which resulted in further difficulties for his playoff ambitions.

Recently, Joe Gibbs Racing's president Dave Alpern commented on how things unfurled for Bell in the Xfinity 500. (via X)

"Extremely disappointing. I mean, that's the best way to say it. Let's face it, Christopher, the #20 team, they had a tough day yesterday, but the way this playoff system is set up, he had earned having a tough day based on, you know, his consistency and his great finishes up until that point." Alpern told SiriusXM

"I think they had said it was a safety issue that was similar to an uncontrolled tire or too many men over the wall. And look, those in my opinion are not subjective. There's either too many men over the wall or there aren't. Clearly, Christopher didn't use the wall as a tool to advance his position. He made a pass, he got in the marbles and he got in the wall." he added

NASCAR further decided to not allow JGR to appeal their decision on penalizing Christopher Bell, to which Alpern said:

"I think at the very least, we just wish we would have an opportunity to appeal it, to look at some SMT data to just, you know, talk through it. But, you know, it looks like we won't have that opportunity." [01:24]

Both JGR drivers Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin did not make it to the Cup Series Championship race. The field was completed by Penske's Ryan Blaney and HMS driver William Byron, who took the position from Bell following the latter's penalty.

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"I'm gonna keep my mouth shut": Christopher Bell on Martinsville penalty amid playoff exit

Following the end of the Xfinity 500, Christopher Bell, who has been one of the most consistent drivers throughout the season, expressed his views on NASCAR's penalty against his move.

Bell had initially made it to the Championship 4, however, NASCAR's penalty dragged him down from P18 to a P22 finish. Reflecting on his performance at Martinsville, Bell said (via X, formerly Twitter)

"I don't know what to say. I mean, I didn't advance my position into the wall. I lost time on the racetrack, but it's not meant to be. And it's fine."

On being asked to share his thoughts on the penalty imposed by NASCAR, the former Truck Series champion said:

"I'm gonna keep my mouth shut"

However, Christopher Bell extended his congratulations to HMS driver William Byron for making it to the Championship 4, after the penalty was announced.