Talking on his podcast, the Dale Jr. Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr. suggested that the practice of race manipulation is a reality that taints the entire sport of NASCAR. This comes in the wake of the Martinsville incident, which has cast a shadow over the 2024 NASCAR Cup Season as Joey Logano clinched the championship.
The controversy kicked off when Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell faced disqualification at a crucial part of the season during the Round of 8. At Martinsville, drivers Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain were involved in a strategy to protect William Byron’s position in the championship, prompting NASCAR to launch an investigation. The subsequent penalties were severe: 50-point deductions, hefty $100,000 fines, and suspensions for several team officials.
As the scandal unfolded, Dale Earnhardt Jr. addressed the situation on his podcast, providing insight into the complexities of race dynamics in NASCAR.
“It’s one of the hardest things I’ve had to go through as a …