23XI Racing has reversed course on its plan to appeal NASCAR’s penalties for race manipulation after last weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, choosing instead to not appeal, it announced Nov. 6.
The penalties to the No. 23 — including suspensions for Phoenix Raceway, hefty fines and a loss of points — will stand after driver Bubba Wallace slowed, allowing fellow Toyota driver Christopher Bell to pass him on the final lap of the Xfinity 500. After the move, Bell was able to secure a playoff spot.
Bell was eventually given a time penalty for a safety violation on the final lap, putting William Byron back in the playoffs.
Wallace and the team claimed a mechanical issue is what led to the No. 23 falling off the pace.
The team said it disagreed with the penalties but would rather put its focus toward Wallace teammate Tyler Reddick’s championship efforts at Phoenix.
“After internal deliberations, 23XI has decided not to appeal NASCAR’s decision to penalize the No. 23 team,” a statement from the team said. “We disagree with the penalty ruling and strongly believe we did not break any rules at Martinsville. It is our conclusion that it is in our best interests, and those of our team members, partners and fans to fully devote our personnel and resources this week toward the championship and not an appeal.”
Crew chief Bootie Barker — who was set to call his final race for 23XI — spotter Freddie Kraft and 23XI director of competition Dave Rogers will all be suspended for Phoenix. The team was fined $100,000 and docked 50 points in the drivers and owners standings.
About the author
James Krause joined Frontstretch in March 2024 as a contributor. Krause was born and raised in Illinois and graduated from Northern Illinois University. He currently works in La Crosse, Wisconsin as a local sports reporter, including local short track racing. Outside of racing, Krause loves to keep up with of football, music, anime and video games.
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“It is our conclusion that it is in our best interests …to fully devote our personnel and resources this week toward the championship and not an appeal.”
Maybe the lawsuit had something to do with the decision? Maybe?
I wonder how Bootie really feels?
It’s just such a crock. Between NBC’s obsessive camera shots of MJ throughout the last few races ( Realistically, does any race fan give a crap about him?) …..Bubba’s “worst acting of the year award” when trying to explain why he was slowing down so much. The great Mark Martin was right when he called it a “shit show”! All 3, Chastain, Dillon and Wallace should have been suspended into next season for race manipulation! NASCAR bailed out again with their lame penalties! No one learned from the spin gate crap! After that, Mikey should have been ostracized from anything for 10 years. But today he walks up and down pit lane with a mic. Give me a break please. The whole manufacturer love fest has to stop. You never saw Earnhardt, Jarrett, Marlin, Labonte et al worried about who they were pitting with. It was always first come, first served. Now, starting at Daytona, all you here from the announcers is that the manufacturers have to pit together. NASCAR has to put a stop to this…because as we have seen….it ends up in Martinsville in November.
Nascar set this sort of situation up when it decided on a ‘playoff’ format that still has every competitor participating. Not the smartest idea.
At first while driving bubba said on the radio he thought he had a tire going down. Then in his live interview he said something broke, twice. He lied both times. So the team is forced into mechanical issues. Bubba is mjs liar.
If MJ wasn’t involved would Bubba still be driving for 23XI?
Comcast, Mikey and Denny should be forced to pay reparations for Bubba’s lies.