23XI Racing has decided not to appeal the penalties assigned to the No. 23 car driven by Bubba Wallace after the Martinsville Cup Series playoffs race.
Wallace slowed dramatically on the last lap, which allowed Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell to pass him and qualify for the Championship 4 on points. 23XI Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing have a technical alliance and both use Toyota cars. Bell then hit the wall and drove along it in violation of the rules and was dropped from 18th to 22nd in the results, knocking him out of the Championship 4.
Wallace said he had an issue with his tire, but after an investigation that included radio transmissions and data from the vehicle, NASCAR found the team to be in violation of the sporting regulations regarding driver conduct and race manipulation.
Both Wallace and the team were docked 50 points and fined $100,000, while the No. 23 crew chief and spotter were suspended from the championship race at Phoenix, where Wallace’s teammate Tyler Reddick will be competing for the title.
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23XI Racing initially said it would appeal, but issued a statement on Wednesday that said it had chosen not to.
“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”
Along with having Reddick in contention for the championship, 23XI Racing is in an ongoing legal battle with NASCAR regarding the new charter agreement it has offered the teams, which goes into effect next season.
Trackhouse Racing’s No. 1 car of Ross Chastain and the Richard Childress Racing No. 3 car driven by Austin Dillon received the same penalties because they blocked for their fellow Chevrolet driver William Byron in the closing laps of the race to keep the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 car ahead of Bell in the points.
The two teams will go through with their appeals, which will be heard on Thursday, while Byron was not cited for any infraction and will race in the Championship 4 along with Reddick, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano.