In an alternate universe, NASCAR driver Christopher Bell is preparing to race for the Cup Series title Sunday in Avondale, Ariz. In this universe, however, Bell is on the outside looking in. That's due to a bizarre sequence of events during the Xfinity 500 in Martinsville,

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Upset that he is not racing for a championship, a candid Christopher Bell said Saturday that he was “cheated” by Chevrolet teams that “fixed and manipulated” the finish of last weekend’s playoff race at Martinsville Speedway.

Christopher Bell says he was robbed of a title shot after NASCAR penalized him at Martinsville, blaming Chevy’s tactics and a penalty he says shouldn't have been given.

This has been one of the hardest things I have had to go through as a race car driver,” Bell said. “I believe cheated is the right word."

Instead, the Chevys of Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain put themselves in a double-file formation behind Byron, effectively serving as a blockade to prevent any cars from passing the No. 24 car. NASCAR reviewed the radio communications and ruled that their actions were worthy a penalty that was handed out by NASCAR on Tuesday (Nov. 5).

NASCAR Cup Series star Christopher Bell is not at all pleased with the way the series handled blatant race manipulation involving several teams during

Bell was penalized after the race on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway when NASCAR deemed he committed a safety violation, effectively replicating the now banned Hail Melon made famous by Ross Chastain in 2022, and it resulted in his elimination from the final transfer spot into the Championship Race.

The events of NASCAR’s Cup Series Championship 4 decider at Martinsville are still raw for Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, on the outside looking in as four other drivers prepare to

Christopher Bell believes NASCAR cheated him out of a shot at the Cup Series title when he was punished for reacting to race manipulation in the final playoff qualifying race

Christopher Bell was denied a spot in the NASCAR Championship 4 after Cup Series Playoff controversy at Martinsville and he is far from happy.