NASCAR’s been handing out penalties like candy lately, and they’re not messing around. Just look at Chase Briscoe and Joe Gibbs Racing after the Daytona 500. Caught with an altered spoiler, they got slapped with 100 driver points, 10 playoff points, and a four-race crew chief suspension.

Then there was Chris Buescher at Kansas, his car failing post-race for an illegal front bumper assembly. Sixty points gone, a fine, and another crew chief sidelined. In Xfinity, Austin Hill sat out a race for intentionally hooking Aric Almirola at Indianapolis, a rough-driving call that left him fuming.

The latest drama unfolded at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval, where late-race chaos had fans crying foul.

NASCAR gives verdict on race manipulation

The controversy centered on a wild final-lap tangle between Ross Chastain and Denny Hamlin, both scrapping for the last Round of 8 spot. Chastain dove under Hamlin in the frontstretch chicane, a desperate bid that wrecked both and let Joey Logano sneak through on points for the transfer.

Radio chatter had heads turning. Cole Custer was told to “save tires” behind fellow Ford driver Logano, and Alex Bowman got the same line while trailing Chastain. It smelled like team orders to some, but NASCAR’s dug in and cleared the air: no penalties, no manipulation.

On Hauler Talk, NASCAR’s Mike Forde confirmed the verdict: “We’ll remind everyone not to put themselves or the sport in a bad position. Fans expect a straight-up race where every position is earned. If we hear or see anything that crosses the line, we won’t hesitate to act.” The review looked at radio, video, and data, finding no smoking gun. Unlike last year’s Martinsville Chevrolet coordination to shield William Byron’s advancement, which drew fines and scrutiny, Charlotte lacked explicit calls like “let him by so he advances.”

Forde’s proactive nudge for Martinsville’s cutoff race shows NASCAR’s staying vigilant, but the Roval’s clean bill keeps the focus on racing, not rulings. Amanda Ellis, NASCAR’s senior comms director, clarified: “The message isn’t that you can’t talk about points. It’s that you shouldn’t be coordinating around other teams’ situations.”

Teams can chat about their own strategies, but crossing into rival territory is off-limits. Chastain’s bold but failed dive on Hamlin drew no penalty, though Forde noted success might have triggered a deeper look. “Every case is different,” he said. “We’ve got data, radio, video, everything we need to evaluate intent in real time.” It’s a balanced call; aggression’s part of the game, but intent’s the line.

The Roval’s chaos, with its hybrid layout and slick tire wear, amplified the tension, but NASCAR’s verdict keeps the playoffs rolling without an asterisk. As the Round of 8 heats up, this decision reminds teams to race hard but keep it clean, or the hammer drops.

NASCAR’s penalty clarity ties to the bigger legal storm brewing off-track.

NASCAR lawsuit mediation ordered

The 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports antitrust suit against the sanctioning body got a judge’s nudge. Judge Kenneth D. Bell ordered mediation on October 21 in his courtroom, with Jeffrey Mishkin staying on as mediator.

NASCAR pushed for court oversight after August’s Mishkin talks stalled, but 23XI and Front Row countered that restarting with eight weeks to the December 1 trial was unfair. Bell split the difference, granting NASCAR’s motion but keeping Mishkin to push good-faith talks.

Bell wants a settlement before trial. Jeffrey Kessler, lead attorney for the teams, welcomed it: “We welcome Judge Bell’s decision to bring all parties together to engage in meaningful resolution. We remain open to a settlement that genuinely benefits the sport and its fans. From the outset, our objective has been unwavering: to secure lasting stability and growth for every team, their employees, and the sport. It’s time for all parties to step up and deliver.”

The suit blasts NASCAR’s charter system as monopolistic, limiting competition and revenue. NASCAR’s countersuit calls 23XI and Front Row’s moves, like boycotting broadcast deals, a “cartel.” With mediation set for October 21 and summary judgment hearings bumped to October 23, Bell’s pushing for a compromise. It’s a high-stakes huddle that could rewrite charters and purses, keeping the sport’s house from burning down before the 2025 finale.