Bubba Wallace received a hard‑line penalty in the Atlanta Motor Speedway race that could cost him a Chase berth.
Race Context at Atlanta
On Saturday’s final lap, Wallace approached leaders Ryan Blaney and Carson Hocevar three‑wide down the backstretch, aiming to secure the race’s second place for his title chase. He crossed below the double‑painted “out of bounds” line, a move that NASCAR reviewed after the checkered flag.
The Infraction and Rule
Section 8.3.2 of the NASCAR Rule Book declares that a vehicle moving beneath the double lines to gain position incurs a black flag. The rule also penalizes forces that push another car below those lines in pursuit of advancement. NASCAR issued the penalty once the track marshals confirmed the violation.
Aftermath and Points Impact
The sanction dropped Wallace’s No. 23 team from 29th on the lead lap, a 27‑point loss that lowered his advantage from 77 to 55 points. Without the penalty he would have been 82 points above the Chase cutline, an advantage that faded with the 27‑point swing.
Wallace’s Reaction
Wallace said, “It says advancing your position, which I did not do,” and maintained he stayed third from Turn 3 until 50 yards away. “I was all over the brakes to ensure I did not advance,” he explained, noting he chose a braking strategy that kept him side‑by‑side rather than pushing for the lead. “We’ll see what we can do, but I did not advance my position.”
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