MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Ryan Blaney celebrates victory at Martinsville Speedway; It was a win that propelled NASCAR’s reigning champion into the championship-deciding season finale.

Meanwhile, Christopher Bell and William Byron awkwardly waited next to their parked cars for NASCAR’s decision on who would be the fourth and final driver in the winner-take-all decider at Phoenix Raceway.

The question was whether Bell hit the wall on the final lap, gaining momentum and giving him the final pass he needed to pass Byron for last place in the championship. The move was remarkably similar to the one Ross Chastain used at Martinsville two years ago—it was called the “Full Melon”—and was banned in the ensuing offseason.

Blaney returned to the championship final for the right to defend his title against Team Penske teammate Joey Logano and 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick. The fourth finalist waited what seemed like an eternity for NASCAR’s decision.

Bell’s wall ride was ultimately ruled illegal, and Byron saved Hendrick Motorsports from a humiliating third round of the playoffs. Three Hendrick drivers were competing for four places in the final, and only Byron qualified – and only because Bell was deemed to have committed a safety breach.

“We had a situation here with Ross, we went to Phoenix, there was a lot of dialogue with the drivers that this wasn’t a move they wanted to make,” said Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition. “Meeting with the industry in the offseason, meeting with our drivers, was not something they wanted to do alone.”

So it was declared illegal.

Bell argued he had no choice when he crashed into the wall while trying to avoid fellow Toyota driver Bubba Wallace, who claimed he had a flat tire. Bell rode some of that to gain momentum, which gave him the pass he needed to push Byron into the final spot next week at Phoenix Raceway.

“I understand the rule was made to prevent people from riding the wall, but my move was completely different to what Ross did,” said Bell, who was denied a third consecutive title race.

“I slid up against the wall and put my foot in it. I guess it’s a losing move,” Bell continued. “I didn’t deliberately lay down and go into the fence; I slid into the wall and that’s all he wrote.”

Byron said: “He got on the wall and there is a clear rule against getting on the wall. So, in my eyes, that’s what’s important. If it happened in the past, it was fair game. But now the rule is against that.”

Meanwhile, Blaney passed Hendrick driver Chase Elliott with 15 laps remaining to take his second consecutive victory at the Virginia track. His victory last year took him to his first Cup title.

The title will be awarded next Sunday to the driver with the highest finish among Blaney, Byron, Logano and Reddick.

“To get another shot at the championship is really special,” Blaney said. “Try to go back-to-back next week. I have nothing left. “Oh my God, I’m tired.”

Blaney lost his automatic berth in the final last week at Homestead-Miami Speedway when Reddick passed him in the final corner. The victory gives team owner Roger Penske two chances to win a third championship this year: Penske teams won the sports car championship in both IMSA and the World Endurance Championship on Saturday.

Blaney’s win was Team Penske’s 100th victory since partnering with Ford. Logano won the championship in 2022, Blaney won it in 2023, and now Penske has a shot at three straight Cup titles.

“There’s a lot of momentum. “It’s nice to have two Penske cars,” Blaney said. “It’s great to join (Logano) and have a good chance to help Roger get another championship, a third championship in a row, so these guys are the best at what they do and it was a lot of fun to run with them and share.” wins and championships.

“It’s very strong in our organization right now and I hope it continues.”

Elliott was second at Martinsville, Kyle Larson was third, and Penske driver Austin Cindric was fourth, but did not qualify for the championship.

Denny Hamlin qualified from last to fifth but was eliminated from the play-offs and Byron finished sixth and took last place in the championship field when Bell’s pass was ruled illegal. Bell finished the race in 22nd place after an early spin. He had a wide enough points gap that put him in the final spot in the championship field with Byron.

Byron and Blaney return to title contention for the second year in a row; Logano is the only two-time champion in this field, and Reddick is making his debut in the title race.

The field is represented by a pair of Ford drivers, a Toyota and Hendrick’s Chevrolet.

Martin Truex Jr., who will retire from full-time NASCAR racing after next week’s race, started the penultimate race of his Joe Gibbs Racing career from pole position.

He led his Toyota for the first 42 laps until he was forced to make a scheduled pit stop and Truex was flagged for speeding on pit road. The penalty slowed him for three laps and ruined his race.

Truex, who was eliminated from the play-offs in the first round, later received a second speeding ticket and finished Sunday in 24th place.

Next Sunday is the season finale at Phoenix Raceway, where the highest finishing driver between Logano, Reddick, Blaney and Byron will win the championship. Although Ross Chastain was the last winner of the race, he did not achieve the championship last November.

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