Joe Gibbs responds to NASCAR's controversial Christopher Bell verdict at Martinsville, possibility of appeal

NASCAR punished Christopher Bell for his final lap change at Martinsville, and Joe Gibbs was very emotional about the decision. After the race, reporters asked Gibbs if Bell missed the NASCAR Cup Series championship race because he hit the wall on the final lap.

“They said it was over,” Gibbs said, adding that he was “still” grappling with the decision. A reporter asked Gibbs if Bell and Joe Gibbs Racing can appeal NASCAR's decision. “I love it. They said we couldn’t appeal,” Gibbs added.

On the final lap, Bell overcame a crash Bubba Wallace before hitting the outside wall in turn 4 to finish ahead of him William Byron for the final spot in Championship 4. After reviewing the change, NASCAR determined it was a “safety violation” and Bell was demoted from 18th to 22nd, one lap down.

Christopher Bell comments on NASCAR's controversial decision

“I don’t know what to say,” Bell told NBC Sports after the decision was made. “I understand that the rule was made to prevent people from driving over the wall, but my step was completely different Ross (Chastains) was. I got loose in the corner and slid straight into the fence. I don’t know what else to say.”

Bell also called out Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain for “rigging the race” in Martinsville. “I mean, that was disappointing,” Christopher Bell said in another interview. “It was disappointing to see them blocking like that and manipulating the race. I don't know.”

Joe Gibbs Racing had all four of its full-time Cup Series drivers make the playoffs (Bell, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr. And Ty Gibbs). However, neither of them will compete in Championship 4 as Gibbs and Truex were eliminated earlier in the postseason, while Bell and Hamlin were eliminated on Sunday.

The four drivers who will fight for the title next Sunday are Joey Logano, Tyler ReddickWilliam Byron and Ryan Blaney, who won the Martinsville race and are the defending champions. Championship Race 4 will take place at Phoenix Raceway on November 10th at 3:00 p.m. ET.