NASCAR Still Has A Race Manipulation Problem?

After another chaotic weekend at the Charlotte Roval, NASCAR once again finds itself tangled in controversy over race manipulation. What was supposed to be a straightforward playoff race ended in confusion, coded radio chatter, and frustration from fans and drivers alike. Despite NASCAR’s vow after last year’s Martinsville debacle to crack down on team interference, the same issues seem to be repeating — just with more subtlety this time.

• Was the “take care of your tires” message to Alex Bowman and Cole Custer really code for “don’t pass”?
• Did Ford and Chevrolet teams intentionally protect their playoff drivers at the expense of competition?
• Is NASCAR enforcing its “100 percent rule” at all, or just pretending to for PR’s sake?
• And how much longer can fans tolerate these manipulated outcomes before credibility erodes completely?

Even Denny Hamlin voiced frustration, saying he would have raced differently had he known the points situation. Meanwhile, drivers like Ross Chastain and Joey Logano became central to a drama that overshadowed what was otherwise a great road course race featuring strong runs from SVG, Larson, and Bell. The on-track product was solid, but the post-race narrative? Exhausting. Fans are split — some call it smart teamwork, others pure manipulation. But one thing’s clear: if NASCAR can’t enforce its own rules consistently, no one will take them seriously the next time they promise “change.”

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