NASCAR chief operating officer Steve O’Donnell reiterated on Tuesday morning that Ross Chastain’s go-for-broke move on the last lap at Martinsville Speedway didn’t violate any rules.
“We’ve seen similar attempts but never successfully,” O’Donnell told on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “In our 75-year history, no one has successfully done that. So, Ross pulled off a first that we all saw, that I don’t think anyone was thinking about. When you saw that, I think everyone has described [it] like a video game move.
“[It was] certainly within the rules … As with anything you see for the first time, you’ve got to take a look. We’ve had a number of discussions internally about that move and all the what-ifs.
“But at this point in looking at it, it was a move that was within the rulebook, and really don’t think it’s right to adjust the rules when, for 35 races, we’ve been one way and throw a wrinkle in for the 36th.”
— Racer —
💭 "It was a move that was within the bounds of the rulebook."
#NASCAR COO Steve O'Donnell told #TMDNASCAR that the video game move @RossChastain pulled was perfectly legal and that they "don't think it's right to adjust the rules" with one race left in 2022. pic.twitter.com/V2F8JREOCQ— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) November 1, 2022