It is not unusual for a race to end in a chaotic manner with drivers aggressively battling for position. On an oval track the drivers have little choice but to stay on the track or make a run through the grass. But on a road course there are often a number of access roads where drivers can make it to pit road without running the entire course or avoid a wreck.
On the final laps of the Verizon 200 in an overtime restart Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon escaped a potential wreck by driving on the access road. In the process the two drivers also missed turns one and two and returned to the course on turn three.
The move enabled Chastain to catch and pass race leader Tyler Reddick. Reddick later passed Chastain to retake the lead and win the race.
As a result of their using the access road, NASCAR has penalized Chastain and Dillon with a 30 second penalty. The penalty took Chastain from a second place finish to 27th. Dillon, already a lap down, ended with a 30th place finish.
NASCAR Penalizes Chastain, Dillon
