Mark Martin Has Three Words for NASCAR Controversial Duel Finish

But out front, Erik Jones and Austin Cindric were neck and neck, crossing the finish line in a photo finish.

After video review, it appeared Jones beat Cindric by inches.

But after NASCAR’s review, the caution was waved before the two reached the finish line.

Per the rulebook, Cindric would be declared the winner as he was ahead by inches when the caution lights illuminated the 2.5-mile oval.

“It’s a bummer,” said Jones. “It’s the rule. If the yellow is out, the race is over.”

“I feel bad for Erik having to go all the way over there,” Cindric said about Jones patiently awaiting his celebration on the frontstretch that never got to happen.

Veterans of the sport took to social media to share their thoughts.

“That rule needs to change IMMEDIATELY,” tweeted NASCAR historian and LastCar documentarian Brock Beard.

“Man, feel bad for Erik Jones good way to race to the finish even with the caution,” tweeted two-time NASCAR champion Greg Biffle.

“Yeahh, I don’t agree with the call tonight,” posted Jeb Burton. “Why push the button 100 yards away from the line?”

But the comment that has taken storm on X after the Thursday night qualifier races was Mark Martin’s tweet of his runner-up finish in the 2007 Daytona 500.

“2007. No yellow,” Martin posted with a facepalm emoji.

When comparing to today’s rulebook, if NASCAR had waved the yellow at or around the same time as the Cindric-Jones battle, Martin would have won his first and only Daytona 500.

Instead, NASCAR let him and Kevin Harvick race to the line while the field wrecked behind them coming to the trioval. Harvick would beat Martin by inches for his first and only Daytona 500 win, flipping the history books.

Harvick ironically was one of the Fox broadcasters announcing the race with Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer for the Duel race.

“You have to throw the yellow there,” he said.

The finish among the top two would not have mattered for the lineup in Sunday’s Daytona 500. Cindric had locked into the front row with his qualifying effort Wednesday night. The win was simply for points and an additional $50,000 in prize money.

The big check is written out on Sunday.