NASCAR only has itself to blame for playoff officiating controversies

 Just like that, Byron was back in. 

Questions had already arisen regarding race manipulation for both drivers. Bell's move was out there in the open, but soon it seemed obvious that Wallace — who like Bell, drives a Toyota — had intentionally backed off in order to give Bell the position. 

At the same time, radio communication from the No. 1 team of Ross Chastain and the No. 3 team of Austin Dillon — both Chevrolet teams like Byron — made it clear that Dillon and Chastain were instructed to not pass Byron and to hold off the cars behind them that could knock Byron out of the Championship Four.

NASCAR's decision to put Byron in the Championship Four over Bell was immediately met with outcry from Bell's car owner in Joe Gibbs, who was told the team wouldn't be able to appeal the move.

 Before you start feeling bad for NASCAR for having to make a tough decision in a crucial race, remember that they created this monster. 

Without NASCAR's Chase format that was present in 2013, Spingate wouldn't happen. Without the playoff format, Kevin Harvick doesn't intentionally wreck the field at Talladega in 2015, or intentionally spin Kyle Busch at Martinsville in 2020. Without the current playoff format, Dillon doesn't intentionally wreck Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano on the final corner at Richmond. 

And without NASCAR's current playoff format, Bell doesn't feel the need to ride the fence in turns three and four. Chastain and Dillon don't block for Byron. Wallace doesn't have to show off his acting chops in post-race interviews.

Most importantly, NASCAR isn't faced with the public relations black eye of race manipulation the week before it crowns its champion. 

There's a litany of competitive reasons why NASCAR doesn't need a playoff format in order to be exciting, but Sunday proved another reason why — it creates opportunities for the integrity of the sport to crumble in what should be its most exciting moments.