- Despite winning, Austin Dillon will not earn a spot in the Cup Series playoffs.
Austin Dillon's overly aggressive win at Richmond Raceway won't earn him a spot in the Cup Series playoffs.
A NASCAR appeals official on Monday upheld the sanctioning body's decision to revoke Dillon's automatic postseason berth, which came with his controversial win at Richmond on Aug. 11. Dillon intentionally spun out Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano exiting the final turn to take the checkered flag for his first win in two years.
Three days later, NASCAR declared that Dillon's win had “crossed a line.” Officials allowed Dillon to keep the trophy and prize money, but stripped him of his spot in the 16-driver playoff, saying his actions were “detrimental to stock car auto racing.”
Dillon and Richard Childress Racing were deducted 25 points in both the drivers' and owners' rankings. Dillon's spotter, Brandon Benesch, was suspended for three races because he yelled over the radio “Wreck him!” as the driver drove with Hamlin in the race.
RCR appealed, and National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer Bill Mullis said in his ruling Monday that the race data indicated “it is more likely than not that the rule was violated.”
The decision could cost RCR millions in losses, as NASCAR's charter system pays out based on final points standing.
However, Dillon has one final chance to reach the playoffs; he must win Sunday at Darlington Raceway to make the field.
According to NASCAR, Dillon's actions at Richmond went beyond the hard-racing ethos that has been part of the Cup Series' DNA since its inception in 1948. Dillon said he was trying to get around Logano's car but had a quick reaction to hit and turn Hamlin.
“I've seen Denny and Joey make moves that put people on the line to win,” Dillon said. “This was the first time in two years for me to get a win. I've seen a lot of things over the years in NASCAR where guys put people on the line, and that's just part of our sport.”
It was his first win at Daytona since Aug. 28, 2022. He had only two top-10 finishes this year. Dillon emerged from the chaos in his No. 3 Chevrolet and was met with fierce booing. That car number was often driven aggressively by Dale Earnhardt.
“This is not the way we want to end our races,” said Elton Sawyer, the competition's senior vice president. “This is not the way we want to decide a champion. This is not the way we want to decide an event.”
First Publication Date: Aug 27, 2024, 07:46 AM IST