Austin Dillon loses first appeal to Richmond penalty, remaining outside the playoff picture despite his victory on August 11 at Richmond Raceway.
Dillon’s triumph came after a dramatic last-lap incident where he turned Joey Logano and subsequently hooked Denny Hamlin, crossing the finish line in a controversial fashion. He believed this win would secure him an automatic playoff berth, a standard benefit for regular-season winners.
However, just three days later, the driver from Richard Childress Racing found himself in a precarious position. While he retained the trophy and winner’s check, NASCAR stripped him of the playoff spot. Additionally, Dillon faced a 25-point deduction in the standings, and his spotter, Brandon Benesch, received a three-race suspension, which was later reduced to one race. Benesch has since served his penalty by missing the previous race at Michigan.
NASCAR’s ruling was based on the playoff eligibility requirements, which emphasize that race finishes must be free from violations or actions deemed harmful to the sport. The appeals panel upheld this decision, asserting that Dillon’s actions crossed a critical line.
The panel, consisting of former NASCAR truck team owner Tom DeLoach, former racing engineer Tommy Wheeler, and transportation executive Kelly Housby, stated, “NASCAR represents elite motorsports and, as such, its drivers are expected to demonstrate exemplary conduct if its series’ championships are to be validated.”
Moving forward, Dillon and Richard Childress Racing plan to take their case to the Final Appeal Officer, Bill Mullis, who is set to review the appeal within the week.
In a statement, Richard Childress Racing expressed disappointment with the panel’s ruling, asserting that the decision did not accurately reflect the facts presented. They remain committed to appealing to Mullis.
Dillon had expressed optimism about the appeal, especially after a race where he seemed poised for an easy victory until a late caution changed the dynamics. Logano managed a strong restart, but Dillon’s aggressive maneuvering led to the controversial finish.
After the race, Dillon defended his actions, claiming he was merely attempting to get by Logano. “I was just trying to get to him,” he explained, emphasizing that he did not intend to turn Hamlin.
However, Hamlin countered, stating that the data suggested the contact was deliberate. He noted that Dillon’s actions in the heat of the moment could have resulted in a dangerous situation.
Following the penalties, NASCAR Senior Vice President Elton Sawyer emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the playoffs and championship, stating that they want competitors to race hard but must also uphold standards of conduct.
Currently sitting 29th in the standings, Dillon still has a chance to qualify for the playoffs with a win at either Daytona this weekend or Darlington the following weekend.
