Bubba Wallace’s spotter Freddie Kraft predicts potential suspension for Austin Dillon

Austin Dillon is awaiting potential punishment from NASCAR for intentionally wrecking Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap of Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway.

Yes, the move gifted Dillon the win, thus clinching him a spot in the Cup Series playoffs, but he could pay a price for it, or perhaps something even more substantial. Freddie Kraft, spotter for Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 team, thinks it could be “win on Sunday, suspended on Wednesday” for Dillon.

Win on Sunday, suspended on Wednesday?

🤔😂

— Freddie Kraft (@FreddieKraft) August 12, 2024

NASCAR notably benched Chase Elliott for a race last season for intentionally dumping Denny Hamlin in the Coca-Cola 600. Will Dillon suffer the same fate as Elliott? Elton Sawyer, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition, said after the race Sunday a decision will be announced Tuesday.

“Our sport has been a contact sport for a long time,” Sawyer said. “You always hear, ‘Where’s the line, did someone cross the line?’ I would say the last lap was awful close to the line. We’ll take a look at all of the available resources from audio to video, listen to spotters, we’ll listen to crew chiefs and drivers and if anything rises to a level that we feel like we need to penalize then we’ll do that on Tuesday.”

Sawyer added: “We’ll look at all of the available resources, look at audio, look at video, look at SMT Data as we normally do in a situation like this and make a determination on Tuesday.”

Austin Dillon explains intentions on final lap at Richmond

Dillon had everything to gain by taking out Logano and Hamlin. He entered Sunday’s race 32nd in the points standings, well out of playoff contention. But now, Dillon is postseason bound. He will be a part of the 16-driver field barring NASCAR making a decision to take his win away.

“I saw the caution. I couldn’t believe it,” Dillon said after the race. “Don’t know why that had to happen, but I told myself, ‘Hey look, you’re in a position to win, stay focused.’ Pit crew did a good job, put me where I needed to be. The restart, I thought the No. 22 fired pretty early. And he was able to be even with me, getting into Turn 1. His car was a little better on the reds. When we went into Turn 3, at the end, I just had to go for it.

“I went in, sent it in there, got him loose up the track. And then I was able to down-shift and get left, and I saw the No. 11 come across. At that time it was a reaction, but yeah, it’s part of this deal. You win and you’re in, and that was my opportunity.”