NASCAR insider explains if Austin Dillon can lose playoff spot but keep Richmond win

As the NASCAR world waits to see what the organization will do about a controversial finish at Richmond Raceway involving Austin Dillon and Joey Logano, the rulebook is being broken out to determine what potential avenues NASCAR could take.

FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass has been peppered with questions about whether Dillon could keep his win but lose the playoff spot associated with it, and he provided the exact rule from NASCAR.

“Race finishes must be unencumbered by violation(s) of the NASCAR Rules or other action(s) detrimental to stock car auto racing or NASCAR as determined in the sole discretion of NASCAR,” the rulebook reads.

In other words, if Dillon’s driving is deemed detrimental to racing or NASCAR, he could be docked his playoff spot.

That certainly seems in the realm of possibility, given how things unfolded on Sunday.

Austin Dillon seemed poised for a relatively pain-free win, sporting about a three-second lead over the field with two laps to go. No one appeared to be catching him, though Daniel Suarez made a hard push on the option tires.

Then a caution came out for a wreck involving Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ryan Preece, sending the race to overtime.

Dillon didn’t get the best restart in overtime, allowing Logano to clear him and take the lead. Dillon eyed up the competition and decided a little contact was his best course of action, so he rear-ended Logano and sent him spinning.

As Austin Dillon collected himself and got back to it, Denny Hamlin nearly stole the lead from the inside. Dillon also got into him and spun him out, taking him out in the final turn just before the finish line. Dillon would win the race.

Logano was livid after the fact, opening his throttle on pit road and then getting out of his car and glaring at Dillon.

The talk in the sport since has been about whether what Dillon did — by his own admission — should be tolerated. And NASCAR’s eventual ruling, which is expected to be handed down on Wednesday, will be quite fascinating as a result.