NASCAR penalizes Austin Dillon, Brandon Benesch, revokes playoff berth after Richmond win
NASCAR has decided that it will penalize Austin Dillon for his actions on the track on the final lap of the Cook Out 400 at Richmond. After wrecking both Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the last corner of the last lap, officials have revoked Dillon’s automatic playoff berth, according to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports.
Dillon has also been docked 25 points. His spotter, Brandon Benesch, has been issued a three-race suspension. Benesch was heard telling Dillon over the radio “wreck him” in reference to Denny Hamlin as the two approached the start-finish line.
In the aftermath of the race on Sunday it felt like there was a shift. There was a certain mood to the postrace interviews and ceremonies. Now we know that NASCAR felt the same way and is punishing Dillon for his reckless driving on the last lap.
NASCAR drew a line in the sand with this decision.
In that moment, Dillon felt he was simply doing what he had to do. He entered the race 32nd in the points standings, well out of playoff contention. NASCAR, however, has stepped in and won’t recognize Dillon’s victory as an automatic playoff berth.
NASCAR brings the hammer down on Austin Dillon
That should please Logano, Hamlin and many others in the garage who felt what Dillon did was unacceptable.
“In a major sport because we like to put ourselves in an upper echelon of sports in the world, you have officiating for a reason,” Hamlin said on Monday’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast. “I just don’t know why we’ve allowed it to get this bad over time. And I believe you have a responsibility as a sanctioning body to set an example not only for your competitors but the people coming through the ranks to say, ‘This is how we professionally race. This is how racing goes.’
“… Let me ask a question: If this is not over the line, then what is over the line? … He did not try to make a corner. He just drove until he wrecked him [Logano]. Kept going until he wrecked him.”
With Dillon’s playoff spot revoked, drivers near the playoff cutline can breathe a sigh of relief — for now. Both Ross Chastain and Chris Buescher fell out of playoff spots due to Dillon’s victory and Bubba Wallace finishing P4.
With three regular season races remaining, the race is back on for the four remaining playoff sports.