NASCAR in a shocking turn of events has revoked Austin Dillon’s playoff bid after his win at Richmond on Sunday. Dillon was 32nd in points going into Sunday, needing a win to secure his spot in the playoffs. NASCAR has decided to keep Austin Dillon’s win intact but he will not be eligible for the playoffs for that win. If he however wins one of the last three races he will be able to get in that way. This is a first for NASCAR to strip a winner of a playoff berth due to wrecking others for a win.
Other Penalties NASCAR Hands Out
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NASCAR wasn’t done there, They have also suspended Dillon’s Spotter Brandon Benesch for the next three races and docked Dillon 25 points leaving him 31st in the points. Joey Logano was also fined $50k for doing a burnout on pit road putting Austin Dillon’s friends and family in danger and other family friends and sponsors around the pit box. So it is clear that a driver going for it by any means necessary is more detrimental to the sport than nearly running over people on pit road. This sets a new confusing standard in the NASCAR world which drivers will have no clue how to adhere to.
NASCAR has in the past fined drivers and suspended drivers for egregious actions. Matt Kenseth was suspended for two races in 2025 for intentionally wrecking Joey Logano. Kyle Busch has been suspended for wrecking Ron Hornaday in the truck race that cost Hornaday the championship in 2011. There is a precedent for suspending drivers for intentionally wrecking drivers. However, this is a first in NASCAR for intentionally wrecking others for a win. The closest equivalent is Cole Custer and John Hunter Nemechek in Canada in 2016. There was no significant penalty handed down by NASCAR for Nemechek’s actions.
Where’s The Line
With the punishment handed down the question now becomes what is acceptable? The inconsistency of NASCAR continues to be detrimental to the sport. Ricky Stenhouse Jr was fined $75k for fighting in the infield of a short track with Kyle Busch who intentionally wrecked Stenhouse and received zero punishment. Joey Logano was fined $50k for nearly running over spectators on a pit road.
Now NASCAR has set where the line is after Richmond, is the line Daniel Hemic in 2021 got physical with AJ Allmendinger for the Xfinity series championship. Is the line Joey Logano when he used the chrome horn to move Martin Truex Jr at Martinsville in 2022. Once again drivers and fans are left wondering where is the line what is trying too hard to win and what is “acceptable contact.”
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