TC Daily Pit Stop: Austin Dillon Takes Controversial Win at Richmond; Elton Sawyer Weighs in on Finish; Truex Blows Engine; Busch Cuts Wrap Off Wrist
TC Daily Pit Stop: Austin Dillon Takes Controversial Win at Richmond; Elton Sawyer Weighs in on Finish; Truex Blows Engine; Busch Cuts Wrap Off Wrist
TC Daily Pit Stop: Monday, August 12, 2024
Austin Dillon Takes Surprise Victory at Richmond in Controversial Fashion
Austin Dillon entered Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond 32nd in points. But in a win and you’re in Playoff format, points position no longer matters. And Dillon found himself in the lead and running away from the field in the closing laps of Sunday’s race. Then, a caution came out with two laps to go, which sent the race to overtime and put Dillon’s win into question.
On the ensuing restart, Joey Logano worked his way around Dillon for the race lead, and with his Playoff hopes looking to be dwindling, Dillon decided to do whatever it took to win the race. He launched from about four car lengths back to spin Logano from the lead in Turn 4, and as Denny Hamlin attempted to skirt by down low for the win, Dillon hooked Hamlin in the right rear.
Dillon won, but he did so in controversial fashion.
“I don’t know, man. It’s been two years. This is the first car I’ve had with a shot to win,” said Dillon. “I felt like with two to go, we were the fastest car. Obviously had to have a straightaway. Wrecked the guy. I hate to do that, but sometimes you just got to have it.”
RACE RECAP
Race Resources:
NASCAR’s Elton Sawyer on Richmond Finish: “Our Sport Has Been a Contact Sport for a Long Time”
After a controversial finish at Richmond, which saw Austin Dillon punch his ticket into the Playoff field, NASCAR’s Elton Sawyer addressed the legitimacy of the win by saying, “Our sport has been a contact sport for a long time.” While Sawyer admitted the finish was close to the line, he’s not sure if Dillon crossed the line on his path to victory lane.
Sawyer explained that NASCAR will look at all resources at its disposal to determine if Dillon and the No. 3 team should be penalized. If any penalties stem from the finish, they’ll be announced early in the week.
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ATYL: A Win and In | Playoff Format Questioned (Richmond Analysis)
The win and you’re in format of the NASCAR Playoffs led to a finish that Joey Logano called, “Chickensh*t,” on Sunday evening at Richmond. Austin Dillon plowed through two competitors to lock into the 2024 Playoffs. Now, the Playoff format is under scrutiny yet again.
Were the moves on the last lap fair or foul? And should NASCAR address the Playoff format? Taylor Kitchen weighs in on it all in Above The Yellow Line.
WATCH ATYL
Video: Austin Dillon Spins Logano, Crashes Hamlin to Win at Richmond
WATCH VIDEO
Video: Martin Truex Jr. Done for the Day With Blown Engine on Lap 251
WATCH VIDEO
Video: Kyle Busch Cuts Wrap Off Wrist Under Caution at Richmond
