NASCAR says Dillon’s controversial Richmond win stands, but his automatic playoff berth has been revoked. This is true both the driver and owner playoffs.
Joey Logano passed Dillon for the lead to start the two-lap overtime and looked like he would hang on for the win when Dillon drove deep into Turn 3 on the final lap and knocked Logano into the outside wall.
Moments later, Denny Hamlin came up on the inside of Dillon to challenge for the lead and got turned himself as Dillon claimed the win – his first in nearly two years.
Dillon was 32nd in points before taking the checkered flag at Richmond. Several drivers condemned the move, and Hamlin publicly called for the win to be taken away. Should Dillon win again, he can still make the playoffs.
This is an unprecedented move by the sanctioning body. NASCAR previously stripped a playoff spot from Martin Truex Jr. during the 2013 season after the ‘SpinGate’ scandal at Richmond. Both Dillon and team have been docked 25 points.
They’ve also suspended Dillon’s spotter Brandon Benesch for the next three points-paying events, through Darlington, September 1, 2024. Benesch was on the radio shouting “wreck him” just before Hamlin was sent into the outside wall.
Joey Logano, Team Penske, Ford Mustang
Photo by: NASCAR Media
Logano was irate after Dillon intentionally wrecked him, railing against the RCR driver in post-race interviews. Before that, he pulled down pitroad and did a burn out in front of the No. 3 stall.
Several people, including members of the Dillon family had to quickly out of the way. A NASCAR official furiously approached Logano’s car as it finally screeched to a halt. That has resulted in a $50,000 fine for Logano.
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