BROOKLYN, Mich. –– Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last seven days, you’re probably aware of what’s been going on in the NASCAR world this week.
But in case you’ve been under said rock, you’ve missed a lot.
Austin Dillon won last Sunday’s (Aug. 11) Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway in controversial fashion after sailing his car into the final corner fast enough to spin leader Joey Logano, before coming back down the track and catching Denny Hamlin‘s right rear, putting the latter in the wall.
The win cemented a playoff spot for Dillon, who entered Richmond way down in 32nd in points. That was until Wednesday (Aug. 14), when NASCAR stripped Dillon of his playoff eligibility while letting him keep the win.
In addition, Dillon and Richard Childress Racing were docked 25 driver and owner points, and Dillon’s spotter Brandon Benesch, who was heard on the radio telling Dillon to wreck Hamlin, was suspended three races.
RCR made it very clear that it plans to appeal the penalty.
While Dillon and RCR feel the penalty is unjust, the same cannot be said for his fellow competitors.
Speaking with reporters prior to practice and qualifying at Michigan International Speedway, drivers voiced their support in penalizing Dillon. The big theme of reasoning was that if NASCAR had let it stand, then it would send a message that driving over-aggressively is okay and would open a can of worms when it came to close battles for wins.
“I’m happy,” said Christopher Bell. “I’m happy that he isn’t in the playoffs, because I do think that … if [NASCAR] wouldn’t have said anything, then it would have opened the can of worms that’s saying ‘Hey, anything goes.’ So I’m happy that they did tell us that that’s not gonna be accepted.”
“I’m happy they did something,” echoed Bell’s teammate Martin Truex Jr. “I just don’t agree with that kind of racing. I understand the format and everybody just blames that. You still have to drive the car.
“Anyone can drive through the guy in front of them. Anyone can do it. Takes no skill, no talent. At all. So I’m glad they did something so guys will be a little more hesitant to do that.”