What’s next for RCR and Dillon after first appeal fails?

NASCAR sent a clear message last week to drivers that there are impressive consequences for your actions, especially for Austin Dillon who was stripped of his playoff eligibility after plowing through the cars of Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin to win the Cup race at Richmond. But Dillon and the Richard Childress Racing team don’t agree and had immediately moved to appeal the decision, only for a small three-person panel to reduce the suspension of Dillon’s spotter from three races to one. He was the one who called for Dillon to “wreck him” over the radio.

The panel explained their ruling through the following statement: “NASCAR represents elite motorsports and, as such, its drivers are expected to demonstrate exemplary conduct if its series’ championships are to be validated. In this case, the ‘line’ was crossed.”

RCR was obviously displeased with the outcome, as regaining their playoff spot remains a top priority. They released a statement, saying how they are “disappointed in the results of today’s hearing in front of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel. We respect the NASCAR appeals process, but we do not believe that today’s outcome reflects the facts presented.”

The plan for RCR is to appeal the decision further, going to NASCAR’s Final Appeal Officer. This is their last chance to get the punishment reduced or overturned. However, history shows that this to be unlikely. 

Bill Mullis, owner of Langley Speedway, will hear the case. In the first appeal, the burden of proof is on NASCAR, but in the final appeal, the burden or proof is on the team to explain how the sanctioning body was in the wrong.

So what case can RCR make? They could argue the unprecedented nature of the penalty, as Denny Hamlin noted in a recent podcast. If the issue comes down to right-hooking Hamlin into the outside wall, maybe they can talk about recent incidents with Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott, who were both suspended for intentionally turning rivals into the wall. Elliott’s incident was during the regular season and he was actually granted a waiver, remaining eligible for the playoffs. However, neither of those incidents involved winning a race.

RCR could also pick apart NASCAR’s comments/decisions immediately after the race, but the rulebook allows the sanctioning body some wiggle room to dish out penalties at…