Bob Pockrass
FOX NASCAR Insider
RICHMOND, Va. — Austin Dillon snagged a spot within the 2024 NASCAR Cup Collection playoffs in controversial vogue as he wrecked each Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the ultimate lap Sunday at Richmond Raceway.
Dillon had a cushty lead when a warning got here out with two laps remaining, establishing a two-lap sprint to the end. Logano began beside Dillon and took the lead on the restart.
Within the ultimate two turns, Dillon acquired into the again of Logano, who spun. Dillon then darted down the observe as Hamlin ducked inside him and ended up clipping Hamlin in the suitable rear.
WILD FINISH! Austin Dillon secures checkered flag in time beyond regulation of Cook dinner Out 400
Getting into the race, Dillon was thirty second within the level standings in what has been a depressing yr. He now has a spot within the 16-driver playoffs.
“Wins get you into the subsequent spherical,” Dillon mentioned. “I did what I needed to do to cross the start-finish line first. … Lots of people lose their jobs as a result of they do not get to the start-finish line first.”
Hamlin did not really feel that reasoning ought to be sufficient of a motive to have officers make a no-call for what he felt was over-aggressive driving.
“We’ll by no means, ever get taken severely as a sport as a result of we’ve no actual officiating,” Hamlin mentioned.
Hamlin talked to NASCAR officers after the race. Previous to that, he mentioned the character of the NASCAR win-and-in playoff system creates such moments and selections for drivers to do issues that he views should not be allowed.
“We have gotten right here as a result of that is what we have arrange,” Hamlin mentioned. “We have arrange eliminations and playoffs and knockouts and one race for a championship. We’re making an attempt to fabricate these sort of moments, and once we do it and we glance foolish like tonight, the game has mud on its face.
“However I believe that there is in all probability folks in [NASCAR headquarters in] Daytona that love this s—, and so they’re those which are sending this sport backwards.”
Logano? Not joyful as properly.
“He is a bit of crap,” Logano mentioned. “He sucks. He sucked his entire profession. And now he will be within the playoffs. Good for him. I suppose.”
Joey Logano is upset with Austin Dillon’s time beyond regulation transfer to win the Cook dinner Out 400
Takeaways after a race the place Hamlin ended up second, adopted by Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain.
NASCAR To Assessment
NASCAR will overview the ultimate lap, together with radio transmission of Dillon’s spotter saying “run him down, wreck him.” Dillon mentioned he didn’t hear that directive.
“The final lap was terrible near the road,’ NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competitors Elton Sawyer mentioned. “We’ll check out all of the obtainable assets from audio to video — we’ll take heed to spotters, crew chiefs and drivers.
“If something rises to a stage that we predict we have to penalize, we’ll try this on Tuesday.”
NASCAR historically has not taken a win away within the days after the occasion.
“Traditionally, that hasn’t been our DNA to take races away, however that is to not say that going ahead that this would not begin a precedent,” Sawyer mentioned. “We’ll have to have a look at it.”
Elton Sawyer on attainable penalties for Austin Dillon
Dillon’s View
Dillon mentioned he meant to maneuver Logano after which simply reacted when Hamlin acquired beneath him.
“I used to be simply making an attempt to get to him,” Dillon mentioned about Logano. “I went into Flip 3 in fifth gear and drove in, tried to get him free, acquired him up the observe. I acquired the automotive downshifted, and the automotive truly turned fairly good after I did that.
“After I was coming again left, the 11 [of Hamlin] was coming. That was simply sort of a response. … I wasn’t lifting at that time as a result of I used to be extra the place the 22 was. When the 11 got here throughout, it was simply response.”
Dillon snapped a 68-race winless streak with the victory. The driving force of the No. 3 made well-known by Dale Earnhardt, Dillon’s efficiency is all the time beneath a highlight in driving with that quantity and along with his grandfather being group proprietor Richard Childress.
NASCAR Cup Collection: Cook dinner Out 400 highlights
“If he would have been main it, that 22 [of Loagno] would have moved him out of the way in which,” Childress mentioned. “The 11 [of Hamlin] would have moved him out of the way in which.
“Both of them would have carried out the identical factor. I’ve seen it earlier than.”
Logano, Hamlin pissed off
Logano mentioned he thought he had such a bonus on Dillon that he thought he would win the race.
“He simply drives in so onerous — clearly he did not make the flip,” Logano mentioned. “He hit me, after which the 11 [of Hamlin] was going to win the race. He had no intentions to race. I beat him honest and sq. on the restart, and he simply pulls a hen s— transfer.”
‘The place’s the Line?’ – Denny Hamlin questions NASCAR officiating after Cook dinner Out 400
Hamlin mentioned he thought he was going to complete third, however “I knew the three [of Dillon] was going to do one thing foolish.”
“I do not fault him as a result of he is utterly determined,” Hamlin mentioned. “He is thirtieth in factors. He jumps 20 spots in factors. … His season is saved.
“Now he’ll should pay repercussions down the road for this and you understand, but it surely’s so value it from his standpoint as a result of there are not any guardrails or guidelines that say, ‘Do not try this.'”
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent a long time overlaying motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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