NASCAR has issued penalties to two of its Cup Series drivers, Austin Dillon and Joey Logano, after a wild overtime finish at Richmond Raceway.
Dillon made contact with both Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap of overtime, wrecking them both before winning the race. Logano then drove down the inside lane of pit road near officials and a contingent of people from Richard Childress Racing. He throttled up as his damaged car swerved toward them.
According to the penalty report, Dillon will keep the win from Richmond. However, this win will no longer count toward playoff eligibility. Additionally, NASCAR has taken away 25 driver points and 25 owner points from Dillon and the No. 3 team.
NASCAR stated that Dillon violated Section 12.3.2.1.b of the NASCAR Rule Book. This rule states that: "Race finishes must be unencumbered by violation(s) of the NASCAR Rules or other action(s) detrimental to stock car auto racing or NASCAR as determined in the sole discretion of NASCAR."
Logano also received a behavioral penalty from NASCAR for his actions on pit road. He received a $50,000 fine for violating Sections 4.4.B&D: NASCAR Member Conduct.
Richard Childress Racing is very disappointed in NASCAR’s penalty against the No. 3 team. We do not agree with the decision that was made and plan to appeal.
— RCR (@RCRracing) August 14, 2024
Dillon's spotter, Brandon Benesch also received a penalty after Sunday's race. According to the penalty report, Benesch has received a three-race suspension. He will be eligible to return to the No. 3 team after trips to Michigan, Daytona, and Darlington.
Audio circulated on social media after the race of Benesch yelling "Wreck him" as Dillon hooked Hamlin into the outside wall.
"I think in all due respect to the appeal process, we looked at this and the totality of everything that happened as you enter Turn 3 and as the cars got to the start/finish line," said SVP of Competition Elton Sawyer, per NASCAR Media.
"So, as we look through all of that data, we came to the conclusion that a line had been crossed. Our sport has been based going for many, many years, forever, on good, hard racing. Contact has been acceptable. We felt like, in this case, that the line was crossed."
With Dillon losing his playoff eligibility, there are now four spots remaining in the 16-driver field. Chris Buescher is on the positive side of the cutline, but he remains in a tie with Ross Chastain on points. Buescher has a tiebreaker over Chastain.