After Austin Dillon’s contentious victory at the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 in Richmond, NASCAR’s Vice President of Competition, Elton Sawyer, addressed the media regarding the dramatic finish that took place during the final lap. Dillon’s aggressive maneuvers, which resulted in crashes involving Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, have sparked considerable debate about their legality.
Sawyer acknowledged that while Dillon’s actions were perilously close to being deemed unacceptable, they also align with the historical nature of NASCAR as a contact sport. “I thought the last lap was something that our sport has dealt with for a long time. We often discuss where the line is and whether someone crossed it. The final lap was definitely near that line,” he stated.
Dillon’s victory marked his first trophy win since the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season and propelled him from 32nd to a secured spot in the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Given the circumstances surrounding the win, NASCAR plans to scrutinize the incident thoroughly. Sawyer confirmed that they will review all available resources, including video and audio footage, to assess if Dillon’s actions warranted any penalties.
Should any penalties arise from the final lap’s incidents, they are expected to be announced early in the week. “We will examine everything, from audio and video to spotter communications and interactions between crew chiefs and drivers. If we find anything that necessitates action, we will address it on Tuesday,” Sawyer added.