Austin Dillon expressed no remorse over his controversial victory in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond, where he collided with both Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin to secure his spot in the playoffs. The aggressive maneuvers sparked outrage from both Logano and Hamlin.
Dillon, who has had a challenging season with Richard Childress Racing, described his win as “emotional” during an exclusive interview with FOX Sports’ Kevin Harvick. He emphasized the significance of the win for his team and family, saying, “You want it for these people so bad… they’ve stuck with me, stuck behind us.”
As the race neared its conclusion, Dillon, in second place, bumped leader Logano, causing him to spin out. In the ensuing chaos, Hamlin attempted to pass Dillon but got clipped, which helped Dillon secure the win.
Dillon explained his actions during the race, noting, “It was like, whatever it takes to get [Logano] up the track… I think I caught him right in the edge of the right rear.” He acknowledged the intensity of the moment, stressing it was purely a reaction as he aimed for the finish line.
However, Logano and Hamlin’s reactions were markedly different. Hamlin criticized both Dillon and NASCAR’s playoff system for allowing such aggressive tactics, while Logano confronted Dillon’s team right after the race, expressing his frustration with tire spins near Dillon’s family.
Dillon commented on Logano’s post-race remarks, stating, “He threw some low blows in there… but the two guys that I got into it with have done that a lot that I’ve learned from.” He argued that Logano, who has often promoted aggressive racing, became a victim of the same tactics he has utilized in the past.
Prepared for potential retaliation from Logano on the track, Dillon stated, “If he retaliates, he retaliates.” He also shared advice from his grandfather: “You might kick a dog, but he’ll bite back.”
NASCAR is expected to announce any penalties for Dillon in the coming days, with the possibility of fines or other disciplinary measures, though a reversal of his win seems unlikely after multiple days of assessment.