Dale Earnhardt Jr. has expressed his belief that Austin Dillon is unlikely to face any penalties. The Richard Childress Racing driver has come under scrutiny after colliding with Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, which helped him secure a spot in the playoffs.
Dillon was in the lead during the overtime restart, but Logano quickly took control, crossing the white flag as the frontrunner and aiming for his second Cup victory of the season. However, just before the conclusion of the 408-lap race, Dillon crashed into Logano at the final corner, then abruptly changed lanes and collided with Hamlin, allowing him to break a two-year winless streak.
NASCAR insider Jeff Gluck noted that a penalty could still be on the table, even though Dillon’s victory remains intact. Yet, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is not expecting any repercussions for Dillon’s actions at Richmond Raceway and stated he would be taken aback if a penalty were imposed.
“Honestly, I don’t think Austin will be penalized for anything, even though you could argue he right-hooked the 11. There have been other similar situations that didn’t result in penalties, so it should be the same for Austin,” Earnhardt Jr. mentioned during the Dale Jr. Download on YouTube (28:45).
Dale Earnhardt Jr. expressed a clear distinction in his views regarding the actions of two drivers following a dramatic race at Richmond Raceway. While he dismissed the notion that there would be any repercussions for the RCR (Richard Childress Racing) driver, he held a starkly different opinion about Joey Logano’s behavior after the race concluded. Junior firmly believes that Logano is “going to face a major penalty” due to his actions on pit road, which he deemed inappropriate and indicative of his frustration.
The context of this situation stems from a heart-wrenching moment for Logano, who was just moments away from securing a victory when disaster struck. As he was on the verge of crossing the finish line in first place, an incident involving Austin Dillon abruptly altered the course of the race. Dillon’s crash sent Logano’s #22 Ford slamming into the outside wall, effectively ending his chances of winning and forcing him to watch as Dillon celebrated his unexpected victory.
In a display of raw emotion and frustration, Logano, along with several other drivers, made their way to the pit lane after the race. He parked his Mustang directly in front of Dillon’s family and the crew of the #3 car, revving the engine in a show of defiance. Logano then performed a burnout, a maneuver often associated with victory celebrations, but in this case, it was a clear expression of his disappointment and anger at the turn of events. After this display, he finally made his way to his designated spot, but not before leaving a lasting impression on those who witnessed the scene.
Earnhardt Jr.’s conviction that Logano will face significant consequences for his actions reflects the seriousness with which the NASCAR community views driver conduct, especially in the wake of high-stakes races where emotions run high. The contrast between his views on the RCR driver and Logano underscores the complexities of racing dynamics and the expectations placed on drivers in the aftermath of intense competition.
