Austin Dillon’s win at Richmond on Sunday came with its share of controversy. The Richard Childress Racing driver passed teammates Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin en route to his fifth Cup Series win. However, Dillon said it’s all part of the sport.
Over the years, there have been many occasions when NASCAR drivers have turned on each other to win. Dillon saw nothing wrong with his maneuvers which eventually gave his team their first Cup Series win of the season. Without the contact between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ryan Preece two laps later, Austin Dillon could be on his way to victory. However, the caution flag came out and the race went into overtime.
All the top car drivers, including Dillon, stopped. Although the driver no. 3 was the first to pit, Team Penske driver Joey Logano was able to pass him on the restart and take the lead. As the field entered Turn 3 and approached the finish line, Dillon took the turn in the No. 1 Mustang. 22 of Logano and the roll. Here’s what happened:
Austin Dillon won the race. Asked about his action towards the Ford driver during the post-race press conference, the 34-year-old said (as reported by journalist Matt Weaver):
“I saw Denny (Hamlin) and Joe put it in play that took people off the track to win. It was the first time in two years that I was able to win. I rode like that … I spun all four tires at the beginning.line finish. I’ve seen a lot of things over the years in NASCAR where people move people. It’s just part of our sport. »
Moments after Logano crashed into the outside wall, Denny Hamlin, who had started the race from the pole, was also spun by Dillon. However, Dillon said what happened to the Joe Gibbs Racing icon was not intentional.
“It was a reaction” – Austin Dillon on destroying Denny Hamlin
Seconds after Logano went off the track, Denny Hamlin pulled away from Austin Dillon and also ended up in the wall. Logano dropped to 19th, but Hamlin managed to keep up with Dillon and finish second. During a press conference, Dillon mentioned the same thing and suggested that his attack on Hamlin was not intentional. “I was just trying to catch him (Joey Logano). I went into Turn 3 in 5th gear and I went for him, trying to land … back on the track. I got the car down and the car went really well. when I did (Denny Hamlin) come, it was just kind of a reaction,” said Austin Dillon (via reporter Adam Check). “I just tried to free him (Joey Logano). The number 11 was more of a reaction; I wasn’t frozen at the moment because I was more looking for where 22 was… It was a reaction; c “It is. the best way to express it well,” he added.
With his win, Austin Dillon made the playoffs for the sixth time in his Stanley Cup career. Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano are also guaranteed to make the playoffs this year.
