Fans are anxiously awaiting NASCAR’s verdict following the controversial incidents at Richmond Raceway. Austin Dillon, who won his first Cup Series race in nearly two years, not only sent Joey Logano into the wall on the last lap, but also spun Denny Hamlin on his way to the checkered flag. And he’s not the only driver in hot water after the Cook Out 400, as Joey Logano, clearly frustrated with the outcome of the race, was seen revving his engine as hard as he could in a crowded lane .
With NASCAR yet to make a decision, the sanctioning body faces the fury of fans who want to know more about the outcome of the race. From point deductions, with Dillon’s playoff spot on the line, to a hefty fine, speculation abounds as to where NASCAR could go before the action resumes in Michigan.
Could NASCAR Ruin Austin Dillon’s Party?
No one expected Austin Dillon to challenge for the win at Richmond Raceway, but the Richard Childress Racing driver found himself in uncharted territory. The driver of Chevrolet no. 3 had a comfortable three-second lead with just two laps to go, but a caution following a crash involving Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ryan Preece changed everything.
Dillon failed to get off to the best start in overtime, allowing Joey Logano to take the lead, but the 34-year-old wasn’t about to give up that easily. And the consequences? While trying to regain his position, Dillon found Logano’s No. 1. 22 Ford, which spun him. In the process, Denny Hamlin almost stole the lead, but no. 3 lapped the Joe Gibbs Racing driver in the final lap before taking the checkered flag.
After the race, a visibly upset Joey Logano was seen heading to Austin Dillon’s pit, revving his engine and aggressively spinning his tires in front of Dillon’s wife and child. The incident could also be reviewed by NASCAR, with a hefty fine on the horizon if the sanctioning body finds Joey Logano guilty of dangerous pit driving.
Speaking after the race, NASCAR Vice President Elton Sawyer told Bob Pockrass, “Our sport has been a contact sport for a long time. We always hear: “Where is the line?” Did someone cross the line? “I would say that the last time was terrible near the line, we look at all available sources, from audio to video, we listen to the spotters, we listen to the crew chiefs and the drivers and if anything. reach a level that we believe he should be penalized, we will do it on Tuesday. As of Tuesday, NASCAR’s reluctance to issue a ruling on the controversial incidents at Richmond Raceway did not sit well with fans.
According to journalist Jeff Gluck, the decision was delayed until Wednesday, with officials taking their time to comb through all the information they had before finalizing it. However, that didn’t stop fans from voicing their opinions about the delay on social media, with many expressing their disappointment at not getting a conclusion after the events of the Federation Auto Parts 400.
NASCAR’s delay in handing out the verdict gets a backlash
It didn’t take long for fans to make their voices heard as NASCAR’s delay in announcing their decision became public. According to one fan, the sanctioning body had a simple decision to make, with enough evidence available to reach a strong conclusion. Writing on X (also known as Twitter), the fan wrote: “Nothing to fix. The eye test, SMT, radio and post-race comments make it all quite obvious. The win prevented. Keep the trophy and the bag, lose the points and the playoff spot.
According to a fan, the delay of the sanctioning bodies in announcing their decision highlighted their incompetence. Emphasizing the need to draw quick conclusions on controversial incidents, the fan wrote: “If they cannot decide within 48 hours, even before leaving the track, forget the penalty if they are not. This is a problem technical complex.” never seen before.” Making it worse, another fan cynically commented, “You know something is pushed lmfao.” on Spotify, a fan expressed his opinion that the organization was looking for external validation to reach a decision after the Richmond Raceway controversy The fan wrote: “No, they just wanted to hear what everyone had to say on the podcast so they could form their own opinions.” You know NASCAR can’t do just one. »
Another fan expressed his lack of confidence in NASCAR’s handling of these issues, continuing: “NASCAR is like a specialty racing series that is slow to make decisions and always behind progress, and when they do changes or decisions, are only half right and too late.
Do you think Austin Dillon will be penalized for incidents at Richmond Raceway? Tell us in the comments!
