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Hamlin is convinced that if NASCAR were to take away Austin Dillon’s victory in Sunday’s Cup race at Richmond, every other driver in the garage would unanimously agree it was justified.
Dillon’s controversial win came after he collided with both Joey Logano and Hamlin in the final two turns, securing his spot in NASCAR’s playoffs during a thrilling race.
On his Actions Detrimental podcast, titled ‘Integrity of the Sport on the Line,’ which aired Monday afternoon, Hamlin delved into the topic for over an hour.
When asked whether he believed other drivers would support the decision to strip Dillon of his win, he confidently stated, “Yes, 100% of them would say that was warranted.”
He added, “I can’t picture any driver thinking, ‘Well, the way he did it to make the playoffs was fair.’ No one would consider that fair.”
In every other series, we have established rules because it’s crucial to prevent drivers from having free rein to crash into others or cause harm. Such behavior cannot be tolerated, especially in the premier level of motorsports.
“The governing body must step up and make tough decisions. Ignoring clear instances of intentional wrecking is simply not an option.”
Hamlin shared that he had a “friendly discussion” with NASCAR after the race, alongside team owners Joe Gibbs and his wife Heather, team president Dave Alpern, and crew chief Chris Gabehart: “We expressed our views, and they assured us, as always, that they would review the situation.”
NASCAR typically announces any penalties from race weekends on the Tuesday following the event, giving them time to analyze camera footage, data, and radio communications.
Earlier in the podcast, Hamlin urged NASCAR to impose the appropriate penalties, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the rules that govern the sport’s conduct. He highlighted that NASCAR’s system of deterrents is designed to maintain order and prevent chaos on the racetrack.
When asked what kind of punishment should be imposed on Dillon, he stated, “That’s for them to decide. However, monetary fines or point deductions don’t seem to have any real impact. There needs to be a clear message that intentionally crashing another driver for victory is unacceptable.
“That was not a legitimate racing maneuver. It was a clear and deliberate act of wrecking, which violates the rules—double time. If we truly value the integrity of our sport and want to be taken seriously, we cannot ignore this. It’s crucial to address it now before it escalates.
“Allowing such blatant misconduct only paves the way for it to happen again. We need to be held accountable because, clearly, we’re not making the best decisions as drivers, which is why these rules exist to keep us in check on the track.”