NASCAR’s comeback after a two-week hiatus was overshadowed by controversy as Austin Dillon’s bold maneuvers resulted in a tumultuous finish at the Cook Out 400 in Richmond. Dillon’s victory ignited backlash, with Kenny Wallace among those voicing concerns about NASCAR’s slow response to the incident.
On the final lap, Dillon collided with Logano, sending him crashing into the wall, and then tangled with Hamlin in the aftermath. Despite the chaos, Dillon was permitted to revel in his win in Victory Lane while NASCAR officials continue to scrutinize the contentious conclusion.
Wallace, 60, feels that NASCAR squandered the opportunity to tackle the issue right away and should not postpone decisions for days following the event. In a recent video, he expressed his discontent with the organization’s delayed reaction.
“NASCAR missed a chance here. If they truly wanted to resolve this, they should have acted on Monday night. You can’t wait two or three days to address it. This approach is simply wrong,” Wallace stated.
“That’s not acceptable. You can’t just pop up two or three days later and say, ‘Hold on, let me finish my cigar. Now, let’s figure out what to do after we’ve had some time to think.’ He’s already celebrated in Victory Lane,” he remarked.
Wallace emphasized that NASCAR should have set clear rules right away if they were serious about tackling the situation. He believes NASCAR made a mistake by allowing Dillon to keep the win.
“You all have crossed the line… They missed their chance because if they truly wanted to take action, they would have done it immediately. You can’t let him bask in Victory Lane and then snatch the win away. So, the victory stands,” he stated.
Wallace also took issue with NASCAR’s handling of Dillon’s spotter, who was caught instructing the Richard Childress Racing driver to take out other competitors.
NASCAR has decided to suspend the spotter after he was heard saying, “Wreck them, wreck them” over the radio. This statement clearly puts him in a compromising position, as it serves as self-incrimination, according to officials.
In the aftermath of the race, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Competition, Elton Sawyer, addressed the media, noting that Dillon’s behavior was “awfully close to the line.” He mentioned that they would thoroughly review all available footage, both audio and video, to assess whether a penalty is warranted.
“It all unfolded quickly, but I believe that, upon review, it’s teetering right on the edge,” Sawyer remarked.
He also pointed out that while NASCAR has traditionally refrained from taking away race victories, this situation might prompt a reevaluation of that stance moving forward. NASCAR typically imposes penalties for deliberate wrecks but has not been known to revoke wins.
