NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Dillon headed to victory lane after a controversial move on Joey Logano in the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. After the race, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series driver Ryan Vargas compared Dillon’s win to a similar situation in the 2010 Xfinity Series.
Dillon drives the No. 1 Chevrolet. 1. 3 for Richard Childress Racing, competing full-time in the Cup Series. The 34-year-old has five Cup wins in a 14-year career. In addition, he is also the 2013 Xfinity Series Champion and the 2010 Camping World Series Champion. By the last extra lap at Richmond, Dillon was in P2 behind Penske driver Logano.
He made contact with the rear of Logano’s Ford, spinning it out and sending it crashing into the wall. This move forced Dillon to slow down, giving JGR driver Denny Hamlin a free pass. Then, as Hamlin passed, Dillon made contact with car # 11. This also sent Hamlin into the wall and Dillon took P1 just before the finish line. Here’s a look at the controversial last-lap incident (via NASCAR on NBC):
Shortly after the finish, Vargas shared a seat on Gateway International Raceway. Edwards was assessed a $25,000 penalty for the incident and a deduction of 60 points from the drivers’ standings. Keselowski and Edwards were later placed on probation after the track incident between them. Here’s a look at the incident, similar to the one we saw in Richmond on Sunday:
Austin Dillon’s win at Richmond was his first top-5 finish of the season. With this race win, he jumped from P32 to P26 in the drivers’ standings, essentially securing a spot in the 2024 playoffs.
‘Covered by controversial move’ – Ryan Vargas comments on Austin Dillon’s controversial Cook Out 400 win
RCR driver Austin Dillon and JGR driver Denny Hamlin engaged in a fierce battle late in the race. However, Dillon made a risky move before he could cruise to victory. Separately, NASCAR introduced two sets of optional tires with more grip but higher wear than the primary tires at Richmond, as well as six sets of normal Goodyear primary tires. Vargas commented on the strategic choices of the Cook Out 400 drivers in the new circumstances and also shared his thoughts on the end of the race. Vargas wrote about X:
“What worries me the most is that tonight’s race was really the most exciting strategic race I’ve seen in years. This stock tire worked wonders. It will now be obscured by a…suspicious change. hell »
Trackhouse Racing driver crew chief Daniel Suarez requested that all four tires be replaced with the optional tire after the end of the first stage. Suarez was then seen passing his opponents on the short oval, fighting for a place in the top three. However, eventual tire wear dropped him to 10th at Richmond.
