By AMANDA VINCENT
Austin Dillon and his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing team in the NASCAR Cup Series team lost its appeal to National Motorsports Final Appeal Officer Bill Mullis on Monday. Monday’s appeal was Dillon’s final chance to have the penalties from his win of the Cook Out 400 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway on Aug. 11 overturned.
“The data presented today from SMT and IDAS systems indicate that, more likely than not, a rule violation did occur at Richmond Raceway on 8-11-24 by the No. 3 RCR car on the last lap of the race. (Rule 12.3.2.1.B Eligibility, race finishes must be unencumbered by violations of the NASCAR rules or other actions detrimental to stock car auto racing or NASCAR as determined in the sole discretion of NASCAR.),” a statement from Mullis read upon announcement of his decision.
En route to the Richmond win, Dillon wrecked Joey Logano and hooked Denny Hamlin on the final lap of the race. Because of the timing of the resulting caution, Hamlin finished second, but Logano wound up outside the top-20 at the checkered flag.
NASCAR allowed Dillon to keep the win, but he won’t be able to use it to make the playoffs. He also was docked 25 points.
Dillon’s spotter Brandon Benesch, originally, was suspended for three races for instructing Dillon to “wreck him” before the contact with Hamlin. The National Motorsports Appeals Panel reduced the suspension to one race after hearing the first appeal on Aug. 21. The Panel upheld Dillon’s penalties.
Benesch already has heard his suspension.
Dillon is 29th in the points standings, heading into the regular-season finale at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on Sunday. The Richmond win is his only win of the season.
