This is the first time NASCAR has stripped a winner of a playoff berth for wrecking others in order to win. Austin Dillon was 32nd in points heading into Sunday’s race at Richmond, and he needed a win to secure his spot in the playoffs.
However, NASCAR decided to keep Dillon’s win intact, meaning he will not be eligible for the playoffs for that win. If he wins one of the next three races, he will be able to get in that way.
Other Penalties NASCAR Hands Out
Not content with that, NASCAR docked Dillon 25 points, dropping him to 31st place in the standings, and suspended Dillon’s spotter Brandon Benesch for the next three races.
Additionally, Joey Logano was fined $50,000 for engaging in a burnout on pit road, endangering the safety of Austin Dillon’s friends and family as well as the friends and sponsors gathered around the pit box.
So it is clear that a driver going for it by any means necessary is more detrimental to the sport than nearly running over people on pit road. This sets a new confusing standard in the NASCAR world which drivers will have no clue how to adhere to.
NASCAR has in the past fined drivers and suspended drivers for egregious actions. Matt Kenseth was suspended for two races in 2025 for intentionally wrecking Joey Logano. Kyle Busch has been suspended for wrecking Ron Hornaday in the truck race that cost Hornaday the championship in 2011.
There is a precedent for suspending drivers for intentionally wrecking drivers. However, this is a first in NASCAR for intentionally wrecking others for a win. The closest equivalent is Cole Custer and John Hunter Nemechek in Canada in 2016. There was no significant penalty handed down by NASCAR for Nemechek’s actions.
Where’s The Line
With the punishment handed down the question now becomes what is acceptable? The inconsistency of NASCAR continues to be detrimental to the sport. Ricky Stenhouse Jr was fined $75k for fighting in the infield of a short track with Kyle Busch who intentionally wrecked Stenhouse and received zero punishment. Joey Logano was fined $50k for nearly running over spectators on a pit road.
Now that NASCAR has established the line following Richmond, drivers and fans are left to wonder once more where the line is between trying too hard to win and what constitutes “acceptable contact.”
Daniel Hemic and AJ Allmendinger got physical in 2021 while vying for the Xfinity Series championship. Joey Logano used the chrome horn to move Martin Truex Jr. at Martinsville in 2022.
