CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Richard Childress Racing's last attempt to have a penalty overturned for Austin Dillon's controversial Richmond win was quashed by a decision from the National Motorsports Appeals Board (NMAB).
The board's final appeals officer upheld the penalty against Dillon, which eliminated his win from counting toward playoff eligibility.
“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," Bill Mullis, the final appeals officer, said. "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.”
Dillon won the Cook Out 400 at Richmond after wrecking Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the last lap. NASCAR stripped the win from counting toward playoff eligibility a few days after the race. The race win still stands for Dillon even with the playoff penalty.
The win would have punched Dillon to the playoffs from 32nd in the point standings if NASCAR allowed the victory to count toward the playoffs. The penalty forces Dillon into a must-win situation at Darlington on Sunday to make the playoffs. Dillon currently sits 29th in the points.
Dillon's spotter Brandon Benesch was suspended for three races for the incident. RCR's first appeal resulted in Benesch's suspension being reduced to one race. The NMAB upheld the playoff eligibility penalty, though.