Austin Dillon appeal

Austin Dillon's controversial victory at Richmond Raceway has been upheld as non-qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs after an appeal by Richard Childress Racing (RCR) was denied. The National Motorsports Final Appeal Officer, Bill Mullis, confirmed that Dillon's actions, which involved intentionally wrecking Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano, constituted a rule violation, thus revoking his playoff eligibility despite allowing him to keep the win and associated prize money. RCR was also penalized with a deduction of 25 points in both the drivers’ and owners’ standings, and Dillon's spotter received a suspension reduced from three races to one. With one race left, Dillon must win at Darlington to secure a playoff spot, as he currently sits in 29th place in the standings. Dillon defended his actions as part of the competitive nature of NASCAR, while officials deemed them detrimental to the sport. The outcome impacts RCR significantly, potentially costing them millions due to NASCAR's charter system payouts based on performance.