[autotag]Austin Dillon[/autotag] was cruising to a shocking victory at Richmond Raceway before a caution with two laps to go made it more difficult. Dillon won the race off pit road, lost the lead on the restart, and the unthinkable occurred. The driver of the No. 3 car dumped Joey Logano in the final corner and didn’t move up the track exiting Turn 4, dumping Denny Hamlin for the win.
Following the event, Dillon climbed out of his No. 3 car and discussed whether his moves at the end of the race were fair with his season on the line. Dillon was unsure but did admit that he needed to do whatever it took to enter victory lane.
“I don’t know, man,” Dillon said. “It’s been two years. This is the first car I’ve had with a shot to win. I felt like with two to go, we were the fastest car. Obviously had to have a straightaway. Wrecked the guy. I hate to do that, but sometimes you just got to have it.”
AUSTIN DILLON SLAMS INTO JOEY LOGANO!
HE WINS AT RICHMOND. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/6fCmEzG6WC
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 12, 2024
“I got to thank the good Lord above. It’s been tough for the last two years, man. I care about [Richard Childress Racing], these fans, my wife. This is my first for my baby girl. It means a lot. I hate it, but I had to do it…Whatever it takes. Whatever it takes.”
Dillon drew criticism from Logano and Hamlin following the event, but the record books won’t change. Barring something drastic from NASCAR during the week, Dillon is now officially locked into the 2024 NASCAR playoffs and has his first win since 2022. Dillon and Richard Childers Racing needed this victory, as the driver of the No. 3 car indeed did whatever it took to win.
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