NASCAR has laid the hammer down on [autotag]Austin Dillon[/autotag] and Richard Childress Racing. On Wednesday afternoon, NASCAR announced that it has revoked Dillon’s automatic playoff berth due to his actions at the end of the Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway. The No. 3 team will keep the win, but it can’t be used for the Driver’s or Owner’s Championship.
This is a massive decision that will change the outcome of who makes the 2024 NASCAR playoffs. Instead of being locked in, Dillon will have to win again to be one of the 16 drivers fighting for a Cup Series championship. Dillon and the No. 3 team have also been penalized 25 driver and owner points due to the incident.
Chris Buescher and Ross Chastain are now tied for the final playoff spot in the Cup Series, but with three races left, the pressure will be on Dillon to find his way back into the hunt. It will take a win at Michigan, Daytona, or Darlington, which are tracks that Dillon has run well. As of now, Richard Childress Racing has not appealed, but it seems likely to happen at some point.
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