NASCAR: Austin Dillon extends odd record with controversial Richmond win

As a seasoned gamer who has witnessed countless races unfold before my eyes, I must say that the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway was a rollercoaster ride of emotions! Austin Dillon, a driver known for his resilience and determination, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in an unexpected turn of events.

During the final lap of the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on Sunday night, which was extended into overtime, the car that had primarily been a tractor throughout the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season transformed unexpectedly into a bulldozer. This transformation led to Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon securing his fifth career Cup Series win and his first since August 2022.

Initially, it seemed like the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet was destined for a win, given his strong progress on the track. However, a contentious sequence of events on the final lap led to him crashing both Team Penske’s Joey Logano and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin. This unfortunate incident secured him a victory and a place in this year’s 16-driver playoff bracket.

Apart from the scheduled two cautions, the race at the 4-turn, 0.75-mile Richmond oval in Virginia progressed without any interruptions until JTG Daugherty Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. collided with Ryan Preece from Stewart-Haas Racing in turn one.

The incident occurred during lap 398 out of the required 399 laps, before the white flag signaling the end of the 400-lap race was supposed to be shown. This necessitated an additional overtime restart. At that moment, Dillon was leading comfortably, but Logano outperformed him during the subsequent restart.

AUSTIN DILLON SLAMS INTO JOEY LOGANO!
HE WINS AT RICHMOND. #NASCAR
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 12, 2024

On Sunday evening, Dillon, driving Chevrolet No. 3, was undoubtedly the car to outshine others, and he seized the opportunity, winning the race. The manner in which he claimed victory has sparked intense discussions within the racing community following the sport’s resumption post-Olympic break, but it’s clear that the quickest driver crossed the finish line first.

The race was effectively one he deserved to win, until it wasn’t. But he won it anyway.

In the competition, Dillon began with the 32nd position in the overall standings. Winning the race allowed him to climb up to the 26th position, also earning him 10 bonus points during the race’s stages. Even if a win was necessary for drivers ranked below 30 to qualify for the playoffs, it wouldn’t have made a difference in this scenario since Dillon managed to improve his position regardless.

Dillon clinched a spot in the playoffs with his five career race wins, even though he wasn’t among the top 16 leaders in points earlier.

Over the past 11 seasons, starting from 2014 when the current playoff format was introduced, four drivers have managed to qualify for the playoffs more than once, despite ranking below the top 16. Aric Almirola achieved this in 2014 and 2021, Kyle Busch did so in 2014 and 2015, while Ricky Stenhouse Jr. made it in 2017 and most recently in 2023.

Between the years 2017 and 2022, Austin Dillon snatched 4 playoff spots, making him the only driver who managed multiple such opportunities. Remarkably, these 11 playoff spots were awarded to drivers outside the top 16 during this period.

Currently, he has racked up five, while no other driver has managed more than two since the new system was introduced.

2014: A.J. Allmendinger, Aric Almirola, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin
2015: Kyle Busch
2016: Chris Buescher, Tony Stewart
2017: Austin Dillon, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
2018: Austin Dillon
2019: N/A
2020: Cole Custer, Austin Dillon
2021: Aric Almirola, Michael McDowell
2022: Chase Briscoe, Austin Dillon
2023: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
2024: Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon

Despite the highly questionable method he used to win last Sunday’s race, it’s clear that Dillon knows how to deliver results when faced with overwhelming odds. In fact, this time, he found himself in a tight spot and had to employ an all-out “do whatever necessary” strategy.

In the span of his 11-year career in the Cup Series, he managed to qualify for the playoffs based on points only once, which was back in 2016. However, here we are in the year 2024, and remarkably, he has just secured his sixth career spot in the playoffs.

Over the course of the first 23 out of 26 races in the regular season, a total of 13 drivers have managed to secure victories. The remaining three playoff spots are yet to be determined as the last three events of the regular season approach – these will take place at Michigan International Speedway, Daytona International Speedway, and Darlington Raceway over the next consecutive weekends.

As a gaming enthusiast, I wouldn’t want to miss any of the thrilling races unfolding live on NBC or USA Network. Kickstart your viewing experience with a free trial of FuboTV, ensuring you catch every moment of the action!

2024-08-12 15:32