NASCAR: Austin Dillon not ineligible for the Cup Series playoffs

As a long-time NASCAR enthusiast who has witnessed my fair share of thrilling races and heartbreaking moments, I must say that Austin Dillon‘s victory at Richmond Raceway was nothing short of electrifying. The tension, the drama, and the sheer unpredictability of the final lap were reminiscent of some of the most iconic NASCAR moments in history.

After clinching victory in the NASCAR Cup Series race held at Richmond Raceway on Sunday evening, Austin Dillon from Richard Childress Racing believed he had secured a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

Since he won by crashing Team Penske’s Joey Logano and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin during the final corner of the final overtime lap, NASCAR decided that this victory would not contribute to his playoff eligibility.

As a gamer, I’ve clinched my fifth career win, and it’s been a long-awaited one since my triumph at Daytona International Speedway back in August 2022. However, this victory doesn’t guarantee me a spot in the playoffs anymore, and sadly, those five valuable playoff points I earned have been deducted from my tally.

Yet, it’s not impossible for Dillon to qualify for the playoffs. He has a chance to make it if he wins any of the last three races in the season, which are held at Michigan International Speedway, Daytona International Speedway, or Darlington Raceway.

Austin Dillon still eligible for NASCAR playoffs

After receiving a 25-point penalty, Dillon finds himself 265 points below the playoff qualification threshold with just three races left in the regular season. Each non-winning race offers only 55 points, making it crucial for the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet to win at least one if he hopes to make a sixth career playoff appearance.

Luckily, the final three tracks of the season are ones where he usually excels. He’s managed to secure positions as high as fourth at Michigan in both 2015 and 2018, won twice at Daytona in 2018 and 2022, and even reached second place at Darlington in 2020.

So far this season, a total of 12 drivers have emerged victorious, each securing their place within the 16-driver playoff bracket.

If Dillon manages to avoid complications, another victory prior to the playoffs would undeniably guarantee him a position in the four-round, 10-race postseason. At this point, there is no longer a chance of having more winners than available playoff spots, which would have left Dillon in a challenging situation considering he’s currently placed 31st in the point standings, 11 positions behind the next lowest winner from Team Penske (Austin Cindric).

If he successfully secures a victory in any of the three upcoming races, he’ll gain five playoff points from that win. However, those newly-earned points won’t replace or add to the initial five playoff points he received from his Richmond race victory. Instead, the earlier points will remain separate.

Tune in this Sunday, August 18, as Michigan International Speedway plays host to the FireKeepers Casino 400! The action begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. Don’t want to miss out? Sign up for a free trial of FuboTV and catch all the excitement live!

2024-08-15 17:32

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