NASCAR
Austin Dillon Turns Playoff Picture Upside Down with Last-Lap Richmond Contact
RICHMOND, Va. – Austin Dillon and a miracle Richmond win will live on in walk-off Playoff history. Last-lap overtime contact from the No. 3 Chevrolet into Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin sent both competitors spinning, and allowed the seas to part for Dillon. Entering the night 32nd in points, Dillon is now Playoff racing for the sixth time in his career.
All weekend long the 3 was fast, leading practice and being up front all night long. A wreck in front of Dillon with two laps to go sent this night into high gear. The first yellow flag for an incident all night long saw Ryan Preece and Ricky Stenhouse Jr tangle just ahead of the 3.
A blistering-fast pit stop by the 3 team got Dillon off pit road just ahead of Logano. The No. 22 got the jump in overtime, only for Dillon to find his back bumper in turn three. Logano went spinning with contact from Dillon, allowing Denny Hamlin to initially get the upper hand. More contact sent the 11 hard into the outside wall, with Dillon crossing the finish line first.
“It’s been two years,” Dillon said on ending his 68-race losing streak. “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.”
“I got to thank the good Lord above. It’s been tough for the last two years, man. I care about RCR, 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.”
Due to the caution coming out, Denny Hamlin unofficially finished second behind Dillon. Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Ross Chastain were the top-five. Hear from some of these drivers below.
After the checkered flag, a very upset Logano buzzed his tires at Austin Dillon’s team. Hamlin also appeared to have followed the No. 22 in this displeasurable display.
Dillon is now the 13th driver locked into the 2024 Playoffs through a win. The next stop in the regular season is at one of Dillon’s best tracks–Michigan International Speedway. The FireKeepers Casino 400 goes green Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. After stunning the racing world once, can Dillon possibly back up this run on the two-mile oval?
Written by Peter Stratta
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