Austin Dillon’s automatic spot in NASCAR’s playoff was revoked — though he retained his victory at Richmond Raceway — after it was determined the driver “crossed a line” in his intentional last-lap wreck of drivers Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin.
Dillon won for the first time in nearly two years in the Cup Series on Sunday night, but the checkered flag seemed out of reach before he spun Logano out of the way and then sent Hamlin into the wall as well — all in the final few seconds.
Logano and Hamlin railed against Dillon’s aggressiveness and the highlight-reel finish set off days of controversy in NASCAR.
NASCAR said Wednesday that Dillon committed “actions detrimental to stock car auto racing” in its decision to kick him out of a spot in the 16-driver field.
There are three Cup Series races left before the field is set, starting Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.
Elton Sawyer, the senior vice president of competition, said NASCAR considered suspending Dillon for his actions.
Dillon and the Richard Childress Racing No. 3 team also were docked 25 points in both the drivers’ and owners’ standings.
Dillon dropped from 26th to 31st in the driver standings.
Dillon’s spotter, Brandon Benesch, was suspended for three races for yelling “wreck him!” over the radio as the driver battled with Hamlin down the stretch.
“The No. 1 thing is we want to make sure is we’re protecting the integrity of the playoffs as well as our championship when we get to Phoenix,” Sawyer said.
