{"id":47579,"date":"2024-08-11T23:38:10","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T04:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=47579"},"modified":"2024-08-12T13:49:11","modified_gmt":"2024-08-12T18:49:11","slug":"austin-dillon-wins-overtime-thriller-at-richmond-raceway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/11\/austin-dillon-wins-overtime-thriller-at-richmond-raceway\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin Dillon wins overtime thriller at Richmond Raceway"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

RICHMOND, Va. \u2013 It took a controversial full-contact finish but Austin Dillon claimed his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in two seasons in Sunday night\u2019s Cook Out 400 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway \u2013 vaulting from a 32nd place in the points standings before the race to an automatic Playoff berth with the win.<\/p>\n

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Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag under caution to win the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Logan Whitton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Coming to the checkered flag during the final lap of overtime, Dillon\u2019s No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevy hit the rear bumper of the race-leading No. 22 Team Penske driven by Joey Logano crashing Logano\u2019s car into the catchfence. Then Dillon immediately moved low on track and hit Denny Hamlin\u2019s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota as he was driving by. It allowed Dillon to take the checkered flag only a few feet ahead and claim the all-important win by a slight .116-second.<\/p>\n

As Logano and Hamlin drove their dented, smoking cars to pit lane, the 34-year-old North Carolinian Dillon did victory doughnuts and spoke about the win and the move he used to gain it. He reminded reporters later that this was short track-style racing and that he\u2019s seen both Logano and Hamlin make similarly aggressive moves to win a trophy.<\/p>\n

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Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Logan Whitton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know man, it\u2019s been two years and this is the first car I\u2019ve had a shot to win with,\u2019\u2019 Dillon said when asked if he thought it was a fair move for the win.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt like with two to go, we were the fastest car. Obviously we had to have a straightaway. Wrecked the guy. I hate to do that, but sometimes you just got to do it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got to thank the good Lord above. It\u2019s been tough for the last two years man. I care about RCR, these fans, my wife. This is my first [win] for my baby girl. It means a lot. I hate it, but I had to do it.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen given that shot, you\u2019ve got to take it,\u2019\u2019 Dillon added.<\/p>\n

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The pit crew of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, celebrate after Austin Dillon wins the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s Dillon\u2019s first win in the last 68 races and fifth of his career. His last trophy came in the final regular season race of 2022 at Daytona International Speedway which earned a last chance position in that Playoff run. He was ranked 32nd in points coming into this Richmond race \u2013 258 points behind the Playoff cutoff line \u2013 and now he becomes the 13th driver to win his way into championship contention.<\/p>\n

Noted his grandfather, team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Richard Childress, \u201cHe knew what he had to do and they (Logano and Hamlin) would have done it to him.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

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Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, and Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Rewards Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After speaking briefly with reporters alongside his car on pit road, an angry Logano went immediately to the NASCAR officials team hauler.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was chicken &*#! – there\u2019s no doubt about it,\u2019\u2019 the two-time series champion Logano said of Dillon\u2019s move. \u201cHe was four car-lengths back, not even close. Then he wrecks the 11 [Hamlin] to go along with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean I get it, bump and run,\u2019\u2019 Logano continued, \u201cI\u2019ve done that, but he just drove through me, it\u2019s ridiculous.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Logano\u2019s crew chief Paul Wolfe was frustrated as well.<\/p>\n

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Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, reacts after the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a joke to call that racing. \u2026 something like that, that\u2019s not racing,\u2019\u2019 Wolfe said. \u201cWe all put too much in this \u2026 that\u2019s not professional what happened tonight.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Hamlin, who led the most laps (124) on the night, was equally as frustrated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are no penalties for rough driving so it opens up the opportunity for Austin to just do whatever he wants,\u2019\u2019 said Hamlin, who was scored second.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got hooked in the right rear again. I was just minding my own business and he hooked me in the right rear and put me in the fence. I don\u2019t know. The record book won\u2019t care about what happened, He\u2019s going to be credited with a win but obviously he\u2019s not going to go far [in the Playoffs] because you got to pay your dues back on stuff like that.<\/p>\n

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A general view of racing during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Logan Whitton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cBut it was worth it because he jumped 20 positions in points, I understand that and there\u2019s no ill will there, but I just hate that I was a part of it. \u2026 I understand it but I don\u2019t agree with it.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Finishing just behind Hamlin were 23XI Racing teammates Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace. Trackhouse Racing\u2019s Ross Chastain was fifth. These positions were important with only three races remaining now to set the 16-driver Playoff field.<\/p>\n

Playoff eligibility changed throughout the race \u2013 sometimes dramatically so.<\/p>\n

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Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Rewards Toyota, and Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 DEWALT Carpentry Solutions Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Logan Whitton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Wallace\u2019s top-five run was enough to move him from a seven-point deficit outside the Playoff 16 to just inside the top 16. He has a three-point advantage in that final Playoff position now over both Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing\u2019s Chris Buescher, who finished 18th Sunday night, and Chastain.<\/p>\n

Martin Truex Jr. who led the championship standings for much of the early season and held a 102-point advantage inside the standings at the Richmond green flag, took a big hit in the points. His No. 19 JGR Toyota had to retire early with engine problems taking a last place finish in Sunday\u2019s 37-car field and now the 2017 series champion holds only a 78-point advantage above the Playoff cutoff \u2013 ranked 14th still the highest ranked driver without a win.<\/p>\n

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Daniel Suarez, driver of the #99 Choice Privileges Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Joe Gibbs Racing\u2019s Ty Gibbs is 15th with a 19-point cushion above the cutoff line, followed by Wallace, Buescher and Chastain.<\/p>\n

Joe Gibbs Racing\u2019s Bell, who led 122 laps and won Stage 1 \u2013 a series best 10th stage win – finished sixth, followed by Hendrick Motorsports\u2019 Kyle Larson, Spire Motorsports\u2019 Carson Hocevar, Hendrick\u2019s Chase Elliott and Trackhouse Racing\u2019s Daniel Su\u00e1rez rounding out the Richmond top 10.<\/p>\n

Larson continues to lead the standings \u2013 now with a five-point advantage over Reddick and a six-point lead on his teammate Elliott. Hamlin is fourth, only 21 points back.<\/p>\n

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Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Logan Whitton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Not only was the race noteworthy for its dramatic ending and the shake up in the points standings, it was a test run of the new option tire that allowed teams to have a choice of Goodyear rubber in-race. It certainly created a new element of strategy and suspense.<\/p>\n

Su\u00e1rez who tried the new tires early, for example, made up 15 points and took the lead immediately after his pit stop to change them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Option tire worked exactly as it was intended,\u2019\u2019 said Goodyear\u2019s Director of Racing Greg Stucker. \u201cThey fired off immediately and were more than a half-second faster than the Prime, which is big on a short track. Also, the Options gave up significantly more than the Primes over a long run, as intended.<\/p>\n

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Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, greets fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWhat was really exciting was how different teams used the Option tire at different times to accomplish their own goals,\u2019\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n

With all the storylines, dramatic finish, and important new tire element, Reddick offered the understatement of the evening, \u201cWild way to end the night.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

The series moves to the Midwest next week for Sunday\u2019s Firekeepers Casino 400 at the two-mile Michigan International Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing\u2019s Buescher is the defending race winner.<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Race Winner Austin Dillon (No. 3 Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing) – <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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NCS Race Winning Owner, Richard Childress and Crew Chief, Justin Alexander (No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/RCandAlexander.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/EltonSawyer.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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