RCR loses final appeal of Dillon penalties
Austin Dillon will have to win at Darlington to get into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs after he and his team lost their final appeal Monday.
The final appeal officer ruled to uphold NASCAR’s decision to revoke Dillon’s playoff berth and the team’s playoff berth they earned for winning at Richmond. The FAO also upheld NASCAR’s 25-point penalty against them.
Bill Mullis, the FAO, who also owns Langley Speedway, stated this after issuing his ruling:
“The data presented today from SMT and IDAS systems indicate that more likely than not a rule violation did occur at Richmond Raceway on 8-11-24 by the No. 3 RCR car on the last lap of the race. (Rule 12.3.2.1.B Eligibility, race finishes must be unencumbered by violations of the NASCAR rules or other actions detrimental to stock car auto racing or NASCAR as determined in the sole discretion of NASCAR.)”
Dillon and his team lost their appeal in front of the appeals panel last week, prompting the hearing with Mullis. Panelists did agree to reduce spotter Brandon Benesch’s suspension from three races to one.
Dillon earned an automatic playoff berth for winning at Richmond. The nature of his win was controversial as he bumped and spun Joey Logano out of the way. Then, Dillon hammered down and made contact with Denny Hamlin as he came down the track.
Over the radio, Benesch was allegedly heard saying, “Wreck him. Wreck him.”
Three days later, NASCAR suspended Benesch, revoked Dillon’s berth and docked 25 championship points from him and his team.
The hearing Monday with the final appeals officer was, as the name suggests, the final step in this case for RCR. The only way they will find their way into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs is if either Dillon or Kyle Busch can win this weekend at Darlington.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com