Richard Childress, a stalwart in NASCAR racing, firmly believes that the sport has been fundamentally altered in the wake of the penalty handed to his grandson, Austin Dillon. This penalty, which was upheld after two appeals, has sparked a debate about the future of racing in NASCAR, particularly concerning the conduct on the final lap of a race.
“Their ruling has changed NASCAR racing on the final lap forever,” Childress stated ahead of the Cup Series event at Darlington Raceway. “The drivers, now, know where the line is, or they think they do. If you go in a car length and 2-3-quarters was exactly how far back he was, and the other car slows down three miles-per-hour, on the last lap, you’re going to bump him a little to get him up the race track. Is that over now? What is the line?”
Childress’s comments reflect a deep frustration with the current state of NASCAR’s rule enforcement. The incident that sparked this controversy occurred at Richmond Raceway, where Dillon, driving for Richard Childress Racing, made contact with both Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap. Although Dillon crossed the finish line first, securing what would have been a playoff berth, NASCAR later penalized him, stripping away the playoff spot. This decision was upheld by both the National Motorsports Appeal Panel and Final Appeals Officer Bill Mullis.
From Childress’s perspective, the penalty not only cost Dillon a spot in the playoffs but also had significant financial implications for the team. “It’s over a million dollars to us, what it boils down to,” Childress revealed, emphasizing the financial stakes associated with NASCAR’s charter system, which governs revenue distribution. “Largest fine ever in NASCAR. I’m just disappointed, disappointed, disappointed.”
The penalty, according to Childress, has left a lasting mark on the sport. He questioned the ambiguity of the rules, particularly regarding contact in the closing moments of a race. “And then if you go to racing somebody off of the corner, and they get loose and get into you, then does that mean you’re out of the Playoffs? That’s all I’ve got to say about the ruling. But it has changed racing for a win for sure.”
NASCAR President Steve Phelps offered a different perspective, explaining that not penalizing Dillon would have set a dangerous precedent. Speaking to Kevin Harvick on FOX Sports’ Happy Hour, Phelps remarked, “If we hadn’t penalized it, then I think what we would see over the next 12 weeks would look significantly different. We just can’t have it.”
Phelps highlighted the importance of maintaining the integrity of the sport, steering away from what he termed a “demolition derby” mentality. “It really comes down to ‘what do you want your sport to be?’ And that’s why I think we ruled the way we did because we’re not demolition derby; we’re just not. We are a sport that if we had done nothing, we would’ve opened ourselves up for a mess, honestly.”
Despite the official stance, Childress remains unconvinced. He hinted at exploring legal options had NASCAR’s rules allowed for it, stating, “If it was a legal case, we had attorneys look at both sides of it, there was no way we would have lost.” However, NASCAR’s regulations prohibit teams from taking legal action against the sanctioning body.
As the dust settles, it is clear that this incident will be remembered as a pivotal moment in NASCAR history. Childress hinted that this episode might even inspire a chapter in his future memoir, underscoring the lasting impact this ruling will have on the sport.
For now, the debate over the appropriate level of aggression on the final lap remains open, with drivers and teams alike left to navigate the new reality of NASCAR racing. Whether this ruling will lead to more cautious driving or create further controversy in the future, one thing is certain: NASCAR will never be quite the same.
