Dillon stripped of playoff eligibility from Richmond win.

Kurt Busch says: "I'll drink to that!

Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR
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emailBy Kelly Crandall | August 14, 2024 4:24 PM ET

Austin Dillon has been stripped of the NASCAR Cup Series playoff eligibility that came with his victory at Richmond Raceway.

NASCAR announced the penalty Wednesday after reviewing the finish of Sunday night’s race where Dillon made contact with Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin. Dillon spun Logano in Turn 3 on the final lap of overtime in the Cook Out 400 and right-hooked Hamlin off Turn 4. He was 32nd in the championship standings going into the weekend.

Dillon does keep the victory despite it not counting toward the postseason. The No. 3 Richard Childress Racing team was also docked 25 points in both the owners’ and drivers’ championship standings for the incident.

Richard Childress Racing also lost the eligibility for the owner’s championship from the penalty.

Additionally, Brandon Benesch, Dillon’s spotter, has been suspended for the next three races. Benesch instructed Dillon to “wreck him” as Hamlin came to his inside in the final corner.

NASCAR also fined Joey Logano for his post-race actions. A frustrated Logano came down pit road and throttled up near NASCAR officials and team members, including those of Dillon’s crew who were making their way to the front stretch to celebrate with the winning driver.

Kurt Busch said: I'll drink to that!