Richmond has always been a track that stirs drama, but few finishes have left as lasting a mark as Austin Dillon\u2019s last-lap clash with Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin. That move delivered one of the most heated moments of the 2024 season, sparking debates about how far drivers should push when the checkered flag is within reach. NASCAR\u2019s swift response, including penalties for Austin\u2019s team, underscored just how seriously the sanctioning body took the incident.<\/p>\n
And now, as the NASCAR Cup garage readies itself for Saturday\u2019s Cook Out 400, Joe Gibbs Racing superstar Denny Hamlin is among the loudest voices revisiting that finish. Reflecting on what unfolded, Hamlin\u2019s perspective mirrors the paddock\u2019s caution and anticipation. Will Richmond deliver another flash point, or will cooler heads prevail this time around?<\/p>\n
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Denny Hamlin makes his stance clear on the incident<\/p>\n
At last year\u2019s Cook Out 400 at Richmond, the final lap exploded into one of the most talked-about finishes in recent NASCAR memory. Austin Dillon, desperate to end a 68-race winless streak and clinch a playoff berth, bumped Joey Logano from behind, sending Logano spinning into the wall, and then tagged Denny Hamlin\u2019s car, slamming him into the wall as well. Despite the victory, Dillon\u2019s win was under intense scrutiny.<\/p>\n
NASCAR automatically allowed the window to stand, but stripped Dillon of his playoff eligibility and docked 25 points. His spotter, Brandon Benesch, was suspended after audio revealed he encouraged Dillon to wreck him (Denny Hamlin) over the radio. Logano and Hamlin both expressed their frustration publicly, and Hamlin called the result disappointing, saying, \u201cYou\u2019ve got to pay your dues back on stuff like that,\u201d while also acknowledging the pressure of the playoff stakes.<\/p>\n
Hamlin isn\u2019t exactly pleased with how last season\u2019s contentious finish at Richmond raceway played out, but he does feel somewhat reassured by NASCAR\u2019s decision, one year removed from when Austin Dillon collided with both him and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano. As Hamlin explained at his home track on Friday, the chaotic climax for NASCAR led to a tough decision. The sanctioning body had to wrestle with the possibility of stripping a driver of playoff eligibility based on the manner of victory.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the incident a year later, Hamlin said<\/a>, \u201cI do feel a little bit better about it than we did 12 months ago. I just feel that I think certainly, that was the first time we\u2019ve seen something like that happen, and then NASCAR had a precedent to set in the sense that \u2013 what do you do from here.\u201d<\/p>\n NASCAR hasn\u2019t typically penalized drivers for wrecking others to secure a win. There are past examples, like Ty Gibbs crashing into Brandon Jones at Martinsville to clinch a spot in the Championship 4, and the time when Joey Logano<\/a> used a late spin of William Byron at Darlington Raceway to win a regular-season race.<\/p>\n But last season\u2019s Richmond finish, with Dillon wrecking veteran drivers on the final lap, crossed a line for many, including officials. Denny Hamlin<\/a> added, \u201cIf you let that go, then you open up a floodgate of crazy things that could happen that would be bad for the relevance and the legitimacy of the sport. And so I think everyone probably has a little better understanding now because of the ruling. I\u2019m not saying I agree or disagree with it, but you certainly have a better understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n NASCAR\u2019s response to the 2024 Richmond finish was the defining moment, marking a firm stand against aggressive driving that crossed an unwritten line. The sanctioning body ruled that Austin Dillon<\/a>\u2019s win would not count toward playoff eligibility and stripped him of 25 points, prioritizing the sport\u2019s integrity over spectacle. NASCAR acknowledges this as a necessary precedent to curb overly aggressive finishes and maintain credibility within the evolving playoff format.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Despite controversy, Austin Dillon still holds Richmond dear as \u201cone of my favorite wins,\u201d even though it came with playoff consequences. He remains undeterred, aiming for redemption by locking himself into this year\u2019s playoffs with another dominant performance. He will begin Saturday\u2019s race from the 11th starting position, a solid spot to launch his playoff push. However, this isn\u2019t the only thing bothering Denny Hamlin. Amid his bold claim about his career,<\/a> Hamlin is still concerned about the Next-Gen car.<\/p>\n Denny Hamlin voices the fundamental issue with Next-Gen cars<\/p>\n