Austin Dillon & Joey Logano Punished After Wreck Controversy At NASCAR Cook Out 400

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NASCAR has dropped the hammer on Austin Dillon and Joey Logano.

Over the weekend, Dillon qualified for a playoff berth after he crashed into Logano and Denny Hamlin to win the Cook Out 400 at Richmond.

After the race, Logano intimidated Dillon’s wife and pit team by revving his engine and spinning his tires at them on pit road.

On Wednesday, NASCAR announced Dillon was stripped of his playoff berth for winning the race.

Via NASCAR

NASCAR officials ruled Wednesday that Austin Dillon’s win at Richmond Raceway would not count toward eligibility for the Cup Series Playoffs. The decision arrives three days after the Richard Childress Racing driver bashed his way to victory by crashing Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap of Sunday’s Cook Out 400.

After a full review of footage and data, NASCAR officials ruled Dillon’s victory would stand, but that his automatic berth in the 16-driver postseason field would be voided for violating Section 12.3.2.1.b of the NASCAR Rule Book, which deals with playoff eligibility and states: “Race finishes must be unencumbered by violation(s) of the NASCAR Rules or other action(s) detrimental to stock car auto racing or NASCAR as determined in the sole discretion of NASCAR.”

Logano was fined $50k for his conduct after the race on pit road.

Logano was fined $50,000 for his actions after the race, when he spun the tires of his No. 22 Team Penske Ford in anger near the RCR No. 3 team’s pit box. That show of disgust — a violation of the member code of conduct for compromising the safety of others — sent celebrants from Dillon’s team scattering on pit road and drew a stern rebuke from NASCAR officials at the scene.

Update: NASCAR says they considered stipping Dillon of his win but decided against it.