Dale Earnhardt Jr. urges NASCAR to “define what is unacceptable” following Austin Dillon’s controversial triumph

Austin Dillon won the Cook 400 while taking out Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin from the lead.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. urges NASCAR to “define what is unacceptable” following Austin Dillon’s controversial triumph

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Austin Dillon (Via IMAGO)

Austin Dillon had a mediocre season before his race in Richmond. Before the Cook 400, the RCR driver merely had two top 10 finishes and was out of reach of making it to the playoffs. Witnessing the settling reality, the 34-year-old made controversial moves on the final lap causing a mayhem to break loose. Such driving was lamented by multiple drivers and Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined in on the clan to urge NASCAR to set boundaries for what is acceptable.

The RCR driver started the race outside the top five but slowly made progress through the field. By the last stage, the No.3 driver found himself leading the race and was ever close to receiving the golden ticket for playoffs. However, Joey Logano initially seemed to ruin his party as he overtook him starting the final lap. This called for desperate measures in Austin Dillon‘s camp which made him lunge at the Penske driver and then further collected Denny Hamlin in the clash.

YouTube video

The 49-year-old asserted that the RCR driver should have been penalized live for his actions if his antics were unacceptable. Moreover, this has set a precedent going forward that wrecking rivals to win a race is justifiable which he reckoned during Mike Helton’s time would have been impossible.

FS Video
If they did miss an opportunity to define what is unacceptable live in the moment, toothpaste is now out of the tube. Now, it is harder for them to demand higher expectations going forward. When these things would happen in the past, Mike Helton would stand up in the next driver's meeting the next week and say a few words. He was a convincing dude, but they don't really have that guy anymore.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said

However, since Helton’s departure, Earnhardt reckoned that there has been no authoritative figure left in the garage. This has caused the drivers to get way more lenient and extend the boundaries more often than not.

There’s, I don’t know, an authoritarian figure in the garage that, when he speaks, the drivers go, ‘Yes, sir. You bet. You got it, man.’ That’s the way Helton was; nobody messed with that guy.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said
RELATED
(Video) Joey Logano nearly hits Austin Dillon’s family and RCR crew on the pit-road at Richmond
Joey Logano nearly hits Austin Dillon's family and RCR crew

Kenny Wallace gave his verdict on Austin Dillon’s controversial win

While Earnhardt lamented NASCAR’s subpar management of the race, Kenny Wallace was similarly unhappy with the regulatory body’s way of dealing with the clash. However, the veteran racer shared some critical views in relation to the Cook 400.

Kenny Wallace
Kenny Wallace (Via IMAGO)

The 60-year-old argued that Dillon was allowed to go in the victory lane. Moreover, if the stewards wanted to penalize the No.3 driver, then they should have punished him for the offense before letting him enter the victory lane. Thus, according to Wallace, victory cannot be snatched away from the 34-year-old and his spot in the playoffs is affirmed.

The reason they missed this opportunity…see if they really wanted to do something they would have done it right then. They can’t let you go to Victory Lane and then take the win away. So the win’s gonna stand. You cannot take the win away because you already let him go to Victory Lane.
Kenny Wallace said on X

Despite Wallace rejecting any possibility of the RCR driver losing his victory, officials have taken a single more day to decide on the matter as revealed by Jeff Gluck on X. So, RCR could witness its win taken away from them and be gifted to the JGR driver if Logano is penalized for his actions on the pit road.

In case you missed it: