NASCAR News: Dillon punches ticket to playoffs with Richmond win

Needing a win to make the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Austin Dillon led 107 laps to win Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway for the second year in a row.

Dillon’s 2024 Richmond victory was shrouded in controversy as the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing driver contacted both Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin in the final laps, leading NASCAR officials to ultimately rescind Dillon’s playoff eligibility.

This year, Dillon left no doubt, benefiting from a 160-lap run to the finish and navigating lapped traffic to hold off bubble driver Alex Bowman for his sixth career victory, shaking up the playoff picture before next week’s regular-season finale.

Bowman came home second while the Team Penske trio of Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and Austin Cindric completed the top five. Kyle Larson, Daniel Suárez, Josh Berry, Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top 10.

23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace led the most laps, turning 123 circuits out in front but lost a left-front wheel on pit road under green at Lap 291. The Brickyard 400 winner quickly caught the issue, wisely pulling into Chase Briscoe’s pit stall as the No. 19 crew picked up the tire, jacked the Toyota up, and re-secured the wheel. He finished 28th, two laps down.

A string of Stage 2 cautions involved a group of contenders Saturday night. At Lap 182, moments after pitting under green, Tyler Reddick spun in Turn 4 after contact from Daniel Suárez moved Ty Gibbs into him. Reddick, who won Stage 1 and led 41 laps, suffered front-end damage but continued on, finishing 34th.

At Lap 198, Kyle Busch made contact with Chase Briscoe entering Turn 3, causing a wreck that involved 11 cars as Briscoe spun in front of the field. Chase Elliott, who entered Saturday’s race second in points, received the brunt of it, getting turned by Busch after nearly clearing the wreck. The DNF marked his first of the season.

The Cup Series returns Saturday, Aug. 23, for the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway

Winners Quotes

Welcome to the Playoffs, Austin Dillon. The way it all played out last year, how important was it for you to come back in front of sellout crowd and do it the right way?

AUSTIN DILLON: Man, that feels good. Got to thank the good Lord above. I really wanted that one. Last year hurt really bad just going through the whole process of it. But this one feels so sweet. Man, I love Richmond.

Our Winchester Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet is really good. I was (indiscernible) out a lot this week. Didn’t feel great. I’m actually racing with a broken rib right now for the last two weeks.

Man, that was awesome.

All the emotion this team went through, the entire organization at RCR, does this year-long wait make it worth it?

AUSTIN DILLON: Oh, for sure. God has timing. His timing is the best timing. So excited to get my wife and kids here to celebrate with us.

Man, it’s so sweet. My dad prayed with me before the race. He was at our hunting land doing some food plots. It’s just so special. Every one of these means so much to me. My grandfather, for all that he’s put up in believing in me, because there’s been a lot of ups and downs, could have been easy for him to change the drivers in this 3 car. Today it feels really darn good.

What is it about this place that makes you come alive?

AUSTIN DILLON: Tire management. I’m probably the slowest to get going on some of these tracks when it really comes to high grip. But when it comes to these places and taking care of your stuff, I’ll go against the best of them.

How about doing this for RCR, did you feel you were carrying the weight of the entire company?

AUSTIN DILLON: We really love it. Welcome North Carolina. When you cross those railroad tracks, it’s all for one and one for all. Really pumped to be driving for my grandfather and my family.

Race Results