'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Austin Dillon's win at Richmond on Sunday came with its share of controversies. The Richard Childress Racing driver moved fellow racers Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin en route to his fifth career Cup victory. However, Dillon said it was all a part of the sport.
Over the years, there have been several instances of NASCAR drivers turning each other to win. Dillon saw nothing wrong with his moves that ultimately brought his team their first Cup Series win of the season.
Had it not been for the contact between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ryan Preece with two laps to go, Austin Dillon would perhaps have cruised to the victory lane. However, the caution flag came out, and the race was pushed to overtime.
All lead car drivers, including Dillon, pitted thereafter. Although the #3 driver was the first to come off of the pit road, Team Penske driver Joey Logano was able to jump him on the restart and grab the lead. As the field went into turn 3 and inched closer to the finishing line, Dillon drove to the corner of Logano's No. 22 Mustang and spun him out.
Here is what happened:
Austin Dillon won the race. When asked about his move on the Ford pilot during the post-race media availability, the 34-year-old said (as reported by journalist Matt Weaver):
"I have seen Denny (Hamlin) and Joey make moves that have been running people off the track to win. This was the first opportunity in two years for me to be able to get a win. I drove in there... kept all four tires turning across the start-finish line. I've seen a lot of stuff over the years in NASCAR where people move people. It's just part of our sport."
Moments after Logano rammed into the outside wall, Denny Hamlin, who started the race from the pole, also got turned by Dillon. However, Dillon said what happened with the Joe Gibbs Racing icon was not intentional.
"It was a reaction" - Austin Dillon on wrecking Denny Hamlin
Seconds after Logano was chucked off the track, Denny Hamlin pulled up next to Austin Dillon and got turned into the wall as well. Logano was relegated back to a P19 finish but Hamlin managed to tail Dillon and finish second.
During a press conference, Dillon reflected on the same and suggested that his move on Hamlin was unintentional.
"I was just trying to get to him (Joey Logano). I went into turn 3 in 5th gear and drove in, trying to get him loose...got him up the track. I got the car downshifted and the car actually turned pretty good when I did that. The 11 (Denny Hamlin) was coming in, that was just kind of a reaction," Austin Dillon said (via journalist Adam Cheek).
"Just trying to get him (Joey Logano) loose. The #11 was more just of a reaction; I wasn't lifting at that point because I was more looking at where the 22 was... It was a reaction; that's the best way I can say it," he added.
With his win, Austin Dillon has corkscrewed his position in the playoffs for the sixth time in his Cup career. Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano are also locked in the playoffs this year.
