NASCAR Driver Austin Dillon (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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NASCAR News: Penalty to Austin Dillon upheld after appeal (Update)

Posted by AR1 staff

The Final Appeals Officer has denied Austin Dillon/RCR request for playoffs reinstatement. Dillon is now out of options for the appeal. Explanation below.

Press Release

Final Appeal Officer Bill Mullis today heard and considered an appeal of a Behavioral penalty issued on August 14, 2024 to driver Austin Dillon, owner Richard Childress and spotter Brandon Benesch in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The penalty concerns the following sections of the 2024 NASCAR Rule Book for the owner and driver: Sections 4.4.B NASCAR Member Code of Conduct Penalty Options and Guidelines; 10.1.A General Procedure; 12.3.2.1.B Eligibility. Benesch was cited for violating 4.4.D and 10.1.A. The original penalty issued was a loss of 25 Championship driver and owner points, the race finish would not count when determining eligibility for the Playoffs, Playoff Points or Playoff seeding and a three-race suspension to the spotter. Following the decision of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel, Benesch’s suspension was reduced to one race.

Upon hearing the testimony, the decisions of the Final Appeal Officer are:

  1. That the Appellants violated the Rule(s) set forth in the Penalty Notice.
  2. That the FAO affirms and upholds the modified penalty as determined by the National Motorsports Appeals Panel on August 21, 2024.

In reaching the above decision, the FAO provided the following explanation: “The data presented today from SMT and IDAS systems indicate that more likely than not a rule violation did occur at Richmond Raceway on 8-11-24 by the No. 3 RCR car on the last lap of the race. (Rule 12.3.2.1.B Eligibility, race finishes must be unencumbered by violations of the NASCAR rules or other actions detrimental to stock car auto racing or NASCAR as determined in the sole discretion of NASCAR.)”

The decision of the National Motorsports Final Appeal Officer is final and binding on all parties.

 

August 21, 2024 

The National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld the penalty levied against the No. 3 Austin Dillon team after a last-lap incident Aug. 11 at Richmond Raceway. However, the panel did reduce the suspension for No. 3 team spotter Brandon Benesch from three races to one.

Austin Dillon purposely rammed Joey Logano then took out Denny Hamlin in the final turn en route to his win at the Virginia short track. The panel agreed with NASCAR’s ruling that the totality of Dillon’s actions were significant enough to warrant penalties; the win stands, but the benefits from the win — namely eligibility for the Cup Series Playoffs — were revoked.

The penalty concerns Sections 4.4.B NASCAR Member Code of Conduct Penalty Options and Guidelines; 10.1.A General Procedure; 12.3.2.1.B Eligibility. Benesch was cited for violating 4.4.D and 10.1.A.

Dillon and the No. 3 team were also docked 25 points in the drivers’ and owners’ standings in the penalty handed down Aug. 14.

The appeals panel, consisting of Tom DeLoach, Kelly Housby and Tommy Wheeler, reached the decision with the following explanation: “NASCAR represents elite motorsports and, as such, its drivers are expected to demonstrate exemplary conduct if its series’ championships are to be validated. In this case, the ‘line’ was crossed.”

Richard Childress Racing released the following statement: “Richard Childress Racing is disappointed in the results of today’s hearing in front of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel. We respect the NASCAR appeals process, but we do not believe that today’s outcome reflects the facts presented. We plan to appeal the decision to the Final Appeal Officer.”

Press Release

Decision of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel

(August 21, 2024)

The National Motorsports Appeals Panel today heard and considered an appeal of a Behavioral penalty issued on August 14, 2024 to driver Austin Dillon, owner Richard Childress and spotter Brandon Benesch in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The penalty concerns the following sections of the 2024 NASCAR Rule Book for the owner and driver: Sections 4.4.B NASCAR Member Code of Conduct Penalty Options and Guidelines; 10.1.A General Procedure; 12.3.2.1.B Eligibility. Benesch was cited for violating 4.4.D and 10.1.A. The penalty issued was a loss of 25 Championship driver and owner points, the race finish would not count when determining eligibility for the Playoffs, Playoff Points or Playoff seeding and a three-race suspension to the spotter.

Upon hearing the testimony, the decisions of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel are:

  1. That the Appellants violated the Rule(s) set forth in the Penalty Notice.
  2. That the Panel finds the following penalty or punishment to be incorrect or inappropriate for the following reason: “The spotter penalty is excessive and the suspension is reduced to one race, i.e. ‘time served.’ Therefore the penalty is amended to read: Brandon Benesch suspension is reduced to one race.

In reaching the above decision, the panel provided the following explanation: “NASCAR represents elite motorsports and, as such, its drivers are expected to demonstrate exemplary conduct if its series’ championships are to be validated. In this case, the ‘line’ was crossed.”

The Appeals Panel members for this hearing:

  • Mr. Tom DeLoach
  • Mr. Kelly Housby
  • Mr. Tommy Wheeler

The Appellant has the right to appeal the decision of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel to the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer in accordance with the NASCAR Rule Book.