![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Bubba-Wallace-and-Chase-Elliott.jpg?width=600)
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LONG POND, PA – JUNE 27: Bubba Wallace, driver of the 23 DraftKings Toyota and Chase Elliott, driver of the 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet talk prior to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series – Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 on June 27, 2021 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA. Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUN 27 NASCAR Cup Series – Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 Icon2106271212
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Bubba-Wallace-and-Chase-Elliott.jpg?width=600)
via Imago
LONG POND, PA – JUNE 27: Bubba Wallace, driver of the 23 DraftKings Toyota and Chase Elliott, driver of the 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet talk prior to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series – Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 on June 27, 2021 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA. Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUN 27 NASCAR Cup Series – Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 Icon2106271212
In a highly competitive sport like NASCAR, sportsmanship, fair play, and respectful competition have to be emphasized. In order do to so, the governing body has established policies to address any inappropriate behavior or comments that may arise within the sport, aiming to maintain peace on the track. And as things stand, we have been seeing the sport exercise those policies arguably more than ever this season. One incident that still has people talking was the clash between Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott during the Coca-Cola 600, which saw NASCAR suspend Chase Elliott. Now, just as we thought this was the end of it, we got a very similar wreck at last week’s Gateway race.
After the Enjoy Illinois 300 incident, the attention was shifted toward another driver. This time, Austin Cindric finds himself in the spotlight. While some have asked NASCAR to suspend Cindric for the upcoming race, some argue that Cindric’s actions should not be considered a penalty, seeing it as a normal racing incident.
Amid all this, a member of Michael Jordan‘s 23XI Team believes Cindric is not that innocent.
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The Controversial Aftermath of the Clash Between Austin Cindric and Austin Dillon
Following the wreck between Elliott and Hamlin, the #11 driver urged NASCAR to take action against his #9. He even shared data via a tweet to support his claim. Similarly, after being forced to exit the race at World Wide Technology Raceway, Austin Dillon spoke to the media during the post-race interviews, demanding a suspension for the Penske driver.
He even drew parallels to how NASCAR had handled situations involving Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott in the past.
“I was wrecked intentionally by [Austin Cindric], hooked right, just like Chase [Elliott] and Denny [Hamlin] and Bubba’s deal.”
“He better be suspended next week,” said Dillion angrily.
On the other hand, Couch Racer, the largest community of at-home racing experts (as per their Twitter profile), believes that this incident should not be considered for a penalty.
The tweet read, “The Cindric / Dillon incident shouldn’t even be in consideration for a penalty. Let’s not get ridiculous.”
Now, the situation became a lot more amusing when Freddie Kraft, who, by the way, is a partner at Couch Racer, disagreed with the tweet of his own venture.
In response, Bubba’s spotter wrote, “Oh boy. TJ showed me some data this morning that may contradict this statement.”
Oh boy. TJ showed me some data this morning that may contradict this statement. https://t.co/xDOhdo8Of8
— Freddie Kraft (@FreddieKraft) June 5, 2023
READ MORE: “Gets You Going” – Austin Dillon Explains the Importance of the NASCAR Daytona 500 to Him
Richard Childress Stood Alongside Austin Dillon, Pushing for Austin Cindric’s Suspension
Rather than celebrating Kyle Busch’s impressive third victory of the season, Richard Childress, the team owner, chose to address the incident involving his other driver, Austin Dillon. Dillon’s grandfather, Richard Childress, took the opportunity to speak out on behalf of Dillon.
“[Kyle Busch has] definitely helped Austin a whole lot, Austin’s had some good runs, He had drove up to about 10th until the [No.] 2 car wrecked him,” Childress said. But as it turns out, it wasn’t just the RCR family that was furious with the incident.
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During lap 219, while battling for the twelfth position, the #2 car made contact with the right rear of Dillon. This led to a wreck that even involved Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Stenhouse, whose streak of seven consecutive top-15 finishes came to an end, expressed his frustration at the incident.
He stated, “We had a really good streak going off really good runs, and it looked like the [No.] 2, for some reason, right reared the [No.] 3., Took both of us Chevy guys out, so, that’s a bummer because we definitely had a top 10 car today.”
Watch This Story: After Kyle Busch debacle, ex-Daytona 500 accuses Joe Gibbs in fresh sponsorship conundrum
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“It’s frustrating to get taken out on the straightaway. That’s the most frustrating part this close to the end of the race, knowing that I felt like we had a top 10 going. We’ll just have to start a new streak next week, go to Sonoma [Raceway], I feel like my guys will bring a good car.”