NASCAR has put the Richmond controversy to rest, but it seems like Richard Childress Racing is inclined to keep it ablaze. After waiting for 72 hours, NASCAR’s penalty report on RCR’s #3 team set the record straight for any ambiguity around its stand. It officiated the Playoff ineligibility for Austin Dillon, while suspending his spotter for the upcoming three races.

Now, RCR is preparing to appeal a part of the verdict, declaring the spotter replacement for the remaining regular season. This stance taken by RCR is being perceived by the fans as disloyal and manipulative.

Why was the Austin Dillon’s spotter suspended by NASCAR?

NASCAR has clarified that the last lap incident during the Cook Out 400 was not just a racing incident, contrary to the appeal by Joey Logano‘s crew chief, Paul Wolfe. Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s Senior VP of Competition, stated that the wrecking act last Sunday crossed the line. While drivers understand the concept of bump and run, NASCAR has taken a stand to define the boundaries, as demonstrated in the Richmond incident.

An important aspect of NASCAR’s officiating policy is that it wasn’t just the driver who breached the code of conduct. The spotter for the #3 driver was actively involved in pushing for the impulsive wreckage. Thus, accountability fell on both individuals and the team to pay for the damages. However, RCR appears to disagree, as highlighted by Bob Pockrass’ tweet, with fans reacting derisively to the team’s stance.

On the one hand, RCR has decided to appeal against Dillon’s stripped NASCAR Playoffs spot. On the other hand, it has made peace with spotter Brandon Benesch’s suspension. Logically, the driver’s responsibility should be greater in terms of how smartly they drive. The role of spotters is to guide them through the crowd by informing drivers about other driver’s positions. So, it should’ve been either the crew chief’s or the driver’s call to make the move.

Nonetheless, as long as the direct actors were both culpable, it still seemed fair. But the disparity between the acceptance of penalty for the driver and the spotter has raised a multitude of questions against the team’s ideology.

Fans have been vocal about RCR’s stance, questioning the inconsistency between accepting the spotter’s penalty but not the driver’s. This controversy continues to stir debate, as the team’s actions and NASCAR’s decisions are scrutinized by the racing community.

Fans are now even unhappy about the penalty given to Austin Dillon, as they feel he deserved a harsher punishment

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Bob Pockrass informed through his tweet that Brett Griffin has been listed as Brandon Benesch’s replacement for the upcoming race at Michigan. Brett Griffin is known to be driver-spotter dissonant, accustomed to sparking twitter controversies. Inspired from Brett’s usual shenanigans, one user commented, “A match made in hell.” One user even teased by writing, “Brett’s code for Austin to dump a dude will be “Let’s go Brandon”

Some other users expressed their disapproval of backstabbing the spotter and leaving him out in the woods. A user wrote, “So they are throwing their spotter under the bus in the hopes that it will help them. What a scummy organisation.” RCR’s move is especially shocking after they initially shunned the accusation based on leaked radio conversation.

Another user went on saying, “RCR really villainizing themselves” This take is believable given the circumstance. “Man that is so on-brand.”, added a user. Other users preferred defending the spotter as they wrote, “The spotter penalty seems obsessive. He was being a fan in the moment reacting to the situation. Not like Austin was listening.”

The whole purpose of the penalty has been defeated by RCR through this disparaging act. The teams are supposed to sail and sink together. But that’s not the mantra RCR wants to follow.

What do you think about the penalty? Do you think the penalty should be appealed in entirety, if at all?