“It’s gonna be six figures for sure by the time you fix it.” A damning admission by Kaulig Racing President Chris Rice. After Richard Childress’ grandson, Ty Dillon, was right hooked at the Circuit of The Americas, everyone expected a one-race suspension. However, citing slow speeds and not a caution flag being raised, Roger Penske’s driver was let off the hook. This did not impress Chris Rice, who further elaborated on the damages he had to bear because of the right hook.

“It still was a big number for Kaulig Racing, money wise. I know I read something yesterday that it didn’t tear up the car, wasn’t that much money, didn’t hurt that car. I mean, it was a big number.” Rice said, further emphasizing the impact of the crash on the team. While Rice’s frustrations were more on the financial side, Ty Dillon was irate at the seemingly minor penalty Cindric had to pay, compared to previous transgressors.

Ty Dillon laments inconsistencies in NASCAR officiating

The confrontation that sparked this controversy unfolded early in at the Circuit of the Americas. Cindric, visibly upset after being pushed wide by Dillon, didn’t wait long to settle the score. He deliberately turned Dillon’s No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet to the right on the front stretch, sending him crashing into the outside wall as other cars scrambled to avoid the wreckage. Though it happened at a relatively low speed, there was no mistaking the intent behind Cindric’s move.

“I was expecting a one-race suspension,” Ty Dillon told reporter Bob Pockrass ahead of Sunday’s race last Phoenix, frustration evident in his voice. “I’m glad they did something, though. I think 50 points and $50,000 is probably enough to make him think about doing something like that again. I hope it’s enough. But I think a one-race suspension is what most of us expected. I think they set a standard a couple years ago.”

Well, Richard Childress’ grandson is not wrong, as NASCAR did set a precedent when it came to right rear hooks. In 2022, Bubba Wallace was suspended for a race after wrecking Kyle Larson at Las Vegas. Then, in 2023, Chase Elliott was suspended for a race for right hooking Denny Hamlin at Charlotte. However, the key difference between these three incidents (including Cindric’s) is the track on which it was committed, which NASCAR used as a justification for their lack of a suspension.

NASCAR responded Wednesday by fining Cindric $50,000 and docking him 50 driver points for violating Sections 4.4 B&D of the NASCAR Member Code of Conduct. The penalty sent Cindric plummeting from 11th in the championship standings to 35th, delivering a significant blow to his playoff hopes. But unlike previous similar incidents, Cindric escaped without a race suspension.

NASCAR justified this decision by pointing to “situational differences,” with officials noting the incident occurred at lower speeds on a road course rather than a high-speed oval. Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of racing communications, explained on the “Hauler Talk” podcast that, unlike previous incidents that resulted in suspensions, this altercation didn’t even trigger a caution flag.

Sharing his thoughts on the penalties, Dillon continued, “They did a good enough job of making something out of it, but just gotta make sure that he knows specifically that he can’t do that again, especially to me.” A veiled threat or merely a warning toward the Team Penske driver? Whatever it is, Dillon is upset, and for good reason. Even his brother, Austin Dillon’s teammate at Richard Childress Racing, Kyle Busch, was not pleased with the penalty.

Kyle Busch, never one to mince words, pointed out that this wasn’t Cindric’s first offence. “I think intent is intent. I do not agree with the call there,” Busch told SiriusXM NASCAR, his tone unyielding. “I don’t care where it is—Daytona, Martinsville, Watkins Glen and it’s not his first time either. He got off with that one.” The Richard Childress Racing #8 was referring to a similar incident in 2023 when Cindric right-hooked Ty’s brother, Austin Dillon, at the WWT Raceway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of NASCAR’s most respected voices, expressed concern about the ruling on his podcast. “I understand what some of the drivers are saying as far as Kyle Busch and Denny who were like, ‘I don’t care if you’re going 10mph or 200mph, a right-hook is a right-hook and it shall all be treated the same,'” Earnhardt noted, though he stopped short of fully agreeing with that position. However, he did come to NASCAR’s defense.

Trending

1

Three Years After NASCAR Exit, Kurt Busch Announces 7-Word Devastation as He Eyes Cup Series Return

2

Stars Finally Align for Richard Petty’s Iconic $14.1 Billion Manufacturer to Make Their Return to NASCAR

3

Joey Logano Lets Out Major Inferiority to Kyle Larson, Blames NASCAR’s Controversial Brainchild for It

4

“It’s Gonna Drag Us Down”: Years After Misjudging Rick Hendrick’s Late Son, NASCAR Legend Left Emotional by Memories

Dale Jr. dismisses foul play by NASCAR

Some fans speculated that NASCAR’s new playoff waiver rules might have influenced the decision. Under the new 2025 regulations, a suspended driver remains playoff-eligible but loses all accumulated playoff points and forfeits any future points leading up to the playoffs. Earnhardt dismissed this theory outright: “I hate to assume that; I don’t think that’s true. I don’t believe NASCAR would go, ‘Hey man, we don’t want to. We’ve got a rule to suspend on the right hook, and we’re not going to do it because we don’t want the guy to feel the brunt of the penalty.'” 

However, Dale Jr. did say that NASCAR’s way of assessing these penalties was not something he stood for. “Because they were going slower, because there wasn’t a big crash, it didn’t cause a yellow, that’s the way NASCAR views these things. I don’t agree with it. I’ve always felt like the way the drivers feel in terms of like, ‘Hey man, it happened, that’s what it is, it’s black and white.’ But NASCAR doesn’t look at these things black and white.” In all honesty, all the drivers and fans want is for them to look at it as black and white. Especially with something as deadly as a right-rear hook.

Right rear hooking is the cardinal sin of NASCAR. It leaves the driver going head first into the outside wall and perpendicular to the incoming traffic. NASCAR previously took away Ty Dillon’s brother, Austin Dillon’s playoff eligibility after he spun out Joey Logano and right rear hooked Denny Hamlin in his bid to win the Richmond race in 2024.

So what do you think? Should Cindric have been suspended? Will Ty Dillon retaliate in Phoenix? Let us know in the comments!