After Stenhouse landed a right hook punch on Busch’s cheek, social media mostly rallied to support the JTG Daugherty Racing driver. Dale Earnhardt Jr. even encouraged shutting down more tunnels at other race tracks to let drivers fight it out. But when NASCAR came down with a shocking $75,000 find on Stenhouse, a gloomy air set in. Dale Jr., Kenny Wallace, Chase Elliott, and other drivers ridiculed NASCAR’s hypocritical stance and Busch walking free. So after the NASCAR Xfinity Series Spring Race displayed a similar situation, Dale Jr. drew the spotlight on NASCAR’s duty to bring justice.

On Saturday, RCR No. 21 driver Austin Hill clashed with Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 00 driver Cole Custer. Custer ‘doored’ Hill, which apparently cut a right front tire on Hill’s car. The RCR driver took revenge soon after. He locked into Custer’s back and put the throttle down until the latter spun out.

Cole Custer was furious after the race, calling Hill a “p*ssed off teenager.” Dale Earnhardt Jr. also supported Custer’s emotions, as he recently said on a Dale Jr. Download episode. “When Cole went down to crowd him, Austin Hill…you know, they made contact, and I can’t really put that on Cole. Crowding a guy, doing anything to get close to a guy is taking a risk because both of you might interpret how you’re gonna interpret this dog leg and use up the racetrack. That’s what happened, they clashed together.”

Then Dale Jr. called on NASCAR to take a strict call for Hill’s actions. “Austin decided that he was going to turn Custer around. So that’s kind of where it gets sideways. I think NASCAR might have to do something with Austin.” But last weekend’s fallout has left Dale Earnhardt Jr. doubtful about justice being rolled out.

“I don’t know the severity, I can’t even guess now after last week’s penalty with Stenhouse being $75,000…Kyle Busch gets nothing for what we know was an intentional wreck. So what precedent has that set for this particular situation? I see it exactly the same way…He deserves some sort of punishment,” he said.

The rowdy side of NASCAR is steadily getting a boost in the fourth month of the 2024 season. Some tussles simmered earlier too, like the Busch-Bell confrontation at COTA, or Buescher fuming at Reddick at Darlington. But the pressure cooker at the All-Star Race burst when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. recoiled at Kyle Busch’s wrecking tactics in the opening laps. This bad blood inspired the Charlotte Xfinity race as well, albeit without the physical brawl. 

However, Dale Earnhardt Jr may be right in asking for a more fair sense of judgment on NASCAR’s part. However, contrary to his Cup colleague, Austin Hill apologized for his vengeful tactics.

RCR driver adopted a softer approach to handling the situation

Richard Childress’ team has a penchant for flaring tempers. Last year’s Martinsville Xfinity race witnessed two RCR drivers locking horns. Sheldon Creed, who now drives for Joe Gibbs, made an aggressive move on Austin Hill, who answered back in kind. As a result, both wrecked. Post-race, Childress and Andy Petree, RCR’s VP of competition, pounced on Creed for his actions. Even former RCR driver Jeff Burton said they were way out of line.

But of this rowdy crowd, at least Austin Hill lived up to his bad temper at Charlotte. “There are guys in the series that have little shorter fuses than others,” Hill said. “I’m probably one of them. I’m not gonna lie.” Plus, Hill also went the extra mile and apologized for wrecking Custer. “I got into him, and I probably got a little too carried away down the backstretch; I didn’t let him go, and that part I apologize about.”

Hence, despite the pattern of raging tempers in Richard Childress’ fold, there may be hope for them, as Austin Hill admitted to his anger. What’s your take on the matter? Share your thoughts in the comments.