It wasn’t the result Austin Dillon wanted. The Richard Childress Racing driver may have been competing for nothing more than pride, but with four races to go, the 34-year-old was hoping to conclude his season on a positive note. However, finishing rock bottom at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the opposite of what he had in mind going into the 2024 South Point 400, but he was forced to accept the outcome after an on-track incident with Daniel Hemric.

With four DNFs already this season, a 37th-place result for Dillon sums up RCR’s disappointing Cup Series campaign. Reflecting on the wreck, the Kaulig Racing driver shared his views about the incident in a candid interview after the race.

Hemric regrets his involvement in Dillon’s crash

With tensions running high at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the first caution of the race was introduced on Lap 67. The drama began when both the drivers were a lap down from the leaders and battling it out for the P27 spot. Going into Turn 3, Hemric’s No. 31 Chevy drove into the rear of Austin Dillon’s car while the Richard Childress Racing driver attempted to change the lane. As a result, Dillon was forced up the track and ended up slamming the outside wall, which ended his race.

Speaking about the incident in the post-race interview, Daniel Hemric said, “Super unfortunate. We’re fighting for every inch and thought he was at the bottom but he kind of went back top. I tried to get under his left rear, chased me down there. I was fully committed and got in his air, probably couldn’t hit the brake, and completely faded off of him. That’s the last thing you want to do. Good friend of mine, so I had to make sure he’s okay. Not at all how I wanted it to go down. Just very very unfortunate.”

The incident didn’t go down well in the No. 3 Chevy camp, with the team’s owner saying, “F****** Hemric just turned him” right afterward.

Even though spotter Brandon Benesch revealed that the Kaulig Racing driver apologized on the radio, Richard Childress couldn’t hold back his anger at Daniel Hemric’s poor lack of judgment, going on to say, “F****** idiot.” Having started the race in 13th place, Austin Dillon fell through the grid as the race progressed, particularly after the first round of green-flag pit stops. The two drivers have been teammates at RCR during the 2019 season, and it will be interesting to see if the wreck changes the dynamics between them going forward.

Austin Dillon has been involved in several controversies this season, particularly at Richmond Raceway. The 34-year-old managed to secure his first victory at the 2024 Cook Out 400, but it came under questionable circumstances as he wrecked Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano in the final lap. Not afraid to get his hands dirty, the North Carolina native was visibly frustrated at the outcome of the opening Round of Eight playoff race and didn’t mince his words in the post-race interview.

Austin Dillon also holds Hemric accountable for the Las Vegas wreck

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Austin Dillon is struggling to find consistency. With the business end of the season currently underway, the Richard Childress Racing driver has been hoping to accumulate as many points as possible to finish high in the driver standings. However, another DNF forced him to settle for consecutive finishes in the 30s—a streak he will be hoping to break going into Homestead-Miami. The 34-year-old has a good record at the 1.5-mile track, having secured two top-ten results in his last few appearances on the speedway.

Expressing his disappointment in the post-race interview, Dillon told NBC Sports, “He (Daniel Hemric) flat-out wrecked me. No clue why. He’s got three races left, and I don’t know if he was just over his head. He stays in the gas into (Turn 3) until he hits me. I don’t know what that was. It was a hard hit, but I’m good.”

As for Daniel Hemric, he’s competing for his future in the Cup Series, with just three races remaining to prove his talent at NASCAR’s highest level. Kaulig Racing recently announced that the 33-year-old will be replaced by Richard Childress’ grandson Ty Dillon for the 2025 campaign. Interestingly, the team will be dropping the rights for the No. 31 car, and Dillon will be piloting the No. 10 Chevrolet, taking over the number from Stewart-Haas Racing, which will cease operations at the end of the season.