From nail-biting photo finishes to disastrous crashes, NASCAR has given fans several memorable moments in the sport’s history. Whether we’re talking about Bill Elliott setting an unbreakable speed record at Talladega Superspeedway in 1987 or Dale Earnhardt’s tragic death at the 2001 Daytona 500, some events will be etched in the memories of fans forever. According to NASCAR great Jeff Burton, the sanctioning body’s delayed response after the events at Richmond Raceway is a “monumental moment” as well.

While NASCAR’s verdict came three days later than expected, their decision revoked Austin Dillon’s playoff spot, as well as docked 25 points from his tally, while letting him keep the race win at the Cook Out 400.

Jeff Burton lauds NASCAR’s patient approach

Austin Dillon secured the fifth win of his Cup Series career under the most controversial of circumstances. The Richard Childress Racing driver was seen slamming into Joey Logano’s car after the restart as he attempted to regain his track position, which forced the Team Penske driver into the wall. But it didn’t end there, as Dillon then went on to hook the right rear of Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota, forcing the Joe Gibbs Racing driver into a spin. After the back-to-back incidents at Richmond Raceway, Dillon went on to secure his victory while his fellow competitors were left fuming.

The decision to punish Austin Dillon took three days, as NASCAR collected all the necessary data and reviewed footage from multiple angles to reach a verdict. The sanctioning body ultimately decided to let him keep his maiden victory at Richmond Raceway, but the final lap incidents came at the expense of playoff eligibility, as well as being docked 25 points from the driver’s and owner’s tally.

Despite many criticizing how long it took for NASCAR to conclude, Jeff Burton said on Motorsports on NBC’s YouTube channel, “I think the fans want an immediate response. They want an immediate reaction for sure and they want to leave the racetrack knowing. But again, that’s in a perfect world. I’m not going to fault NASCAR for taking the time to get it right. I’m not going to do that. I just think it’s better to try and get it right and look at all the information, and all the data, talk to everybody, listen to everybody, and then make a decision. This is a monumental moment, let’s treat it like that and I’m okay with taking some time.”

Why was NASCAR’s decision to penalize Austin Dillon, three days after the incidents occurred, such a big moment for Jeff Burton? This is because it signified the start of a new era, where a clear line was being drawn which indicated that wrecking two drivers to secure a playoff spot is unacceptable.

By taking away Austin Dillon’s playoff qualification, the organization showed that it won’t tolerate a win-at-all-costs mentality. Not only did they punish Dillon for his actions, but his spotter Brandon Benesch was also suspended for three races after he was heard saying “Wreck him” on the team radio, referring to Denny Hamlin.

While Richard Childress Racing has felt hard done by, and they plan to appeal the verdict, the punishments weren’t limited to them alone as Joey Logano was fined $50,000 for his post-race actions. Visibly frustrated after missing out on victory at Richmond Raceway, the Team Penske driver let his emotions get the better of him as he made his way down the pit road. Driving his No. 22 Ford Mustang, Logano performed a burnout in front of Dillon’s pit box, in an attempt to intimidate the 34-year-old’s family. His post-race antics resulted in harsh criticism within the NASCAR community, with many believing that he was let go of easily.

Bob Pockrass reacts to delayed Richmond Raceway verdict

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While NASCAR has conducted post-race reviews in the past, none have been as high-profile as their verdict at Richmond Raceway. Jeff Burton wasn’t the only one who had an opinion on the organization’s approach, as Fox Sports journalist Bob Pockrass also shared his views on social media. Highlighting that the sanctioning body’s conclusion was an important milestone in making drivers aware of not crossing ‘the line’, Pockrass also emphasized that the decision will serve as a reminder that aggressive tactics won’t be tolerated at Phoenix Raceway during the Championship 4 race later this year.

Speaking via FOX’s X account, Bob Pockrass said, “This was a decision that NASCAR could have made Sunday night, instead they felt that they wanted to get it right. So they wanted to look at the data, and look at the data, and look at the data. It took them three days to make the decision, way too long. They could have made it Sunday night, that’s kind of why I thought that they were going to let this stand, because they didn’t make a decision on Sunday night.” He went on to say, “There were three days of waiting, waiting and waiting but I think the result is correct.”

With just three races remaining before the regular season ends, Austin Dillon could yet make it to the playoffs. All he needs to do is secure a victory at either Michigan, Daytona, or Darlington. Easy right? With on-track incidents being subjected to post-race reviews more frequently, one can’t help but feel that it’s only a matter of time before the process gets streamlined for the decisions to eventually get made immediately after the race. It may have taken them three days in this instance, but NASCAR ended up making the right decision after a complicated situation. That’s what matters!

What are your thoughts about NASCAR’s verdict after the controversy at Richmond Raceway? Let us know in the comments!