Austin Dillon’s recent victory at Richmond has stirred up quite the ruckus in the NASCAR world, and not just because he crossed the finish line first. After a nail-biting finale, Dillon managed to snag his first win in nearly two years, but it didn’t come without controversy. With mere seconds left on the clock, he spun Joey Logano out of the way and sent Denny Hamlin crashing into the wall, leading to a victory at the legendary race track.

However, his aggressive tactics have sparked debates across the racing community about the ethics of NASCAR’s current system which seems to reward drivers for winning at any cost. Jordan Bianchi, a NASCAR insider, weighed in on the big question: how far is too far?

Racing ethics in question

Dillon’s last-lap antics have been described as crossing an “invisible line.” And while both drivers who were affected Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano expressed their frustration over the lack of clear rules and penalties in these situations. But while the debate is still on, reporter Jordan Bianchi says that despite what everyone’s thinking, it’s still fair game.

He argues that while Austin Dillon’s actions at Richmond may not have been ethical or exhibited good sportsmanship, they were fair within the context of NASCAR’s current system. “Is it right? No. This is the system and in this system, when you’re in Austin Dillon’s position. When your season is in the toilet and you haven’t led a lap all year and you’re 32nd in points and you’ve got the opportunity to get a victory you have to do whatever it takes, regardless of hurt feelings, or ethics or good sportsmanship. That’s how it is.” Bianchi explains that the system rewards winning at all costs, whether it’s to make the playoffs or advance through them.

Bianchi says that this mentality has been evident in numerous instances since the playoff format was instituted in 2014, such as Kevin Harvick’s move at Talladega and Ryan Newman and Kyle Larson‘s actions at Phoenix. This emphasizes that this is the system NASCAR has created, and the sanctioning body has historically let such situations stand without penalizing the winner. So why is everyone holding Austin Dillon accountable for something that everyone’s done in the past?

But the truth of the matter is that Dillon merely seized a golden opportunity. Sure it turned into a chaotic finish for Joey Logano and sent Denny Hamlin into the wall, but the driver still managed to claim his first and much-needed win of the season. This victory was not just a personal triumph but also secured him a spot in the playoffs, a lifeline for a season that had been spiraling downwards this year.

What’s Dillon’s 2024 Cup Series season been like?

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This season has been quite the rollercoaster ride for the Richard Childress Racing driver and not the fun kind. For most of the year, he found himself struggling to make an impact, sitting at the bottom of the standings and desperately searching for a way to turn his luck around.

Up until his recent victory at Richmond, Dillon had not led a single lap all season and was deteriorating in 32nd place in the playoff standing. It was truly a tough spot for the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, who had not tasted victory in nearly two years and was feeling the heat to perform. So this win was one that finally broke that winless streak for him, even if it meant that it ruined someone else’s day.

At the end of the day, NASCAR is ruthless and cut-throat and Dillon’s actions, while questionable in terms of sportsmanship, were a calculated risk in a sport where the stakes are high.

With the playoffs looming, the RCR driver’s win was a much-needed boost that will allow him to shift from a struggling season to a contender for the championship. And it’s all thanks to his willingness to push the boundaries of racing ethics speaks to the lengths drivers will go to secure their place in the postseason. What do you think about his last-second move, do you think it’s fair?