Cup Series driver Austin Cindric won’t be penalized for a crash involving Austin Dillon during Sunday’s race at WWT Raceway, NASCAR officials announced on Tuesday.
Source: NASCAR YouTube
Cindric was motoring down the track with Dillon in a three-wide battle when Cindric made contact with Dillon entering Turn 1. Ricky Stenhouse Jr was to the right of them of contact.
The jousting for position eventually sent Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet into Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with just a few laps left. Cindric went on to finish the race 13th. Dillon and Stenhouse would come to a stop at 31st and 32nd, respectively.
And needless to say, there were a whole lot of hard feelings as everyone came off the track. Even still, there will be no fines or suspensions handed down, according to the powers that be.
Source: NASCAR YouTube
NASCAR’s vice president of competition Elton Sawyer stated that despite the damage, Cindric wouldn’t face any repercussions from stock car’s sanctioning body. He told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Tuesday:
“We didn’t see anything that really would rise to a level that would be a suspension or a penalty,” Sawyer said. “It looked like hard racing. One car coming up a little bit and another car going down.”
Despite some fans, drivers, and media pointing the finger at Cindric, the driver stressed that the incidental contact was just a product of running hard. But he wasn’t in the mood for personal attacks.
“I do not enjoy having my character in question when it is not justified,” Cindric wrote. “We are expected to race hard and I will not apologize for doing so, but I will be the first person to raise my hand and listen when I’ve done something wrong.”
— Austin Cindric (@AustinCindric) June 6, 2023
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However, owner Richard Childress of Childress Motorsports saw it the other way. He says that Cindric wrecked the ‘other Austin’ – Austin Dillon – as “payback”.
(Childress is not only the car owner, but he’s also Dillon’s grandfather, so he has a double stake in the matter.)
He stated, “Austin’s had some really good runs, he drove up to 10th until the No. 2 car wrecked him on purpose, sort of a payback.”
Source: NASCAR YouTube
Apparently, since the incident occurred, the two drivers have made some initial contact in an attempt to make some amends. Both parties, as well as NASCAR, will want to assure that this incident goes no further than this past weekend’s race.
“I’ve reached out to Austin so the two of us can discuss our differences as professionals,” Cindric said. “Once I hear back from him, that can happen.”
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