Joey Logano wasn’t happy after getting intentionally wrecked by Austin Dillon on the final lap of Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway.
The way he handled his anger is being called into question.
After the race, Logano referred to Dillon’s race-winning move as “chickenshit.”
Joey Logano’s behavior on pit road could be detailed with the same description as footage has surfaced showing him intentionally revving his engine on pit road near a crowd of crew members, as well as Dillon’s family.
Is this okay? pic.twitter.com/QtjyQlUKEI
— Couch Racer (@CouchRacerShop) August 12, 2024
Austin Dillon, who came into the race sitting at 32nd in the points and desperately needing a win to make the playoffs, was headed towards a major upset during the race over the weekend.
Ryan Preece and Ricky Stenhouse brought out the caution, which set up an overtime finish that had Dillon in the lead, while Joey Logano came out 2nd. In third place was Denny Hamlin.
When the final restart came about, Logano made a move to get by the No. 3 car and was on his way to keeping Richard Childress Racing out of victory lane.
In the final lap, however, Austin Dillon and Joey Logano had a controversial moment when Dillon put his bumper on Logano, sending him spinning into the wall.
That would open the door for Hamlin but Dillon made contact with him as well and sent him right into the wall.
Austin Dillon cruised towards his first win since August 2022.
AUSTIN DILLON TURNS JOEY LOGANO TO WIN AT RICHMOND! 👀 pic.twitter.com/R8FXVNrzAK
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) August 12, 2024
Austin Dillon Responds To A Possible Retaliation From Joey Logano
Austin Dillon has no regrets about how he won Sunday’s race at Richmond as he wrecked both Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin to take first place, allowing him to secure a NASCAR Cup Series playoff spot.
Dillon has struggled this season, so the win was an emotional one.
“You want it for these people so bad,” Dillon said. “That fires me up more than anything, the people there. I see them each and every week and it’s been tough, and they’ve stuck with me, stuck behind us. … You don’t want to [win like that] every week, but when given the opportunity, you gotta do it for those people that give you those chances to get there and get to victory lane.”
It was emotional for Joey Logano as well as he described Dillon to reporters Sunday night as a “piece of crap” who has “sucked his whole career.”
“He threw some low blows in there,” Dillon said, per Fox Sports. “Obviously [he was] frustrated in the moment, but the two guys that I got into it with have done that a lot that I’ve learned from on the last lap of the races themselves. I’ve heard Joey’s interviews [where he says] ‘How bad do you want it? You got to do whatever it takes.’ I’ve seen him do it at Martinsville and different places on the last corner. So, this time, he was a victim of it. Sometimes, it happens.”
Dillon says he is ready if Logano decides to retaliate.
“He’s got a lot more wins than I do,” Dillon said. “If he retaliates, he retaliates. My grandfather [Richard Childress] said, ‘You might kick a dog, but he’ll bite back.’”
Dillon will likely face penalties, such as a fine, for his actions in Sunday’s race.
