NASCAR takeaways: No controversy this time as Austin Dillon wins Richmond race

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15 hours ago

Austin Dillon breezed through his last lap.
He had been in front for the previous 47 trips around Richmond Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 16. What was one more?
He held off Alex Bowman by 2.5 seconds to capture the Cook Out 400 checkered flag and slide himself into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
Dillon thought he had done so last year. He won at Richmond, but it happened with two bull-in-a-china-shop moves on Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin. NASCAR let him keep the victory but stripped him of the automatic postseason berth a few days later.
So this one felt oh so good.
'I really wanted that one,' Dillon said on the USA broadcast after his post-race burnout. 'Last year hurt really bad, just going through the whole process of it. But this one feels so sweet. I love Richmond.'
Let's break it down.
1. Austin Dillon redeems himself at Richmond
Dillon entered the evening 28th in the point standings. His first-place finish wasn't a fluke, though.
The driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet led 107 laps, which trailed only Bubba Wallace's 123. They were the only two cars to surpass 60.
Wallace claimed Stage 2, and Tyler Reddick grabbed Stage 1.
Dillon retook the lead with 48 laps to go and cruised from there. During the first 24 races of the year, he led a total of eight laps.
The victory was the sixth of his Cup Series career and first since the 2024 Cook Out 400. He's now won at Richmond twice, Daytona twice, Charlotte once and Texas once.
Why has he enjoyed this level of success at Richmond?
'Tire management,' Dillon said. 'I probably am the slowest to get going on some of these tracks when it really comes to high grip. But when it comes to these places and taking care of your stuff, I'll go against the best of them.'
2. What does Austin Dillon's win do for NASCAR playoff picture?
Well, Chris Buescher is out of a spot.
He was clinging to the 16th and final position the last few weeks. With Dillon vaulting in from outside the bubble, Buescher drops below the cutline.
Right now, Reddick and Bowman hold the final two playoff spots. Reddick stands 89 points above the cutline, with Bowman 60 above Buescher.
Ryan Preece lags 34 points behind Buescher.
If Daytona produces a new winner, only one driver will reach the postseason on points. If a repeat winner emerges next weekend, two drivers will enter on points.
One other points note: William Byron clinched the regular-season title at Richmond. He placed 12th while Chase Elliott, the only guy who could've caught him, got tangled up in a wreck and did not finish.
Byron will receive 15 playoff bonus points.
3. NASCAR schedule: It's time for Daytona
It all comes down to this.
Only one chance remains for drivers to clinch a postseason berth, and it comes next Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.
Last August, Harrison Burton went from way outside the playoff picture to securing his place with a surprising Coke Zero Sugar 400 win, the first triumph of his Cup Series career. Will we see a repeat this year? Or will one of the sport's heavyweights add another victory to his 2025 collection?
The green flag is set to drop shortly after 7:30 p.m. NBC will air the race.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR results today: Austin Dillon wins Cook Out 400 race at Richmond