NASCAR at Richmond outcomes: Austin Dillon earns redemption, playoff spot with back-to-back Richmond wins

In a virtuoso efficiency that’s arguably probably the most spectacular of his total physique of labor at NASCAR’s highest stage, Austin Dillon took over the Prepare dinner Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on Saturday evening, main a lot of the second half of the race earlier than driving away to earn his first win of the 2025 season and the sixth of his Cup profession. Dillon’s win makes him the 14th totally different driver to win a race this season, vaulting himself into the playoffs within the penultimate race of the common season and making certain he’ll compete within the race for the championship.

Dillon had entered Saturday evening’s race because the defending Richmond winner, however his victory a 12 months in the past had been marred by controversy. After a late race warning erased his sizable lead and despatched the race to extra time, Dillon made a determined transfer within the closing nook after dropping the result in Joey Logano, spinning Logano out after which proper hooking Denny Hamlin into the wall to re-take the lead and protect his victory and a presumptive playoff spot. Though Dillon was allowed to maintain his win, NASCAR penalized the driving force of the No. 3 for tough driving and deemed his win impermissible for playoff eligibility.

One 12 months later, there was no such room to query Dillon, who has been oft-criticized all through his profession because the grandson of automotive proprietor Richard Childress and the inheritor obvious to RCR. And by the point the checkered flag flew, there was nobody in entrance of Dillon after he led 5 instances for a career-high 107 laps.

“I actually wished that one. Final 12 months damage actually unhealthy simply going by way of the entire technique of it. However this one feels so candy,” Dillon instructed NBC Sports activities, who additionally shared that he has been racing with a damaged rib for the previous two weeks. “… Each one among these means a lot to me. And my grandfather for all that he is put up in believing in me, as a result of there’s been plenty of ups and downs and it may’ve been simple for him to alter the driving force on this 3 automotive. However at present, it feels actually darn good.”

Dillon’s win proved massively consequential for the bubble battle to make the NASCAR playoffs, and it created a whole nightmare state of affairs for 2 RFK Racing drivers to compound their nightmare races. After ending thirtieth with an ill-handling automotive, Chris Buescher was bumped from the final driver above the lower line to 60 factors beneath, placing him and teammate Ryan Preece (now 94 factors again after ending thirty fifth) in digital Should Win conditions subsequent weekend at Daytona.

Alex Bowman is now the ultimate driver above the playoff lower line after a second place end, and each he and Tyler Reddick shall be firmly on the bubble subsequent week. With the 2 now separated by 29 factors, the final spot above the lower line can simply change arms in Daytona, which implies that Reddick or Bowman could possibly be bumped from the playoff grid if a brand new winner emerges. Reddick’s factors hole over Bowman was damage after a mid-race spin and crash in flip 4, which pressured him to limp residence 4 laps down with harm in thirty fourth.

Staff Penske’s three drivers rounded out the highest 5, with Ryan Blaney third, Joey Logano fourth and Austin Cindric fifth. Kyle Larson in sixth, Daniel Suarez seventh, Josh Berry eighth, Brad Keselowski ninth and Denny Hamlin tenth made up the remainder of the highest 10.

With a twelfth place end mixed with a crash and DNF for Chase Elliott, William Byron was in a position to clinch the common season championship, incomes a further 15 playoff factors in the direction of his general Cup championship bid.

Prepare dinner Out 400 outcomes

1. #3 – Austin Dillon
2. #48 – Alex Bowman
3. #12 – Ryan Blaney
4. #22 – Joey Logano
5. #2 – Austin Cindric
6. #5 – Kyle Larson
7. #99 – Daniel Suarez
8. #21 – Josh Berry
9. #6 – Brad Keselowski
10. #11 – Denny Hamlin
11. #38 – Zane Smith
12. #24 – William Byron
13. #19 – Chase Briscoe
14. #88 – Shane van Gisbergen (R)
15. #77 – Carson Hocevar
16. #8 – Kyle Busch
17. #71 – Michael McDowell
18. #54 – Ty Gibbs
19. #1 – Ross Chastain
20. #10 – Ty Dillon
21. #20 – Christopher Bell
22. #16 – A.J. Allmendinger
23. #47 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
24. #41 – Cole Custer
25. #34 – Todd Gilliland
26. #43 – Erik Jones
27. #4 – Noah Gragson
28. #23 – Bubba Wallace
29. #67 – Corey Heim
30. #17 – Chris Buescher
31. #35 – Riley Herbst (R)
32. #51 – Cody Ware
33. #33 – Jesse Love
34. #45 – Tyler Reddick
35. #60 – Ryan Preece
36. #42 – John Hunter Nemechek
37. #7 – Justin Haley
38. #9 – Chase Elliott