"Austin Dillon doesn't owe anybody an apology" - Jordan Bianchi stands by RCR driver amid Richmond happening

NASCAR insider Jordan Bianchi recently shared his take on Austin Dillon's controversial win at the Cook Out 400 race on Sunday, August 11. Dillon claimed his maiden triumph at Richmond Raceway after wrecking Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap.

Richard Childress Racing drivers have seen a series of disappointments this season, with the two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch struggling for a win. Dillon came to the rescue and gave the #3 RCR team a spot in the 2024 playoff rounds.

Speaking on an episode of The Teardown podcast, The Athletic's Bianchi opined that Dillon's final-lap move was the team's only shot, as the 34-year-old had everything at stake.

"When your back is against the wall and you have to carry this company and amid a year when they have had a horrendous year, both of their cars are out of the playoffs. They're not running well, this is their one shot," Bianchi said.

Adding that the drivers can't leave it up to the remaining three races of the regular season, Bianchi said:

"You have to do whatever it takes and you shouldn't apologize for that. Austin Dillon doesn't owe anybody an apology. He did what, frankly, I don't want to say, every driver in the garage would do. But a good number of them, a large majority of them [would do]."

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"It should not be this way" - NASCAR insider on Austin Dillon making contact twice at Richmond

The 2018 Daytona 500 winner Austin Dillon is in his 11th season competing full-time for RCR in the Cup Series. Dillon drives the #3 Chevy, which was made famous by seven-time Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt.

The Athletic's Jeff Gluck had a different opinion than Jordan Bianchi on Austin Dillon nudging Penske's Logano and JGR's Hamlin on the last stretch of the race at Richmond. Speaking on the same episode of The Teardown podcast, Gluck said:

"I don't think so and here's why if you're a winning driver somebody that wins consistently you might bump someone for sure no doubt... the first incident, say it would be enough but to take out two drivers and wreck them both pretty blatantly that's where it gets dicey."

"This is something, this was desperate but again you're allowed to do this for some reason and that's again it should not be this way it really shouldn't," Gluck added.

Dillon became the 13th race winner to confirm his berth for the 2024 playoff rounds. With three races left on the regular season schedule, a couple of drivers and teams are battling near the playoff cutline and are on the hunt to garner enough points or win a race to qualify for the first round of playoffs on September 8 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.