NASCAR VP weighs in on Austin Dillon and Joey Logano’s hefty $50,000 penalty - “I promise you, as a race car driver, they know where the line is”

NASCAR's Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer recently spoke with renowned journalist Jeff Gluck in the light of Austin Dillon wrecking Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin to win last Sunday's Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway. Two days after Dillon's controversial move at the 0.75-mile racetrack, NASCAR took away Dillon's playoff spot and docked him 25 points.

Furthermore, Team Penske driver Joey Logano was fined $50,000 for venting his frustration by spinning his tires against the brakes while driving past Dillon's family on a hot pit road.

All of that stemmed from the controversial tangle during the last lap of the 400-lap event. As the field came off turn 3 and advanced to turn 4, Austin Dillon nudged Logano's bumper and sent him spinning into the outside wall. Seconds later, he flicked Hamlin's Toyota into the wall before crossing the finishing line.

While some might consider it as hard racing, others might opine that drivers these days do not know the fine line between hard racing and dirty driving. However, Sawyer, who has been a racecar driver himself and has made over 400 NASCAR starts, thinks otherwise.

"I promise you, as a race car driver, they know where the line is," Sawyer said. "It's been a few years since I did it, but I promise you, I knew where the line was. Hard NASCAR racing... little bump, little tire mark, moving a guy up out of the groove to win a race...we've done that for years. What happened on Sunday night crossed the line."

Austin Dillon was relegated to P31 on points after Wednesday's decision. Richard Childress Racing was disappointed with NASCAR's verdict, given that it was their first win of the season, and has decided to appeal.

Jeff Gluck explains why NASCAR has not suspended Austin Dillon

In a recent episode of The Teardown, The Athletic's Jeff Gluck said that according to NASCAR, right hooking a driver as a mode of retaliation usually would result in something as extreme as suspension. However, what Austin Dillon did to Denny Hamlin was not retaliation.

"Here’s how I think NASCAR will distinguish the difference," Gluck told co-host Jordan Bianchi (via On3). "NASCAR will say that a right rear hook in retaliation is where people get suspended. A right rear hook as he did to Hamlin to put him in the wall for the win, they will say that’s different. And they won’t suspend him."

"Because here's the problem, NASCAR has now put themselves in a giant box. They cannot let someone have a win without a rough driving penalty. And then suspend the person for that very action. You just can't. Those two things don't go together," he added.

Needless to say, Denny Hamlin was not happy with Austin Dillon. He feels that if this wreck fest were to continue in the arena of NASCAR, the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway on November 10 might be affected.

Nevertheless, all drivers must now devise their strategies for the upcoming race at Michigan International Speedway on August 18th. The 200-lap event, known as the FireKeepers Casino 400, will commence at 2:30 PM ET and can be watched live on the USA Network and NBC Sports.