RCR camp keeping spirits up as their pit-crew celebrate new NASCAR record despite Austin Dillon’s penalty

Richard Childress Racing (RCR) is keeping its head up despite the recent news about Austin Dillon's playoff penalty. The team tweeted about its crew setting a new record for the fastest average pit stop time in a NASCAR Cup Series race.

Dillon won the Cook Out 400 race last weekend in Richmond by bumping Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin out of the way. However, NASCAR decided that Dillon’s driving was too aggressive. Dillon was allowed to keep the win but his playoff spot was taken away and his team lost 25 points. Dillon’s spotter was also suspended for three races because of a radio message telling Dillon to wreck Hamlin.

To counter the recent disappointing news, RCR is celebrating its pit crew’s record-breaking performance last Sunday in Richmond. The Bass Pro Shops pit crew set a record with an average pit stop time of 8.85 seconds over seven stops. This was the fastest ever in a Cup Series race.

RCR has also announced in another tweet that they plan to appeal NASCAR’s decision:

"Richard Childress Racing is very disappointed in NASCAR’s penalty against the No. 3 team. We do not agree with the decision that was made and plan to appeal."

The appeal will be reviewed by the National Motorsports Appeals Panel. However, Dillon's chances of making it to the playoffs seem slim with only three races left in the regular season and four playoff spots open.

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RCR's Controversial Race Weekend Recap

Austin Dillon’s win at the first Cup Series race after NASCAR's mid-season break quickly turned controversial. Dillon drove aggressively at the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. He wrecked two drivers, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, on his way to win the race during the last lap.

Dillon was allowed to take the victory but NASCAR later penalized Dillon and his team, Richard Childress Racing. RCR is planning to appeal the penalties. However, it is unclear if that will make any difference.

Dillon is currently 31st in the Cup Series standings and out of the playoff race. His win ended a 68-race dry spell. His teammate, two-time Cup Series Championship winner Kyle Bush, finished 12th at Richmond. Bush now stands at the 18th spot with 465 points, zero wins, 2 top-5 and 6 top-10 finishes.

Meanwhile, three races remain in the regular season, starting with the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway this Sunday (August 18), followed by Daytona International Speedway (Coke Zero Sugar 400, August 24) and Darlington Raceway (Cook Out Southern 500, September 1).