NASCAR has stirred up controversy again with another inconsistent decision.
Bubba Wallace received a suspension for right-hooking Kyle Larson at Las Vegas in October 2022. Similarly, Chase Elliott was suspended for right-hooking Denny Hamlin at Charlotte in May 2023.
However, when Austin Dillon right-hooked Hamlin at Richmond in August 2024, he was not suspended. Instead, his victory was invalidated, preventing him from advancing to the playoffs, which ultimately had the same effect as a suspension.
Last week, Austin Cindric committed the same offense against Ty Dillon at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) but faced only a 50-point deduction and a $50,000 fine. He was still allowed to compete in the Phoenix race on Sunday.
NASCAR justified its decision by arguing that road course incidents occur at lower speeds, Dillon continued racing, and no caution flag was thrown. But this reasoning only sparked further debate throughout the weekend.
Kyle Busch suggested that NASCAR’s rulings might be influenced by a driver’s last name, a claim that may seem extreme but has some merit.
Dillon, who drives for his grandfather Richard Childress’ team, and Cindric, whose father is Team Penske’s president, might have benefited from their family ties.
On the other hand, Elliott, a fan favorite and son of Bill Elliott, received a suspension. This could indicate that NASCAR wanted to prove it doesn’t show favoritism.
Wallace, despite not having a famous name, is a divisive figure in the sport. Suspending him sent a strong message, but that message loses meaning if NASCAR isn’t consistent with its enforcement.
If Cindric doesn’t fall into either of those categories, why was he treated differently?
Interestingly, Cindric’s own father faced a suspension from Team Penske after last year’s Indy 500 cheating scandal, but that’s another discussion.
Since Elliott was given a playoff waiver after missing his race, the same could have applied to Cindric. Wallace, eliminated from the playoffs at the time, didn’t receive one. Dillon was effectively given one by being allowed to qualify later, but neither he nor Elliott ended up making the playoffs.
