Dillon’s victory at Richmond will eternally include warranted criticism, however with out the ultimate extra time restart, it could’ve been the quietest win of Dillon’s profession, even when it was a monumental upset.
Dillon’s earlier 4 wins had all include some form of dramatics: his first profession win within the 2017 Coke 600 got here by way of gasoline mileage, his 2018 Daytona 500 victory got here after he wrecked Aric Almirola on the ultimate lap, his 2020 win at Texas got here by way of pit technique within the closing laps and his 2022 victory at Daytona got here within the regular-season finale and occurred on the expense of Austin Cindric, whom Dillon moved out of the best way late within the going.
For the primary time all season, the No. 3 staff introduced a race-winning automotive to the observe for Dillon, and after topping the velocity charts in follow and qualifying sixth, there was hope that Dillon may pull off a miraculous win to make the postseason.
Till Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ryan Preece tangled with two laps to go, it appeared like that win would come pretty straightforward for Dillon, as his Chevrolet Camaro appeared the be the quickest automotive on observe for almost all of Stage Three. After passing Hamlin for the lead with 29 laps to go, Dillon drove away, stretching his result in almost three seconds earlier than the ultimate warning.
It was stated warning that led to the wild chain of occasions that determined Sunday’s race, and sadly for Dillon, it means a genuinely spectacular efficiency by himself and his staff will eternally be forgotten because of a transfer that was something however spectacular.
There is definitely so much for Dillon and the No. 3 staff to construct on from a efficiency perspective after their Richmond victory, however Dillon could have accomplished himself extra hurt than good. With the playoffs rapidly approaching, he cannot — and should not — anticipate any driver within the discipline to present him a break or lend him a hand.
In modern-day NASCAR, you are typically pressured to make the selection between what is correct and what’s straightforward. Dillon selected the straightforward selection, and in his phrases, he needed to do it.
