After a two-year dry spell, Austin Dillon finally secured his first win of the season and a spot in the playoffs, but it wasn’t an easy road.
Despite Busch’s difficulties, Childress’ grandson managed to rescue the season. Childress’ reaction was one of pride: “Pop Pop is proud of you.” But was the pride warranted given the controversial manner in which Dillon secured his win and the instructions he followed?
In classic NASCAR style, Richard Childress Racing (RCR) was determined to do whatever it took to achieve their first win of the season. Dillon’s approach involved aggressive tactics, including spinning out Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, transforming a seemingly straightforward race into a dramatic showdown.
According to Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, Dillon’s spotter instructed him over the radio, “I don’t care how you do it,” just before Dillon collided with Logano, sending him into the wall. Following Logano’s crash, Dillon also forced Denny Hamlin out of his position, with Hamlin’s spotter reportedly urging Dillon to “Wreck him! Wreck him” before Dillon took Hamlin out of contention.
They also directed their disapproval towards team owner Richard Childress for his team’s aggressive tactics. One fan expressed their disdain on X, stating, “RC is so classless.” If Dillon had won through legitimate means, it might have felt like a redemption. Instead, the use of controversial and risky tactics, which could have endangered Hamlin and Logano, left many uneasy. This sentiment extended to Childress’ praise of Dillon.
Another user reacted negatively to how Dillon seemingly refers to his grandfather, commenting, “Pop Pop. Cringe…” Additionally, a fan condemned the RCR team owner for allegedly undermining his own career with nepotism, saying, “Richard Childress has destroyed what could have been one of the greatest ownership careers with nepotism and stupidity.”
