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Austin Dillon repeats at Richmond, steals spot in NASCAR Playoff one year after controversy

JHby: Jonathan Howard08/17/25Jondean25
Austin Dillon Richmond win NASCAR
Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

What a race for Austin Dillon! He repeats at Richmond and avenges his controversial win from 2024 to make the NASCAR Playoffs. Dillon came into the night 28th in points. He walks away with a spot in the top-16, no matter what happens the rest of the season.

Last year, this win was mired in controversy. While he got to keep the win, Dillon was not given entry into the playoffs. Instead, he was made to sit out of the postseason and had no benefits from the win outside of a W to his name.

Austin Dillon finds a way to get another win. RCR gets back to victory lane.

Austin Dillon led 107 laps, the second most on the night, to win tonight in Richmond. He had a dominant performance. Once Bubba Wallace had an issue on pit road with a loose wheel, the door was wide open for Dillon. It became a two-driver race with him and Ryan Blaney going head-to-head.

Richard Boswell called a great race. He was able to get his driver down pit road ahead of Blaney. That proved to be the right call on the final run of pit stops. Coming out almost 10 seconds ahead of Blaney with a slight tire deficit, Dillon drove his 3 car home for the win.

Ryan Blaney was catching Austin Dillon for a time with less than 50 laps to go. However, the tires evened out, and Blaney had to push harder being the trailing car. So, Dillon drove off and didn’t look back.

Austin Dillon wins, punches ticket to NASCAR Playoffs

For everyone below the NASCAR Playoffs cutline, next week at Daytona is a must-win. Austin Dillon jumps from 28th in points into the top-16, no matter what happens now. He won this race cleanly. I wasn’t particularly close in the end, either.

Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman are the final two drivers in the playoffs going into Daytona. That could change if another driver below the cutline gets a win. Last season, Harrison Buron won the race in a major upset to make the playoffs. Being at Daytona, it could be anyone.

Tonight’s race didn’t have the late theatrics of last season. But it was a good race. Drivers had to fight these tires and take care of them all night long. We had comers and ogers. Mistakes on pit road were costly, meaning teams had to work as a unit to win.

Austin Dillon made a big statement. Richmond is his track, and he has back-to-back wins at the raceway now. Can Dillon make a run in the playoffs to capitalize on this win?