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Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacts to RCR, Austin Dillon decision to appeal NASCAR penalty

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones08/22/24brianjones_93
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Le Mans
(Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared his thoughts on Austin Dillon and Richard Childress Racing (RCR) deciding to appeal the penalty they received from NASCAR. Before NASCAR ruled against the appeal on Wednesday, Earnhardt explained on Dale Jr. Download why he didn’t mind Dillon and RCR appealing NASCAR revoking Dillon’s playoff berth.

“I think that Austin and his team will put forth a great argument. I don’t think that they’re wasting their time, I don’t think that what they’re going to bring to the table and show to the board is silly,” Earnhardt said. “I honestly feel like that they believe what they’re going to tell them. Austin and his team, they’re not sitting here with these stats going, ‘Yeah look at this man, this is fine.’ They’re not lying, they’re not trying to be nefarious or anything. They truly believe that they didn’t do this and they believe they got the data to show.

“That’s why I’m okay with them appealing, I just don’t believe that they’ll win it. The one thing about this is it’s such a judgment call whereas in most appeals it’s a technical part, an inspection process, a flaw somewhere that a team has stumbled upon intentionally or unintentionally in the processes of technical inspection pre or post-race.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. says NASCAR’s decision on Austin Dillon was a ‘judgment call’

Earnhardt went on to say that he wasn’t sure how Dillon and RCR could get a panel to rule in their favor since it’s a judgment call. “I don’t really know how they can look at this and reverse it because I don’t think that there’s any tangible true evidence,” he said.

“I don’t believe that there is any definitive proof in this. It’s just this person said this and this person said that and who do you believe? There’s no factual thing that I think that Dillon can put in front of him and go, ‘Oh come on y’all, it’s obvious. I didn’t deserve to get penalized.'”

Dillon and RCR will appeal again, and the hearing will happen on Monday. After the Richmond Cup Series race earlier this month, Dillon wrecked Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin during the final lap of the race to earn a victory. NASCAR allowed Dillon to keep the win but revoked his playoff berth.