Redemption is sweet.
If you don’t believe it, ask Austin Dillon who won the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway without any controversy a year after being brutalized for the way he emerged the victor in the race’s 2024 version.
“Last year hurt really bad just going through the whole process of it,” Dillon said. “I, like, cried in our appeal process because that win meant a lot to me.”
Last year, Dillon was allowed to keep the victory, but he wasn’t permitted to compete in the playoffs. NASCAR ruled he crossed the line when he spun leader Joey Logano and turned Denny Hamlin into the wall on the final lap enroute to the checkered flag.
“He (Richard Childress, team owner and grandfather) felt like NASCAR kind of let him down in a way (last year),” Dillon said. “They had to make a call. I got over it. He doesn’t get over those type of things. Hopefully, this lets him sleep at night again to that point because this sport is special. It’s given our family a living and a lot of other families a living.”
This year, Dillon led five times for 107 laps, including the final 49 in the 400-lap race. His victory margin over Alex Bowman was 2.471-seconds. And the only hurt he had this year was physical. Turns out he's been racing with a broken rib, an injury that didn't happen on a racetrack.
"I fell off a ladder pulling my bow case off getting ready for hunting season," Dillon explained. "Fell on top of the bow case. It knocked the breath out of me. Knew it was pretty bad. Went ahead and raced Iowa. I got it x-rayed. Seventh one on my right is broken.
"I've been racing with it. It's been pretty painful. I raced Watkins Glen, Iowa, then here. Should be good. It's made pretty big improvements over the last two weeks"
Dillon’s sixth career Cup victory gave him entrance into the playoffs for the first time since 2022. Thanks to win that this time, comes without controversy.
"This feels great," Dillon said. "This is what I wanted last year. It's not how I wanted to end it last year. Felt like I had to with my back against the wall kind of deal.
"This year it just played out the way God wanted it to, I guess."
NASCAR Cup Series Race Results Cook Out 400
Richmond Raceway
Richmond, Virginia
Saturday, August 16, 2025
1. (11) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 400.
2. (9) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 400.
3. (20) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 400.
4. (38) Joey Logano, Ford, 400.
5. (13) Austin Cindric, Ford, 400.
6. (30) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 400.
7. (21) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 400.
8. (17) Josh Berry, Ford, 400.
9. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 400.
10. (4) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 400.
11. (29) Zane Smith, Ford, 400.
12. (14) William Byron, Chevrolet, 400.
13. (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 400.
14. (27) Shane Van Gisbergen #, Chevrolet, 399.
15. (15) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 399.
16. (28) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 399.
17. (10) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 399.
18. (23) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 399.
19. (33) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 399.
20. (16) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 399.
21. (8) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 399.
22. (3) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 399.
23. (36) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 399.
24. (24) Cole Custer, Ford, 399.
25. (31) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 399.
26. (18) Erik Jones, Toyota, 398.
27. (22) Noah Gragson, Ford, 398.
28. (7) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 398.
29. (32) Corey Heim(i), Toyota, 398.
30. (12) Chris Buescher, Ford, 398.
31. (26) Riley Herbst #, Toyota, 398.
32. (37) Cody Ware, Ford, 397.
33. (35) Jesse Love(i), Chevrolet, 396.
34. (2) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 396.
35. (1) Ryan Preece, Ford, 396.
36. (34) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 389.
37. (25) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, Accident, 198.
38. (5) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, Accident, 197.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 94.126 mph.
Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 11 Mins, 14 Secs. Margin of Victory: 2.471 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 5 for 44 laps.
Lead Changes: 24 among 11 drivers.
Lap Leaders: R. Preece 1-58;*. Reddick 59-74;*. Wallace 75-130;R. Preece 131-132;A. Dillon 133-138;*. Reddick 139-163;*. Wallace 164-179;K. Larson 180-183;*. Wallace 184-233;D. Suarez 234;M. McDowell 235-240;*. Wallace 241;A. Dillon 242-291;A. Cindric 292;K. Larson 293;C. Hocevar 294-303;R. Blaney 304-331;A. Dillon 332;R. Blaney 333-339;A. Dillon 340;R. Blaney 341-344;A. Cindric 345;K. Larson 346-349;B. Keselowski 350-351;A. Dillon 352-400.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): * Bubba Wallace 4 times for 123 laps; Austin Dillon 5 times for 107 laps; Ryan Preece 2 times for 60 laps; * Tyler Reddick 2 times for 41 laps; Ryan Blaney 3 times for 39 laps; Carson Hocevar 1 time for 10 laps; Kyle Larson 3 times for 9 laps; Michael McDowell 1 time for 6 laps; Austin Cindric 2 times for 2 laps; Brad Keselowski 1 time for 2 laps; Daniel Suarez 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 45,23,11,3,2,20,12,6,21,99
Stage #2 Top Ten: 23,99,12,3,48,60,77,2,24,5
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