MADISON, Ill. – If you thought yesterday’s (June 3) NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Portland International Raceway was the end of the driver feuds this weekend, you would be mistaken.
Instead, the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway was the scene of a late-race wreck that left more NASCAR drivers at odds with each other.
“I was wrecked intentionally by [Austin Cindric], hooked right, just like Chase [Elliott] and Denny [Hamlin] and Bubba’s deal,” Austin Dillon said after the incident. “He better be suspended next week.”
In a marathon race at Gateway that featured heat, lightning delays, a power outage, four blown brake rotors and 11 cautions, it was a crash with 21 to go between Dillon, Cindric and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. where tempers boiled over.
The wreck incensed both Stenhouse and Dillon while leading to a weird tale of two extremes at Richard Childress Racing. Dillon’s team owner Richard Childress was celebrating a victory with driver Kyle Busch, who scored his 63rd NASCAR Cup Series win, his third of the season and his first at Gateway after finishing runner-up to Joey Logano last season.
But even with the celebrations, Childress took the time to call out Cindric when he wasn’t even asked about the incident.
[Kyle Busch has] definitely helped Austin a whole lot, Austin’s had some good runs,” Childress said. “He had drove up to about 10th until the [No.] 2 car wrecked him.”Stenhouse was swept up in the aftermath of the collision, and the wreck ended a streak of seven straight top-15 finishes for the No. 47 team.
He, too, was frustrated with Cindric.
“We had a really good streak going of really good runs, and it looked like the [No.] 2, for some reason, right reared the [No.] 3.,” Stenhouse said. “Took both of us Chevy guys out, so, that’s a bummer because we definitely had a top 10 car today.
“It’s frustrating to get taken out on the straightaway. That’s the most frustrating part this close to the end of the race, knowing that I felt like we had a top 10 going. We’ll just have to start a new streak next week, go to Sonoma [Raceway], I feel like my guys will bring a good car.”
Will this incident carry over into Sonoma? That’s what Stenhouse alluded to.
“Austin Cindric probably won’t win that race, and I think Austin [Dillon] and I will make sure of that,” Stenhouse said.
Cindric was approached by Frontstretch after the conclusion of the race, but he declined an interview.
About the author
Stephen Stumpf is the NASCAR Content Director for Frontstretch, and his weekly columns include “Stat Sheet” and “4 Burning Questions.” Stephen also writes commentary, contributes weekly to the “Bringing the Heat” podcast and is frequently at the track for on-site coverage. A native of Texas, Stephen began following NASCAR at age 9 after attending his first race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Follow on Twitter @stephen_stumpf.
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Yes, definitely!
I think drivers, & car owners should be the ones calling the penalties.
I worked for Hamlin, so why not?
Austin Dillon’s teammate has three wins this season, Dillon has zero. Maybe he’s just feeling the pressure.
Austin Dillon is feeling the pressure alright. To his right rear quarter panel by Austin Cindric to be exact. Can you say payback ? 🤷🏻♂️
How many people has Dillon wrecked? I don’t know if Cindric actually wrecked him.
Ok, I don’t if it will but this may ruffle some feathers, lets start suspending drivers for every little incident. Do you know what were going to get? You’ll get the vanilla form of racing of Formula 1. Yesterday’s F1 race was nothing more than a yawnfest. Some these drivers screaming for suspension should first look in mirror and then look into their past history before opening their mouth.
Nascar drivers have become a bunch of cry babies. Quit whining and race
From what I saw, Cindric didn’t change lanes but Dillon turned right into Cindri, maybe to block him from getting alongside in the turn. Dillon has to be feeling some pressure from the results of his “teammate”. His sponsors have to wondering too about Dillon’s results.
Austin was going to be shown up by Reddick too. The only teammate Austin might beat is his brother lmao good thing Richard owns a team and has owner friends. Here Richard thought his team was lagging behind lol nope, just Austin.
With the newest employee at Pop Pops shop winning, anybody who thought it was just a second-rate operation (maybe it is)..well it seems to be the big mouthed entitled brat, WHO CANNOT DRIVE is jealous and has his panties in a twist! He will never get fired, so he should shut up and chill.
Childress cars can win events. They proved that with Earnhardt. The results now are based on the driver’s talent. Or lack thereof.
“They proved that with Earnhardt”…. LOL
Yeah, last century!
Maybe it’s just me but there lack of results started with the Dillons. Nepotism reared its ugly head and Childress is paying the price. Do you think Richard is holding Baby Busch’s watch while he is in the car?
You can thank Hamlin for the new “whine for a penalty” in the media mentality. I could not care less about either Dillon or Cindric (both have nepotistic origins), but if the data shows that Cindric did, in fact, hook Dillon, how can NASCAR not suspend him?
I have no idea whether he did or didn’t, and I don’t care enough to waste my time watching replays to find out.
How did Dillon win his 500? Another pot meet another kettle! Selective memory at work.