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3h ago

Dillon’s Clean Richmond Win Locks Playoff Spot, Puts Daytona Bubble on Edge

The result leaves two points berths to be decided at volatile Daytona, sharpening scrutiny of NASCAR’s win-to-get-in format.

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Austin Dillon won his way into the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with victory at Richmond Raceway. Image: Getty Images
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Overview

  • Austin Dillon dominated the Cook Out 400 by leading 107 laps to secure a clean Richmond victory that clinched his playoff berth one year after a penalized win there.
  • His triumph made him the 14th different winner of 2025, leaving only two points-based spots to be settled in the regular-season finale at Daytona.
  • Tyler Reddick now holds just a 29-point edge over Alex Bowman for the final transfer position after a Richmond crash relegated him to 34th.
  • Daytona presents a must-win scenario for several notable drivers who cannot advance on points, including Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece.
  • Denny Hamlin praised Dillon’s execution yet questioned the format’s fairness, noting a surprise Daytona winner could knock out consistent performers like Reddick or Bowman.