Dillon Wins, Fails Post Race Inspection

Dillon's celebration was short lived

It was a “good news, bad news” kind of night for Austin Dillon at Kentucky Speedway Friday.

The third-generation driver dominated the NASCAR Nationwide Series Feed The Children 300, leading all but eight of the 200 laps en route to a series record 9.828-second victory over runner-up Kurt Busch. Before Victory Lane ceremonies were even complete, however. problems surfaced with Dillon’s winning Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet. The car failed post-race inspection, with NASCAR officials saying it was too low in the rear. Sources say the car was a full inch below tolerance, an infraction the team will reportedly blame on a broken or stripped rear jack screw.

NASCAR is almost certain to dock the team championship points and money, with crew chief Danny Stockman facing a possible multi-race suspension. Those penalties, if any, are expected to be announced Tuesday.

Richard Childress Racing has not commented on the situation, but before the infraction was discovered, Dillon said his car was actually less than perfect.

"I was actually loose the whole race,” he said. “I just kept getting looser and looser. I was driving as straight as I could, trying not to slip the tires. I back-steered the whole race, but that last adjustment (Stockman) made got me tight enough to fire off really good. We knew Kurt was good, but our car was just stronger tonight."

Dillon currently owns a two-point lead over RCR teammate Elliott Sadler in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings. Sadler struggled with an ill-handling car throughout the event, but persevered to finish ninth at the drop of the checkered flag. Kevin Harvick finished third behind Dillon and Busch, followed by Michael Annett and Justin Allgaier.