The Circuit of the Americas was a battlefield filled with fierce competition and high-stakes drama. In just the fourth lap, the first major clash occurred. Ty Dillon, the youngest grandson of Richard Childress, tried to overtake Austin Cindric of Penske, but ended up shoving him off track. Cindric, with no space to recover, found himself on the grass before getting back onto the asphalt. However, Cindric wasn’t going to let it slide.

He immediately retaliated by hooking Ty Dillon’s No. 10 car into the wall on the front straight. Ty, clearly furious, vented his frustration over the radio, saying, “I’m not gonna say anything, but you know what I’m thinking. That was some absolute b——-.” Despite the altercation, neither car suffered significant damage, and the race continued. Austin finished in 25th after starting from 36th, while Ty came in 28th.

A few days later, NASCAR decided to fine Austin Cindric $50,000 and deduct 50 points from his total. This penalty dropped him to a 35th-place finish. However, this wasn’t as severe as past punishments, like the one given to Bubba Wallace in 2022 for a similar act, which resulted in a one-race suspension. NASCAR’s inconsistent handling of these incidents left Ty Dillon unimpressed.

In response to questions from Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports, Ty Dillon shared his thoughts. “I think NASCAR gets into trouble trying to define these gray areas. When you talk about speed and damage, NASCAR has been showing us pictures of cars hit at 75-100 mph, and the damage is severe. Luckily, no one else hit me while I was stuck. So, if that had happened, would it have been enough to warrant a penalty? I just think we need clearer standards. NASCAR has to be more consistent in how they make these calls,” he said.

Ty’s comments were a direct message to NASCAR and Austin Cindric. He believed that Austin should have received a one-race suspension for his actions, as this type of move should be automatically penalized. Although he acknowledged NASCAR’s fine, he felt it was insufficient. The damages to Ty’s car were extensive, with Kaulig Racing’s President estimating repair costs at over $100,000—double the fine imposed on Cindric.

Austin Cindric, acknowledging the situation, apologized for his actions. “It’s not up to me to decide what penalties are,” he said. “I got forced off the track and handled myself poorly. I learned from it, and I’ll move forward. NASCAR has the data to make these calls, and I respect their decisions.”

Cindric’s season had already taken a tough turn, as the previous week, a massive wreck caused by Kyle Larson ended his podium finish hopes. Despite the frustrations, Cindric approached the situation calmly, even reaching out to Larson to clear the air.

Ty Dillon wasn’t the only one having a rough day. His older brother, Austin Dillon, was also taken out of the race after Denny Hamlin lost control of his car and crashed into him. Austin Dillon got stuck in the gravel, and despite his efforts, needed NASCAR’s intervention to continue. Meanwhile, Kyle Busch, who had been leading, faced a tough challenge after the caution. A pit stop sequence put him at a disadvantage, and he couldn’t hold off William Byron or Christopher Bell, eventually finishing 5th.

For Richard Childress Racing, it was a mixed day at the office, with both Ty and Austin Dillon having disappointing finishes. Kyle Busch had his chances but couldn’t capitalize. It was a tough race for the team, but the hope remains that fortunes will change at the Phoenix Raceway.