NASCAR failed to follow precedent with Austin Cindric penalty decision

Early in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, a frustrated Cindric turned Dillon into the frontstretch wall at COTA in what was clearly a retaliatory move. In the past, NASCAR had set a precedent of a one-race suspension for drivers who intentionally hooked their competitors — a fitting penalty for a dangerous act. 

On Wednesday, Cindric was docked 50 points and fined $50,000, but he'll race in Sunday's Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix Raceway. 

Many fans were quick to point out that Cindric's incident differs from similar crashes that occurred at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October of 2022 and Charlotte Motor Speedway in May of 2023. Las Vegas and Charlotte are both high-speed, 1.5-mile ovals, a stark contrast to the slower road course of COTA. 

Cindric hooked Dillon soon after coming off of turn 20, making Dillon's impact much less severe than those of Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, who were the victims in the aforementioned wrecks at Las Vegas and Charlotte. 

Unlike Larson and Hamlin, Dillon was able to finish the race with relatively minor damage. From a results perspective, the incidents at Las Vegas and Charlotte were on a different planet from Cindric and Dillon's tangle at COTA. 

The problem? In this scenario, the result of the crash shouldn't matter. 

While right-hooking a driver at COTA or Martinsville may not be as physically severe as doing the same at Las Vegas or Charlotte, NASCAR failed to follow the precedent it set: right-hooking your competitors will not be tolerated. 

It's a message that needs to be yelled through a bullhorn before every NASCAR race. 

The consequences — or in this case, the lack thereof — shouldn't matter. In a sport where the risk of serious injury or death is very real, officiating issues involving safety can't have precedents compromised. They must be set in stone and unmoving. 

It was certainly not Cindric's intent to harm Dillon on Sunday, but he should be very grateful that he'll be behind the wheel of the No. 2 Ford on Sunday. 

NASCAR must set and follow a new precedent: whether you right-hook a driver at 50 mph or 150 mph, you'll be watching the next race from your couch.