Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes a compelling case that Richard Childress Racing should appeal Austin Dillon's ruling

After NASCAR officially decided revoke Austin Dillon's automatic playoff spot after his victory in Richmond, Richard Childress Racing said it plans to appeal. Dillon destroyed Denny Hamlin And Joey Logano in the last corner of the last lap, which led to the penalties.

To Dale Earnhardt, Jr.RCR could appeal the ruling. Although he isn't sure if that's even possible, he explained why they might do so – and that doing so would give them a chance.

Earnhardt argued the penalty was due to the contact he had with Hamlin. Although he admitted contact with Logano, Earnhardt said he didn't think there would be an issue if that was the only time it happened. RCR argued that Hamlin wasn't hit intentionally, and an appeal would show even more how certain they are that was the case.

“I wouldn't be surprised if Richard initially appealed because we heard how dismissive he was of all the things that everyone in the media center after the race was trying to show him about the audio on the radio. … He really believed that couldn't possibly happen, when in fact it did happen,” Earnhardt said on his show. “I would imagine they're using the SMT data and trying to find evidence against what happened on the last lap. I believe that this penalty, in my opinion, this penalty for Austin is about the contact with Denny Hamlin. Not the 22. I could be wrong, but I believe if Austin gets the 22 out of the way and that's the end result, none of that happens. I believe the penalty is for the contact with the 11.

“And I believe that their story, Austin Dillon's story and everyone at RCR's story, is that that was not an intentional move. The 22, yes, they will admit that. He went down there to beat him and do whatever he could to get past him at any cost. But they believe, and I really believe they believe that, that that's true, that they did not intentionally destroy Denny.”

With a playoff spot on the line, RCR will have an uphill battle if it decides to appeal the Dillon decision, which is the main reason Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he could envision such a move.

“If they have the ability to appeal, I wouldn't be surprised because everything is on the line, right?” Earnhardt said. “A chance to get into the playoffs when we know they're not a championship threat. But it's going to cost them at least a couple million dollars to get into the playoffs. If they have the ability to appeal, I wouldn't be surprised at all if it goes out for good.”

Austin Dillon was also penalized with 25 points. Spotter Brandon Benesch also faces a three-race suspension and Joey Logano received a $50,000 fine for the burnout in front of Dillon's area on pit road.