The draft is creating massive closing rates between those who have a run. On lap 101, Denny Hamlin, who was running third, pulled out of line to pass Austin Dillon for second, but then Hamlin slipped up the track. Dillon was coming up fast with drafting help from Kyle Busch.
As Busch was shoving Dillon, it appeared a bump draft went wrong as Dillon was reacting to Hamlin sliding up in front of him.
Dillon and Busch went into the outside wall. Ty Dillon and Chase Briscoe were also caught up in the crash as well.
Here is the crash as it developed in real time:
Replay: Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch trigger a big mess at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The No. 3 is done for the day. https://t.co/rQpWGivQ2J pic.twitter.com/7r2HegrprI
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 20, 2022
When his team asked about how his car was after the crash, Busch responded that it was absolutely killed, but he was able to continue on. Austin and Ty Dillon, who also suffered a good amount of damage, weren’t as fortunate as their races ended due to the accident. Briscoe looked to get out of the ordeal with the least damage of anyone, other than Hamlin.
Austin Dillon says the bump draft from Busch, which was initiated on his left rear bumper caused the crash.
“William (Byron) and I had a good run through (turns) one and two. Got to the lead and he pushed me down the backstretch. I knew the Toyotas were going to go opposite of us, so I felt like having the No. 24 block bottom and me go to the top would keep the Chevy’s up front,” Dillon explained. “The No. 18 (Kyle Busch) decided to stick with me. I know he probably thought he was doing us a favor, but you can’t push on the left rear on exit off turn four going as fast as we’re going. He just turned me and it took us both out of the race.”
For Dillon, it was yet another early end to a race, where he had a car capable of contending for a good finish.
“It was the end of Stage One. We were going to get a run down the front stretch right there, so I don’t know why he’s pushing dead center, at the three-quarter mark,” Dillon questioned. “It’s part of it I guess. It was fun racing there for a while with a really fast No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevy. My feelings are hurt. Just two weeks in a row we’ve been taken out of the race.”
