NASCAR’s latest penalty decision has stirred up plenty of debate, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. questioning whether losing 50 points is a harsher punishment than a race suspension. The penalty, handed down to Team Penske’s Austin Cindric, has left many wondering if NASCAR went too far this time.
What Did Austin Cindric Do To Earn 50-Point Penalty?
During Lap 4 of the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Cindric hooked left and rear-ended the right side of Ty Dillon’s No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet. It was considered intentional because Dillon had pushed Cindric off the track just a moment earlier on the same lap, which led to the latter’s retaliation.
The punishment was swift and severe — a 50-point deduction in both driver and owner standings and a $50,000 fine. However, there was no race suspension for Cindric.
While NASCAR has always been strict about rule enforcement, this particular penalty stood out because it did not include a race ban. The points deduction also dropped him to 35th place in the driver standings with a total of 30 points.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Weighs In
When reacting to the news, Earnhardt did not hold back. The JR Motorsports president expressed his surprise on his podcast, “Dale Jr. Download.”
“He got 50 damn points. That’s freaking a race and a half.”
Later, in a tweet, Earnhardt also said, “Worse than a suspension? Quite possibly.”
Is losing 50 points more detrimental than being suspended for Austin Cindric? 📊🤔
Hear @DaleJr 's full reaction on our YouTube page here: https://t.co/iSoSgEX9N2 pic.twitter.com/VsDHQAEFKQ
— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) March 5, 2025
Earnhardt’s statement has sparked a discussion among fans, drivers, and analysts alike. The logic behind his argument is simple: most drivers lose 35 to 40 points when missing a race, but Cindric’s penalty cost him 50 points on top of the hefty fine.
In a sport where every point matters, this could seriously hurt Cindric’s playoff hopes.
The debate over NASCAR’s decision is split, however. Some, like Earnhardt, feel that a race suspension would have been a fairer punishment than a massive points deduction that could derail an entire season. The question also arises as to why Cindric was not suspended for a race, when other drivers have received that penalty for similar incidents.
