Page 78 - 2019_NPPG_digital copy

AUSTIN DILLON

Birth Date: April 27, 1990 Hometown: Lewisville, NC
Team: No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 / Richard Childress Racing

It would be easy to call Austin Dillon’s 2018 season a disappointment. After
all, he only had two top-five finishes and was eliminated in the first round of
2018 featured drivers But when one of those top-fives is a victory at the season-opening Daytona
the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

500, you won’t get Dillon, or anyone else at Richard Childress Racing, to
feel badly.

Dillon made a last-lap charge on race leader Aric Almirola at the Great
American Race as they sped along the backstretch. When Almirola moved
to block, Dillon didn’t back off and their contact turned Almirola into the
outside wall.

“I guess I could have lifted and gave it to him,” Dillon said. “I guess that was
my other option, give up a Daytona 500 ring that I’m wearing. I don’t know,
I’m glad he’s not mad. If he needs to do it to me at Talladega for everybody
to feel good, I’ve got a Daytona 500 championship trophy, ring, whatever. I FOLLOW ONLINE
don’t care. I’ve got the [No.] 3 back in Victory Lane. It feels pretty good.”

Childress is Dillon’s grandfather. He also was the car owner for six of Dale @AUSTINDILLON3
Earnhardt’s seven Cup series championship. The two remained a duo until
Earnhardt died on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.
austindillon.com
Childress waited 13 years following Earnhardt’s death to bring the No. 3
back to the Cup series, and he didn’t give it to just anyone. He gave it
to family. Also, Danny Stockman will return as Dillon’s crew chief. The two worked
together in Dillon’s championship seasons in the NASCAR GANDER
OUTDOOR Truck Series in 2011 and in Xfinity in 2013.
Dillon’s win also came 20 years after Earnhardt’s only Daytona 500 victory
in 1998.
“I think we can change the culture in our shop, I really do,” Dillon said.
As memorable as the first race last season was for Dillon, the final 35 were “[Hemric’s] passion and his ability to know the mechanics of the car,
just as forgettable. In fact, the only other top-five finish came at Michigan he’s worked on race cars his entire life. He does a really good job of
in August. The Daytona win earned him a free pass to the playoffs, but his explaining what he needs in the car. I think we can work with each
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 posted finishes of 11th, sixth and 39th in the first other well.
round and was eliminated. Dillon eventually finished 13th in points.
“Danny Stockman coming up to the shop as my new crew chief, a guy I
had a lot of success with in the past … it will be a great year next year.”
Every Chevrolet team struggled to find a balance with their switch from the
SS to the Camaro, but it seemed to hit RCR even harder. Teammate Ryan
Newman failed to post a single top-five, and he finished 17th in points. Stockman will be Dillon’s third crew chief in the last two years. Richard
“Slugger” Labbe was replaced by Justin Alexander after the 11th race
“There was a lot going into this season,” Dillon said. ““A lot of people were in 2017.
pumped about the Chevy Camaro and we haven’t delivered the wins that
we thought our camp would this year as far as that goes.” “I’ve missed him from the moment we separated,” Dillon said of being
reunited with Stockman. “He’s always been there for me, always
believed in me. I think it was good to have the five years apart because
Dillon faces other shakeups ahead of the 2019 season.
we both got better having to work with other people and be more open
about working with other people. I can’t wait to get back together and
First, Newman left RCR to race at Roush Fenway. He was replaced by
Daniel Hemric, who finished third in the NASCAR Xfinity Series point see what we’ve learned away from each other and then bring that
standings last season. chemistry that we already have.”

78 THE OFFICIAL NASCAR 2019 PREVIEW & PRESS GUIDE