Austin Dillon
Encyclopedia
Austin Dillon is an American
stock car
racing driver. He is the son of former driver and RCR general manager Mike Dillon
and grandson of Richard Childress
.
He currently drives the #3 AdvoCare
Chevrolet Impala
full-time for Richard Childress Racing
(RCR) in the NASCAR
Nationwide Series. After winning Rookie of the Year in the Truck Series in 2010, Dillon won the Truck Series championship in 2011. Dillon is also the co-chair of the Reagan Foundation's National Youth Leadership Committee. Dillon has a brother named Ty who races for Richard Childress in the Camping World Truck Series.
Rookie of the Year
in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East after one win at Greenville-Pickens Speedway
, one Pole and ten top-10s in 13 races. In 2008 and 2009, he drove the #2 Chevrolet
Impala
part time for Richard Childress Racing
in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with sponsorship from Chevrolet
. His career best finish was 4th at Memphis Motorsports Park
in 2008.
, driving the #3 truck, the first time that the number has appeared in the three major series since Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
in the Nationwide Series back in 2002. He would finish 12th. Dillon was supposed to start the Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega Superspeedway
during the 2009 Camping World Truck Series season
, but the truck failed track inspections, thus his time was removed and was not allowed to race. Dillon would drive the #3 truck full time in 2010 for Rookie of the Year, with sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops
. Despite crashing out early at Daytona, Dillon got his first career pole at Texas Motor Speedway
in June and finished 3rd and led 20 laps. On July 11, 2010, Dillon scored his first career NASCAR victory in the Lucas Oil 200
at Iowa Speedway
in the Camping World Truck Series and brought the #3 truck back to victory lane since Bryan Reffner
in 2000 at Texas Motor Speedway
. Although, when Reffner won, he was not driving for RCR (Jay Sauter
was the last driver to win for the team in 1999), he was driving for Team Menard
.
Austin Dillion would win his record setting 5th pole the most for a rookie in series history. Along with the pole he would lead over 92 laps of 146 to claim his 2nd win of the season at Las Vegas and the second of his career. Austin Dillon was also rookie of the year ending the season with 2 wins 7 top 5s and 16 top 10s.
In 2011, Dillon scored his first win of the year at Nashville Superspeedway. Austin scored his second win of 2011 at Chicagoland Speedway, beating Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. After rain shortened the Season Finale at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Austin was crowned 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion. In 2012 he will move up to the Nationwide Series full time, driving the #3 for RCR.
On November 4th, 2011, RCR announced that Austin Dillion will drive the Black Number 3 Car in the Nationwide Series for the 2012 season, bringing back the famed number to the series full time. His sponsor will be Advocare.
Dillon won 2 races in the Camping World Truck Series on his way to winning the truck championship and became the youngest driver to win a Camping World Truck Series Championship.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stock car
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
racing driver. He is the son of former driver and RCR general manager Mike Dillon
Mike Dillon (NASCAR)
Mike Dillon is a former NASCAR Busch Series race car driver for Richard Childress Racing, and the current general manager for the team after having raced in all three national series. He is the son-in-law of Richard Childress. He acts as spotter for RCR driver for Clint Bowyer.- Winston Cup Series...
and grandson of Richard Childress
Richard Childress
Richard Childress is a former NASCAR driver and the current team owner of Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. As a business entrepreneur, Childress became one of the wealthiest men in North Carolina...
.
He currently drives the #3 AdvoCare
AdvoCare
AdvoCare International, L.P. is a nutrition, weight-loss, energy and sports performance products company. The company was founded in 1993 by Charles Ragus and employs around 247 people in the United States...
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
full-time for Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing
RCR Enterprises, LLC, doing business as Richard Childress Racing, is a NASCAR team based in Welcome, North Carolina, and is owned and operated by former driver Richard Childress...
(RCR) in the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Nationwide Series. After winning Rookie of the Year in the Truck Series in 2010, Dillon won the Truck Series championship in 2011. Dillon is also the co-chair of the Reagan Foundation's National Youth Leadership Committee. Dillon has a brother named Ty who races for Richard Childress in the Camping World Truck Series.
2008: K&N Pro Series East
Dillon was the 2008 SunocoSunoco
Sunoco Inc. is an American petroleum and petrochemical manufacturer headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, formerly known as Sun Company Inc. and Sun Oil Co. ....
Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East after one win at Greenville-Pickens Speedway
Greenville-Pickens Speedway
Greenville-Pickens Speedway is a race track located in Pickens County, South Carolina, just west of Greenville, South Carolina, USA, and just east of Easley, South Carolina. The track hosts weekly NASCAR sanctioned races. Several touring series visit the track each year, including the Whelen...
, one Pole and ten top-10s in 13 races. In 2008 and 2009, he drove the #2 Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
part time for Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing
RCR Enterprises, LLC, doing business as Richard Childress Racing, is a NASCAR team based in Welcome, North Carolina, and is owned and operated by former driver Richard Childress...
in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with sponsorship from Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
. His career best finish was 4th at Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway is an auto racing park located across the Loosahatchie River from Memphis, Tennessee, approximately ten miles south of Millington, Tennessee. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and 1.8-mile road course...
in 2008.
2009–present: Camping World Truck Series
He made his first Camping World Truck Series start at Iowa SpeedwayIowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway is a 7/8-mile paved oval motor racing track in Newton, Iowa, United States, approximately east of Des Moines. The track was designed with influence from Rusty Wallace and patterned after Richmond International Raceway, a short track where Wallace was very successful...
, driving the #3 truck, the first time that the number has appeared in the three major series since Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
in the Nationwide Series back in 2002. He would finish 12th. Dillon was supposed to start the Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
during the 2009 Camping World Truck Series season
2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
The 15th season of the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series began on February 13, 2009 at Daytona International Speedway with the Daytona 250. The season concluded on November 20 of that year at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Ford 200. The season was the first under the Camping World...
, but the truck failed track inspections, thus his time was removed and was not allowed to race. Dillon would drive the #3 truck full time in 2010 for Rookie of the Year, with sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops is a privately held retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor recreation merchandise. Bass Pro Shops is known for a large selection of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor gear.-History:The owner, John L...
. Despite crashing out early at Daytona, Dillon got his first career pole at Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
in June and finished 3rd and led 20 laps. On July 11, 2010, Dillon scored his first career NASCAR victory in the Lucas Oil 200
Lucas Oil 200
The Coca-Cola 200 presented by Hy-Vee is a 200 lap NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race held at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.-Past winners:*2010: Race extended to 205 laps / 179.375 miles due to a Green-white-checker finish.-References:*...
at Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway is a 7/8-mile paved oval motor racing track in Newton, Iowa, United States, approximately east of Des Moines. The track was designed with influence from Rusty Wallace and patterned after Richmond International Raceway, a short track where Wallace was very successful...
in the Camping World Truck Series and brought the #3 truck back to victory lane since Bryan Reffner
Bryan Reffner
Bryan Reffner is a veteran of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He was also a champion in the American Speed Association.-Career prior to NASCAR:...
in 2000 at Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
. Although, when Reffner won, he was not driving for RCR (Jay Sauter
Jay Sauter
Jay Sauter is a NASCAR driver. He previously drove the #34 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Frank Cicci Racing in the Busch Series. Sauter is the son of former NASCAR driver Jim Sauter, and the brother of fellow drivers Tim Sauter and Johnny Sauter...
was the last driver to win for the team in 1999), he was driving for Team Menard
Team Menard
Team Menard was an auto racing team in the Indianapolis 500 and Indy Racing League owned by John Menard. From 1991 to 1996 they modified their own Buick V6 engines for racing. This combination won pole for the 500 with Scott Brayton in 1995 and 1996; Tony Stewart used this combination for the first...
.
Austin Dillion would win his record setting 5th pole the most for a rookie in series history. Along with the pole he would lead over 92 laps of 146 to claim his 2nd win of the season at Las Vegas and the second of his career. Austin Dillon was also rookie of the year ending the season with 2 wins 7 top 5s and 16 top 10s.
In 2011, Dillon scored his first win of the year at Nashville Superspeedway. Austin scored his second win of 2011 at Chicagoland Speedway, beating Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. After rain shortened the Season Finale at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Austin was crowned 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion. In 2012 he will move up to the Nationwide Series full time, driving the #3 for RCR.
2011: Sprint Cup Series
Austin Dillon made his first career start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on October 9th, 2011. He finished 26th in his No. 98 Camping World Curb/Agajanian Racing Chevrolet Impala.On November 4th, 2011, RCR announced that Austin Dillion will drive the Black Number 3 Car in the Nationwide Series for the 2012 season, bringing back the famed number to the series full time. His sponsor will be Advocare.
Dillon won 2 races in the Camping World Truck Series on his way to winning the truck championship and became the youngest driver to win a Camping World Truck Series Championship.