Austin Dillon

Dillon began his racing career in Bandolero and Legends. A year later, he started dirt track racing at dirt late model racer Dale McDowell's school.{{cite web|url=http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/fans/news/641731.html|title=19-Year-Old Austin Dillon Among Four Drivers with NASCAR Ties Slated to Compete in the Oct. 14 World of Outlaws Topless Showdown|work=Charlotte Motor Speedway|date=October 9, 2009|access-date=November 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129144659/http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/fans/news/641731.html|archive-date=November 29, 2016|url-status=dead}}

Dillon was the 2008 Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Camping World East Series.

He ran the full schedule in the No. 3 Chevrolet initially driving for Andy Santerre Motorsports; he eventually moved under his grandfather's Richard Childress Racing banner after four races.{{cite web|last1=Swan|first1=Raygan|title=Dillon living up to family heritage despite late start|url=http://hometracks.nascar.com/node/747|website=hometracks.nascar.com|publisher=NASCAR|access-date=February 7, 2015|date=July 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207095439/https://hometracks.nascar.com/node/747|archive-date=February 7, 2015}} Dillon scored one win at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, one pole and ten top-ten finishes in 13 races.{{Cite web |url=http://www.teamdillonracing.com/pages/ad_driverbio.htm |title=Driver's bio at teamdillonracing.com |access-date=April 27, 2009 |archive-date=February 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218235644/http://teamdillonracing.com/pages/ad_driverbio.htm |url-status=dead }}

File:Austin Dillon Pocono 2011.jpg in 2011]]

He made his first Camping World Truck Series start at Iowa Speedway, driving the No. 3 truck.{{cite web|url=http://www.racintoday.com/archives/9518|title=Dillon To Drive RCR Truck At Iowa|work=Racin' Today|date=September 1, 2009|access-date=November 28, 2016}} This was the first time that the No. 3 had appeared in any of the three major series since Dale Earnhardt Jr. used it in the Busch Series back in 2002.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

Dillon was supposed to start the Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega Superspeedway during the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, but the truck failed inspection, thus his time was removed and he failed to qualify for the race.{{cite news|last=Demmons|first=Doug|url=http://blog.al.com/blogoftomorrow/2009/10/colin_braun_wins_the_pole_for_1.html|title=Colin Braun wins the pole for Truck Series race at Talladega|newspaper=The Birmingham News|date=October 30, 2009|access-date=November 28, 2016}} Dillon would drive the No. 3 truck full-time in 2010 for Rookie of the Year, with sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops.{{cite web|url=http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&appID=34&template=news_display.cfm&newsID=548|title=Bass Pro Shops to Continue Heritage with Richard Childress Racing's No. 3 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Program|work=Bass Pro Shops|date=April 8, 2014|access-date=November 28, 2016|quote=A longtime motorsports supporter, Bass Pro Shops' association with Dillon dates back to 2010, when the company partnered with RCR for Dillon's first foray into fulltime NASCAR competition with sponsorship of the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.}}

Despite crashing out early at Daytona, Dillon got his first career pole at Texas Motor Speedway in June and finished third, leading 20 laps. On July 11, Dillon scored his first career NASCAR victory in the Lucas Oil 200 at Iowa Speedway, winning a Truck Series race in a truck wearing the No. 3 for the first time since Bryan Reffner won for Team Menard in 2000 at Texas Motor Speedway.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} He ended the season with two wins and seven poles, earning him Rookie of the Year honors.{{cite news|last=James|first=Brant|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2011-01-31-trucks-austin-dillon_N.htm|title=Austin Dillon looks to build on rookie success in Truck Series|newspaper=USA Today|date=February 7, 2011|access-date=November 28, 2016}}

In 2011, Dillon scored his first win of the year at Nashville Superspeedway. Dillon 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, Dillon was crowned the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion.{{cite news|last=Demmons|first=Doug|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/11/austin_dillon_wins_2011_nascar.html|title=Austin Dillon wins 2011 NASCAR Truck Series championship in rain-shortened race|newspaper=The Birmingham News|date=November 18, 2011|access-date=November 28, 2016}} He also won the 2011 CWTS Most Popular Driver Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2016/10/8/most-popular-driver-voting-xfinity-camping-world-truck-series.html|title=IT'S VOTING SEASON FOR MOST POPULAR DRIVER AWARD|work=NASCAR|date=October 7, 2016|access-date=November 28, 2016|quote=Other notable Most Popular Driver Award winners include Greg Biffle (2000), Austin Dillon (2011), Ty Dillon (2013) and Ryan Blaney (2014).}} In 2012 he moved up to the Nationwide Series full-time, driving the No. 3 Chevrolet for RCR.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

Dillon made his first career start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on October 9, 2011, in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. He finished 26th in his No. 98 Camping World Curb/Agajanian Racing Chevrolet Impala.{{cite web|url=http://www.rcrracing.com/news/index.cfm?cid=51334 |title=Austin Dillon Event Preview: Michigan 400 |date=June 12, 2012 |publisher=Richard Childress Racing |access-date=June 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619073108/http://www.rcrracing.com/news/index.cfm?cid=51334 |archive-date=June 19, 2012 }}

On November 4, 2011, Richard Childress Racing announced that Dillon would be moving up to the Nationwide Series in 2012, driving the No. 3 that Dale Earnhardt made famous, with sponsorship from AdvoCare, American Ethanol, and Bass Pro Shops.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/austin-dillon-to-drive-no-3-in-nationwide-series-in-2012?urn=nascar,wp5093|title=Austin Dillon to drive No. 3 in Nationwide Series in 2012|author-link=Nick Bromberg|last=Bromberg|first=Nick|date=November 4, 2011|work=From the Marbles|publisher=Yahoo! Sports|access-date=March 4, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120122/NASCAR/120129963&template=mobileart|title=American Ethanol to sponsor Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing in 2012|date=January 22, 2012|work=AutoWeek|access-date=March 4, 2012}}

File:3 Austin Dillon 2012 Road America Sargento 200.jpg

Dillon competed in the Sprint Cup Series on a limited basis in 2012, starting at Michigan International Speedway in June, driving the No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, starting 21st and finishing 24th.{{cite web|url=http://www.hoosieragtoday.com/index.php/2012/06/08/american-ethanol-launches-public-awareness-campaign/|title=American Ethanol Launches Public Awareness Campaign|date=June 8, 2012|work=Hoosier Ag Today|access-date=June 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614221324/http://www.hoosieragtoday.com/index.php/2012/06/08/american-ethanol-launches-public-awareness-campaign/|archive-date=June 14, 2012|url-status=dead}}

On June 29, 2012, Dillon recorded his first Nationwide Series win at Kentucky Speedway; he dominated the race by leading all but 8 laps and won by over 9.8 seconds over second place. However, NASCAR officials announced the car had failed post-race inspection because the rear ride heights were too low.[http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/story/19448785/rookie-dillons-car-fails-postrace-inspection-after-dominating-nationwide-win-in-kentucky Rookie Dillon's car fails postrace inspection after dominating Nationwide win in Kentucky]

Dillon also participated in one race in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Circuit Gilles-Villeuneuve in Montreal in August 2012. Dillon finished 7th while driving the No. 4 car for Fitzpatrick Motorsports.{{cite web|url = http://hometracks.nascar.com/node/8204|title = NCATS Montreal 8/18/12 Results|publisher = Nascar|access-date = August 18, 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120821023255/http://hometracks.nascar.com/node/8204|archive-date = August 21, 2012|url-status = dead}}

Dillon announced in August 2012 that he would continue to drive full-time in the Nationwide Series for 2013, with Advocare as the primary sponsor for the full season, along with running seven Sprint Cup Series races that year, including the 2013 Daytona 500, where he qualified 8th, but crashed late in the race, relegating him to a 31st-place finish.{{cite web|url=http://www.wsbradio.com/weblogs/doug-fireball-turnbulls-race-blog/2012/aug/11/dillons-nascar-future-paved-gold-or-black/|title=Dillons' NASCAR future paved in gold (or black)|last=Turnbull|first=Doug|date=August 11, 2012|work=WSB Radio|access-date=August 11, 2012|location=Atlanta, GA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820183836/http://www.wsbradio.com/weblogs/doug-fireball-turnbulls-race-blog/2012/aug/11/dillons-nascar-future-paved-gold-or-black/|archive-date=August 20, 2012|url-status=dead}} In January 2013 it was announced that some of Dillon's Sprint Cup races that season would be in Phoenix Racing's No. 51 Chevrolet.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/8835489/austin-dillon-drive-hendrick-powered-car-vegas-cup-race&campaign=link&source=Wikipedia|title=Austin Dillon to drive 51 car at Vegas|last=Newton|first=David|date=January 11, 2013|work=ESPN|access-date=January 11, 2013}}

Dillon returned to the Truck Series for the inaugural Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway, leading a race-high 63 laps,{{cite web|last=DiZinno|first=Tony|url=http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/24/austin-dillon-wins-nascar-trucks-inaugural-mudsummer-classic/|title=Austin Dillon wins NASCAR Trucks' inaugural Mudsummer Classic|publisher=NBC Sports|date=July 24, 2013|access-date=July 24, 2013}} and won after a green-white-checker finish.{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2013/racing/wires/07/24/3010.ap.car.nascar.trucks.2nd.ld.writethru.0971/index.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130725035255/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2013/racing/wires/07/24/3010.ap.car.nascar.trucks.2nd.ld.writethru.0971/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 25, 2013|title=Austin Dillon wins on dirt at Eldora|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=July 24, 2013|access-date=July 24, 2013}} The truck, the trophy and the famed piece of dirt track are on display at NASCAR Hall of Fame. Later in the year Dillon substituted for the ailing Brennan Newberry in the Truck Series race at Chicagoland Speedway.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/former-champ-dillon-to-drive-truck/|title=Former champ Dillon to drive Truck|date=September 13, 2013|work=Fox Sports|access-date=September 13, 2013}}

File:Road America 2013 Nationwide 3 Austin Dillon.jpg

In early August 2013, it was announced that Dillon would substitute for Tony Stewart in the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet at Michigan due to Stewart's leg injury;{{cite news|last=Bromberg|first=Nick|author-link=Nick Bromberg|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/austin-dillon-subbing-tony-stewart-michigan-193535806.html|title=Austin Dillon subbing for Tony Stewart at Michigan|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=August 12, 2013|access-date=August 12, 2013}} he would also drive the car at Talladega Superspeedway in October.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/tony-stewart-to-miss-rest-of-season-because-of-broken-bones-in-his-leg/2013/08/19/de190f6e-0901-11e3-89fe-abb4a5067014_story.html|title=Tony Stewart to miss rest of season because of broken bones in his leg|date=August 19, 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=August 19, 2013|location=Washington, DC}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In Dillon's run at Talladega, he performed well during the event, and was running in the top five for most of the day; at the white flag, Dillon was third behind Jamie McMurray and Dale Earnhardt Jr. and was about to give Earnhardt Jr. a push for an attempt to make a winning pass when he was turned by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., slammed the backstretch wall, then was sent airborne when struck hard in the rear bumper by Casey Mears.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2013/10/20/austin-dillon-ricky-stenhouse-talladega-wild-ride/3122457/|title=Austin Dillon goes on wild ride in last lap at Talladega|last=Gluck|first=Jeff|date=October 20, 2013|work=USA Today|access-date=November 19, 2013|location=McLean, VA}}

On November 16, 2013, Dillon won the NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship with a 12th-place finish in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Dillon's series championship was unusual because he did not win any races during the season; this marked the first time in any of NASCAR's three national series that a season champion went winless.{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2013/11/16/sam-hornish-jr-austin-dillon-nationwide-series-title-homestead/3614893/ | work=USA Today | first=Jeff | last=Olson | title=Austin Dillon wins Nationwide title in celebrated No. 3 | date=November 16, 2013}}

On December 11, 2013, it was announced by RCR that Dillon would drive the No. 3 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Cheerios and Dow Chemical Company as the primary sponsors. It would be the No. 3 car's first Sprint Cup appearance in 13 years.{{cite web|last=Racing|first=RCR|url=http://www.rcrracing.com/news/index.cfm?cid=52150|title=RCR announces lineup for 2014|publisher=Richard Childress Racing|date=December 11, 2013|access-date=December 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211202905/http://www.rcrracing.com/news/index.cfm?cid=52150|archive-date=December 11, 2013|url-status=dead}}

During 2014 Daytona 500 qualifying, Dillon clinched the pole position with a speed of {{convert|196.019|mph|km/h}}.{{cite news|last=Fryer|first=Jenna|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/austin-dillon-puts-no-3-203207508--nascar.html|title=Austin Dillon puts No. 3 on pole for Daytona 500|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=February 16, 2014|access-date=February 16, 2014}} This was the fourth time that the No. 3 was on the pole for the Daytona 500.

After a long streak of bad finishes, Dillon rebounded with a top-five in the 2014 Coke Zero 400. Dillon ended the 2014 Cup season as one of only two drivers to have been running at the finish of every race during the season, the other being Jeff Gordon. He finished second in the rookie of the year standings to Kyle Larson.{{cite news|last=Gluck|first=Jeff|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2014/11/17/sprint-cup-top-30-drivers-notable-statistics/19181289/|title=NASCAR inside the numbers: Sprint Cup's top 30 drivers|newspaper=USA Today|date=November 17, 2014|access-date=November 18, 2014}}

File:Pure Michigan 400 Nascar race 8-16-15 (20740433215) (cropped).jpg in 2015]]

In the first half of the 2015 season, Dillon struggled in the Cup Series, scoring only one top-10 finish (10th in the Spring race at Bristol). In the Xfinity series, however, Dillon scored two wins, the first coming at Las Vegas and the other at Charlotte. In both races, he dominated leading the most laps.

In the summer return to Daytona, Dillon had an up and down weekend. In the Xfinity race, he won after his teammate and the dominant car of Brian Scott crashed out of the race late in the going. In the Coke Zero 400 on July 5, coming to the checkered flag, Dillon was hit in the left front tire by the spinning car of Denny Hamlin and from behind by Clint Bowyer, causing him to flip into the catch fence over two rows of cars. The car hit the fence at about 190 miles per hour and came to an almost complete stop on its roof before he was hit again by a spinning Brad Keselowski. Dillon climbed out of the car unharmed, except for a bruised tailbone and a bruise on his forearm, but five fans were injured by flying debris. Dillon was credited with a seventh-place finish.

After a disappointing season, with only 1 top 5 and 5 top 10 finishes, Dillon closed out the 2015 Sprint Cup season standings in 21st place.{{cite news|last1=Jensen|first1=Tom|title=Austin Dillon's 2015 Sprint Cup Series year in review: One solitary incident will forever define Austin Dillon's 2015 season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/sprint-cup-series-richard-childress-racing-rcr-austin-dillon-year-in-review-120915|access-date=April 2, 2016|work=Fox Sports|date=December 9, 2015}} However, Dillon did manage to win 4 Xfinity races, even though he was running only a part-time schedule.

Dillon competed part-time in the Xfinity Series in 2016, splitting the No. 2 of RCR with six other drivers.{{cite web|url=http://www.jayski.com/news/nxs/2016/story/_/page/2016nxs-teamchart|title=2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series Team Chart|work=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=November 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202034351/http://www.jayski.com/news/nxs/2016/story/_/page/2016nxs-teamchart|archive-date=December 2, 2016|url-status=dead}} On the final lap of the Xfinity race in Fontana, Dillon battled with Kyle Busch, whose car had cut a left front tire, the two making contact as they approached the finish. Dillon's car hit the turn four wall but was able to hang on for the win.{{cite news|last=Peltz|first=Josh|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nascar-xfinity-20160320-story.html|title=Austin Dillon wins NASCAR Xfinity race at Fontana|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 19, 2016|access-date=November 28, 2016}}

Then at the second Bristol race, Dillon won after Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski both wrecked late in the going.

In the Cup Series, Dillon won two Poles, the first coming at Auto Club and the second coming at the second Texas race. At the first Talladega Cup race, Dillon scored a career-best 3rd-place finish after getting caught up in two big crashes. He then also qualified for his first Chase for the Sprint Cup; though he advanced out of the Round of 16,{{cite web|last=Bruce|first=Kenny|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2016/10/2/austin-dillon-squeaks-into-NASCAR-Chase-Round-of-12-after-Dover.html|title=DILLON ON CHASE ADVANCEMENT: 'MAN, WE GOT IT DONE'|publisher=NASCAR|date=October 2, 2016|access-date=November 28, 2016}} he was eliminated in the following round.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2016/10/23/joey-logano-wins-talladega-chase-brad-keselowski-martin-truex-jr-austin-dillon-chase-elliott-eliminated/92650304/|title=Keselowski, Truex Jr., Elliott, Dillon eliminated from Chase at Talladega|newspaper=USA Today|date=October 23, 2016|access-date=November 28, 2016}}

File:Austin Dillon Sonoma 2017.jpg.]]

Dillon opened the season with a fourth-place finish in his Can-Am Duel, where he pushed Denny Hamlin past the dominant car of Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the race.{{cite web|last=Jensen|first=Tom|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/dillon-pushes-hamlins-toyota-to-victory-in-can-am-duel-022417|title=Dillon pushes Hamlin's Toyota to victory in Can-Am Duel|work=Foxsports.com|date=February 23, 2017|access-date=February 24, 2017}}

During an Xfinity Series race at Phoenix International Raceway, Dillon was parked by NASCAR for wrecking rookie Cole Custer under caution after Custer slid into Dillon earlier in the race. After being parked, Dillon was not the target of any more penalties.{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2017/story/_/id/18951766/austin-dillon-face-no-further-penalties-xfinity-race-incident|title=Jayski: Austin Dillon will face no further penalties for XFINITY race incident|work=ESPN.com|access-date=March 20, 2017}}

When NASCAR returned to Martinsville for the first time in 2017, Dillon scored a season-best 5th place outing. This is his first top-5 and top-10 finish of 2017. At Texas, Dillon was unable to start the Cup race on the lead lap due to a broken track bar that put him 11 laps down. He finished 33rd.

After the Kansas race, his crew chief Slugger Labbe mutually separated from RCR. Justin Alexander became the new crew chief and started his role at the Open.

After struggling early on in the Coca-Cola 600, Dillon would finally earn his first career Cup Series win after passing Jimmie Johnson, who ran out of fuel on lap 399 and held off Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. It was the first win for a No. 3 car in Cup since October 15, 2000, when Dale Earnhardt won at Talladega.{{Cite web|url=http://nascar.nbcsports.com/2017/05/29/austin-dillon-returns-the-no-3-to-victory-lane-with-fuel-mileage-gambit-at-charlotte/|title=Austin Dillon returns No. 3 to victory lane for first time since Dale Earnhardt's last win|last=Ryan|first=Nate|work=NBC Sports|publisher=NBC Universal|date=May 29, 2017|access-date=May 29, 2017}}

After the Charlotte race, Dillon would not score another top-five finish in the Cup series until a fourth-place run at the Southern 500 at Darlington.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/nascar-austin-dillon-fourth-southern-500-949398/|title=Austin Dillon leads Chevrolet with strong top-five run in Southern 500|work=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|last=Utter|first=Jim|date=September 4, 2017|access-date=September 4, 2017}} He went to finish a career-best 11th in the final point standings despite getting eliminated after the round of 16.

In June, Dillon became a color commentator for Fox NASCAR{{'s}} broadcast of the Xfinity Series race at Michigan.{{cite web|last=Wilhelm|first=Chase|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/austin-dillon-regan-smith-added-to-fox-nascar-xfinity-series-broadcasts-061017|title=Austin Dillon, Regan Smith added to FOX NASCAR XFINITY Series broadcasts|work=Foxsports.com|date=June 10, 2017|access-date=June 10, 2017}}

File:Austin dillon victory lap (41144813411).jpg]]

In 2018, Dillon returned the No. 3 to Victory Lane in the Cup Series. He won the 2018 Daytona 500, after coming from a lap down within 20 laps to go to second on the final lap. He hit Aric Almirola in the right rear after Almirola tried blocking him, sending him into the outside wall. The win happened 20 years after Dale Earnhardt's only Daytona 500 win,{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/daytona-500-austin-dillon-wins-1006324/|title=Daytona 500: Austin Dillon takes emotional win after chaotic last-lap|work=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|last=Spencer|first=Lee|date=February 18, 2018|access-date=February 23, 2018}} and it was also 17 years to the day of Earnhardt's death. Despite the win and a guaranteed spot in the Playoffs, Dillon struggled to stay consistent throughout the season with two top-fives and five top-10 finishes. He was eliminated in the Round of 16 after hitting the outside wall twice at the Charlotte Roval race and finished the season 13th in points.

In the Xfinity Series, Dillon scored his 100th career top-10 Xfinity Series finish at California, which came as a fourth-place outing. He won the Xfinity race at Michigan in June after rain ended the race prematurely on lap 91. It was the first Xfinity Series win for Dillon since the August Bristol race in 2016, and the first for RCR's Xfinity team since 2016 at Road America with Michael McDowell. Dillon also drove the No. 10 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing at Indianapolis. This was the second time Dillon raced in an Xfinity event outside RCR. It is also the first time Kaulig Racing fielded two cars in a race.

File:Austin dillon (47171124592).jpg in 2019]]

For 2019, Dillon began having Danny Stockman atop the pit box for the Cup Series. Stockman was Dillon's crew chief in the Truck Series and Nationwide Series when he won his NASCAR Championship titles in 2011 and 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/11/26/danny-stockman-serve-austin-dillons-crew-chief-2019/?linkId=100000004147645 |title=Danny Stockman to serve as Austin Dillon's crew chief in 2019 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media LLC. |date=November 26, 2018 |access-date=December 2, 2018}}

Dillon and RCR showed qualifying speed early in the season, winning pole awards at Auto Club{{cite web|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/nascar-qualifying-austin-dillon|title=Austin Dillon wins pole after zero drivers complete a lap in bizarre qualifying finish|work=USA Today Sports|publisher=Gannett Company|last=Schwartz|first=Nick|date=March 15, 2019|access-date=April 27, 2019}} and Talladega.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/austin-dillon-rcr-talladega-pole/4377359/|title=Austin Dillon tops Almirola to win Cup pole at Talladega|work=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|last=Utter|first=Jim|date=April 27, 2019|access-date=April 27, 2019}} Then at Michigan, Dillon managed to get his first career stage win in the Cup Series by winning the second stage.

He performed well at the July Daytona race, leading the most laps (46) and winning stage 2. However, with 40 laps to go, as severe weather was approaching the track, Clint Bowyer made contact with Dillon causing a multi-car accident. Dillon finished with a DNF in 33rd place.

Dillon failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015 as he fell outside the top twenty in points. He finished 21st in the final points standings, tying his lowest in a full-time season with zero top-fives for the first time in his career.

On October 28, 2019, Stockman announced he would step down as the crew chief of the No. 3 team at the end of the 2019 season. Justin Alexander returned as the No. 3 team's crew chief in 2020 after having served that position in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/10/28/richard-childress-racing-crew-chief-change-stockman-alexander/ |title=Stockman to step down as No. 3 crew chief; Alexander to take over in 2020 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=October 28, 2019 |access-date=October 29, 2019}}

At Las Vegas, Dillon managed to score his first top-five finish of 2020 and first since the 2018 Consumers Energy 400, coming home fourth.{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/rquery?id=dilloau01&trk=t5&series=W|title=Austin Dillon – NASCAR Cup Series Results (top 5s)|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=July 19, 2020}}

On July 19, Dillon broke an 88-race winless streak by claiming his 3rd career victory at the 2020 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. RCR teammate Tyler Reddick finished second to secure an RCR 1–2 finish for the first time since the 2011 Good Sam Club 500.{{cite web |title=Austin Dillon outruns Reddick for Texas win, 1-2 finish for RCR |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/07/19/results-nascar-cup-series-texas-motor-speedway-race-recap/ |website=NASCAR.com |date=July 19, 2020 |access-date=July 19, 2020}} It was Dillon's first victory where he led more than the final two laps, as he took the lead with 23 to go and held off Reddick over several restarts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race/2020_Oreilly_Auto_Parts_500/W|title = Race Results}}

On August 15, it was announced that Dillon tested positive for COVID-19, forcing him to miss the Go Bowling 235 at Daytona; Kaz Grala served as his replacement for the race.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/08/15/rcr-austin-dillon-tests-positive-for-covid-19-will-miss-daytona-road-course/ |title=RCR: Austin Dillon tests positive for COVID-19, will miss Daytona Road Course |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC |date=August 15, 2020 |access-date=August 15, 2020}} Dillon returned to the No. 3 for the following week at Dover.{{cite news|last=Long|first=Dustin|url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/08/20/austin-dillon-states-he-is-cleared-to-race-at-dover/|title=Austin Dillon cleared to race at Dover|publisher=NBC Sports|date=August 20, 2020|access-date=August 20, 2020}}

At the Southern 500, Dillon had to start from the rear as a result of unapproved adjustments, later had to take an unscheduled pit stop for a flat tire, and rallied to finish second.{{cite web |last1=Weaver |first1=Matt |title=Austin Dillon Almost Started the Southern 500 with 'Tires on Backwards' |url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/a33938244/austin-dillon-almost-started-the-southern-500-with-tires-on-backwards/ |website=Autoweek |access-date=September 9, 2020 |date=September 7, 2020}} In the following race, Richmond, Dillon recorded a fourth-place finish, marking the first time in his Cup Series career that he finished in the top five in consecutive races.{{cite web |last1=Long |first1=Dustin |title=Austin Dillon charges to another top-five finish |url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/09/13/austin-dillon-run-puts-him-in-position-to-advance-in-nascar-playoffs/ |website=NASCAR on NBC |publisher=NBC Sports |access-date=September 13, 2020 |date=September 13, 2020}} After a 12th-place finish at the Bristol Night Race a week later, Dillon advanced to the Round of 12 for the second time in his career since 2016. He was eliminated following the Charlotte Roval. Dillon finished 11th in the points standings.{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/yeardet/2020/W |title=NASCAR Cup Series standings for 2020 |website=Racing-Reference.info |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |access-date=November 9, 2020}}

File:Austin dillon (51414857920).jpg in 2021]]

Dillon began the 2021 season with a win in his Duel for the Daytona 500 by passing Bubba Wallace on the final lap, which enabled him to start fourth for the 500.{{cite magazine|last=Crandall|first=Kelly|url=https://racer.com/2021/02/11/austin-dillon-triumphs-in-second-duel-thriller/|title=Austin Dillon triumphs in second Duel thriller|magazine=Autoweek|date=February 11, 2021|access-date=February 13, 2021}} Dillon would go on to lead 7 laps in the 500 and finish in 3rd-place after avoiding a last-lap crash, assuming the points lead for the first time in his career.

In the Xfinity COTA event, Dillon returned to the Xfinity racing for Ronnie and Dillon Bassett's team. He managed to qualify the No. 77 and finished 13th. Later on in July, Dillon returned to the Xfinity Series at Atlanta when he served as an injury replacement for Michael Annett in the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.{{cite news|last=Courson|first=Matt|url=https://kickinthetires.net/nascar/michael-annett-misses-atlanta-xfinity-race-due-to-leg-injury/|title=Michael Annett Misses Atlanta Xfinity Race Due to Leg Injury|publisher=Kickin' the Tires|date=July 10, 2021|access-date=July 10, 2021}}

He also drove in the No. 23 for Our Motorsports for 2 races, as well as Jordan Anderson Racing's No. 31 for a race.

At Michigan in August, Dillon was turned into the wall by Brad Keselowski just after stage 2 ended. Dillon nearly flipped on impact and was on his side for a couple of seconds. He was unharmed and climbed out of the car.

File:Austin dillon (52242312215).jpg in 2022]]

Dillon started the 2022 season with a 25th-place finish at the 2022 Daytona 500. He scored three top-three finishes at Fontana, Martinsville, and Talladega. On March 27, Dillon recorded his first top-10 finish in a Cup Series road course race as he finished tenth at the Circuit of the Americas. At New Hampshire, he and Brad Keselowski engaged in an on-road altercation during a caution lap.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/07/17/cup-series-2022-new-hampshire-austin-dillon-brad-keselowski/ |title=Keselowski, Austin Dillon spar during mid-race caution at New Hampshire |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC |date=July 17, 2022 |access-date=July 18, 2022}} Dillon won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona to clinch a spot in the playoffs in a 1-2 finish with teammate Tyler Reddick. He assumed the lead after a huge wreck caused by rainfall took out much of the lead pack on lap 138; Dillon, who was sixteenth at the time, was the only driver in the lead pack to not be involved in the accident.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/08/28/cup-series-race-recap-daytona-summer-austin-dillon-kevin-harvick-landon-cassill/ |title=Austin Dillon wins at Daytona, bursts into NASCAR Playoffs |first=Reid |last=Spencer |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC |date=August 28, 2022 |access-date=August 29, 2022}} Dillon was eliminated in the Round of 16 after being involved in a multi-car pileup at the Bristol night race. Dillon would later score two consecutive top-10 outings at the Charlotte Roval, giving him his second-career road course top 10 finish, (10th place) and then a 10th-place result at Las Vegas. Then, Dillon scored a career-first 3 consecutive top 10 finishes by coming home in 4th place at Homestead.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/09/17/nascar-cup-series-chris-buescher-wins-bristol/ |title=Chris Buescher scores Bristol victory, champions eliminated from playoffs |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC |date=September 17, 2022 |access-date=September 18, 2022}} He finished the season 11th in the points standings.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/nascar-cup-series/2022/playoffs |title=2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |access-date=November 8, 2022}}

On April 8, Dillon revealed that he would run the 2022 Pinty's Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway in a Young's Motorsports truck. Although Dillon stated that he thought he would drive the team's No. 02 truck,{{cite web |first=Stephen |last=Stumpf |url=https://www.frontstretch.com/2022/04/08/austin-dillon-compete-youngs-truck-race-bristol-dirt/ |title=Austin Dillon to Compete for Young's in Truck Race at Bristol Dirt |website=Frontstretch |date=April 8, 2022 |access-date=April 10, 2022}} the race is on Kaz Grala's schedule of races in that truck, so Dillon drove the No. 20 for that race.

In the Xfinity Series, Dillon drove for Big Machine Racing at the Charlotte Xfinity race, finishing 31st.

File:Austin Dillon 3 Auto Club 2023.jpg in 2023]]

On October 28, 2022, RCR announced that Keith Rodden would be on the pit box for Dillon starting in 2023. Alexander announced shortly before this announcement that he would be stepping down from the crew chief role on the No. 3 car. Dillon started the season with a 33rd place DNF at the 2023 Daytona 500. Following the Martinsville race, the No. 3 was served an L1 penalty after NASCAR's R&D Center discovered an unapproved underwing assembly during post-inspection. As a result, the team was docked 60 driver and owner points and five playoff points. In addition, Rodden was fined {{USD}}75,000 and suspended for two races.{{cite web |url=https://www.jayski.com/2023/04/19/martinsville-post-race-penalties-announced-4/ |title=Martinsville post-race penalties announced |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |date=April 19, 2023 |access-date=April 20, 2023}} Because of this, as well as a string of poor finishes, Dillon ended the 2023 season 29th in the standings.

File:Austin dillon (54134065818).jpg in 2024]]

During the 2024 season, Alexander returned as crew chief starting at the Martinsville spring race.{{cite web |url=https://www.jayski.com/2024/04/02/justin-alexander-taking-over-as-crew-chief-of-austin-dillon/ |title=Justin Alexander taking over as crew chief of Austin Dillon |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |date=April 2, 2024 |access-date=April 2, 2024}} At the Richmond summer race, Dillon broke a 68-race winless drought after spinning out Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap,{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2024/08/11/cup-series-richmond-raceway-summer-race-recap/ |title=Austin Dillon shocks Cup field with Richmond win in OT, clinches playoff berth |first=Holly |last=Cain |website=NASCAR |date=August 11, 2024 |access-date=August 12, 2024}} a move which garnered criticism from both Logano and Hamlin.{{cite web |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2024/08/joey-logano-austin-dillon-collision-cook-out-400-interview|title=Joey Logano furiously called out Austin Dillon after final lap collision at Cook Out 400 |first=Mary |last=Clarke |date=August 11, 2024 |access-date=August 14, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/nascar/news-we-real-officiating-denny-hamlin-slams-nascar-promises-payback-austin-dillon-post-race-comments-richmond|title="We have no real officiating": Denny Hamlin slams NASCAR, promises payback to Austin Dillon in post-race comments at Richmond|first=Sabyasachi|last=Biswas|date=August 11, 2024|access-date=August 14, 2024}} Three days later, it was announced that NASCAR had encumbered the win, docked Dillon 25 driver points and stripped him of his playoff eligibility.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2024/08/14/cup-series-2024-richmond-penalty-austin-dillon-playoffs-eligibility/ |title=NASCAR officials drop Austin Dillon from Cup Series Playoffs; Logano fined |first=Zack |last=Albert |website=NASCAR |date=August 14, 2024 |access-date=August 14, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2024/08/21/penalty-to-no-3-cup-team-upheld-following-appeal-spotter-suspension-reduced-to-1-race/ |title=Penalty to No. 3 Cup team upheld after appeal; spotter suspension reduced to 1 race |website=NASCAR |date=August 21, 2024 |access-date=August 22, 2024}} Following the Martinsville playoff race, the No. 3 was docked 50 owner and driver points and Dillon and the team were each fined {{USD}}100,000 for race manipulation, when Dillon and fellow Chevrolet driver Ross Chastain formed a blockade to allow William Byron to make the Championship 4. In addition, Alexander was suspended for the Phoenix finale.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2024/11/05/nascar-issues-major-penalties-to-three-cup-series-teams-after-martinsville/ |title=NASCAR issues major penalties to three Cup Series teams after Martinsville |website=NASCAR |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=November 6, 2024}} Dillon finished 32nd in the final standings, the lowest points finish of his career.

On November 20, 2024, RCR signed Richard Boswell as the crew chief of the No. 3 car, replacing Alexander for the 2025 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.jayski.com/2024/11/20/richard-childress-racing-announces-competition-leadership-appointments/ |title=Richard Childress Racing announces competition leadership appointments |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |date=November 20, 2024 |access-date=November 21, 2024}}

In 2021, Dillon joined RWR-Eurasia Motorsport for his 24 Hours of Daytona debut, sharing an LMP2 car with Cody Ware and Salih Yoluç.{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Nate|url=https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2020/12/31/austin-dillon-rolex-24-daytona-rwr-eurasia-lmp2-chase-elliott-jimmie-johnson-cody-ware/|title=Austin Dillon will race the Rolex 24 at Daytona, joining RWR Eurasia in LMP2|publisher=NBC Sports|date=December 31, 2020|access-date=January 30, 2021}}

In 2019, Dillon made a cameo in the movie Stuber alongside brother Ty and fellow driver Daniel Suárez.{{cite news|last=McFadin|first=Daniel|url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2019/07/06/three-nascar-drivers-to-appear-in-upcoming-film-stuber/|title=Three NASCAR drivers to appear in upcoming film 'Stuber'|publisher=NBC Sports|date=July 6, 2019|access-date=July 19, 2020}}

Dillon guest starred in the television series SEAL Team{{'s}} Season 3, Episode 14 "Objects in Mirror", as a NASCAR driving instructor for the protagonists. Filming took place at Auto Club Speedway in December 2019, while the episode premiered on March 11, 2020.{{cite news|last=Franzil|first=Jackie|url=https://www.rcrracing.com/news-media/news/2020/03/11/austin-dillon-featured-on-cbs-military-drama-seal-team-this-week/|title=Austin Dillon Featured on CBS Military Drama SEAL Team This Week|publisher=Richard Childress Racing|date=March 11, 2020|access-date=July 19, 2020}}

The Crew, a 2021 NASCAR-centric Netflix series, featured cameo appearances from Dillon and fellow Cup racers Ryan Blaney and Cole Custer.{{cite magazine|last=Rice|first=Nicholas|url=https://people.com/sports/ryan-blaney-austin-dillon-and-more-nascar-drivers-star-in-netflixs-the-crew/|title=First Look! See Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon & More Drivers in Netflix's New NASCAR Series The Crew|magazine=People|date=January 25, 2021|access-date=January 30, 2021}}

Dillon and his family are featured in the USA reality series Austin Dillon's Life in the Fast Lane.{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2022 |title=Austin, Whitney Dillon set to star in new reality show |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/06/22/austin-whitney-dillon-set-to-star-in-new-reality-show/ |access-date=July 9, 2022 |website=Official Site Of NASCAR |language=en-US}}

A die-cast anthropomorphic race car named Carstin "Ace" Dillon, inspired by Austin, was released in the Disney/Pixar Cars toyline in 2021, alongside die-cast cars based on William Byron and Chase Elliot. An all-plastic version of Carstin was released in 2024 as a pack-in for the Race Lane Change playset.{{Citation needed}}

Dillon became engaged to former NFL cheerleader Whitney Ward on August 9, 2016. Austin and Whitney were married December 9, 2017, at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, North Carolina.{{cite web|url=http://autoweek.com/article/monster-energy-nascar-cup/nascar-austin-dillon-marries-former-nfl-cheerleader|title=NASCAR: Austin Dillon Marries Former NFL Cheerleader|work=Autoweek|publisher=Crain Communications|date=December 10, 2017|access-date=December 18, 2017}} Their son was born on June 14, 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/06/14/austin-dillon-wife-whitney-welcome-first-son/|title=Austin Dillon, wife Whitney welcome first son|work=NASCAR|date=June 14, 2020|access-date=June 14, 2020}} Dillon attended High Point University on a part-time basis.{{cite web|last=Haynes|first=Pam|title=HPU's Austin Dillon Races To Another Success In NASCAR World Truck Series|url=http://www.highpoint.edu/blog/2011/07/hpus-austin-dillon-races-to-another-success-in-nascar-world-truck-series/|publisher=High Point University|access-date=April 22, 2013}} He also played in the 2002 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.{{cite magazine|last=Pockrass|first=Bob|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2013-08-16/austin-dillon-little-league-world-series-michigan-race-tony-stewart-injury|title=Austin Dillon used to pressure after playing in Little League World Series|magazine=Sporting News|date=August 16, 2013|access-date=September 25, 2013}}

Dillon co-owns sports management agency Team Dillon Management with his brother Ty which currently manages both themselves as well as fellow NASCAR drivers Anthony Alfredo, A. J. Allmendinger, Sheldon Creed, Kaz Grala, Austin Hill, John Hunter Nemechek, Tanner Thorson and Cody Ware as well as golfers Brian Gay and Chris Stroud.{{cite web |url=https://teamdillonmgmt.com/ |title=Our Team |website=Team Dillon Management |access-date=April 10, 2022}}

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

{{sup|*}} Season still in progress

{{sup|1}} Ineligible for series points

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

(key) * – Most laps led. ¹ – Heat 1 winner. ² – Heat 2 winner.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

^† Points only counted towards the Michelin Endurance Cup, and not the overall LMP2 Championship.

• List of Daytona 500 pole position winners
• List of Daytona 500 winners
• List of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champions
• List of NASCAR Nationwide Series champions
• List of people from North Carolina

{{Portal bar|Biography|Sports|United States}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Austin Dillon}}

• {{official website|austindillon.com/}}
• [https://www.rcrracing.com/drivers/austin-dillon-cup/ Official profile at Richard Childress Racing]
• {{Racing-Reference driver|Austin_Dillon}}

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{{succession box

| before= Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

| title= NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion

| years= 2013

| after= Chase Elliott

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{{succession box

| before= Todd Bodine

| title= NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion

| years= 2011

| after= James Buescher

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{{Succession box

| before= Timmy Hill

| title= NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year

| years= 2012

| after= Kyle Larson

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{{succession box

| before= Johnny Sauter

| title= NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year

| years= 2010

| after= Joey Coulter

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{{succession box

| before=Martin Truex Jr.

| title=Coca-Cola 600 winner

| years= 2017

| after= Kyle Busch

}}

{{succession box

| before=Kurt Busch

| title=Daytona 500 winner

| years=2018

| after= Denny Hamlin

}}

{{s-ach|aw}}

{{Succession box|

before= Narain Karthikeyan

| title= NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Most Popular Driver

| years= 2011

| after= Nelson Piquet Jr.

}}

{{s-end}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dillon, Austin}}

Category:Living people

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