Austin Dillon

Austin Dillon is one of the young stars of the NASCAR Cup Series, with two titles from other two NASCAR national series already in his pocket. He was the 2011 Camping World Truck Series champion and 2013 Nationwide Series champion.

Since his NASCAR debut in 2008, Dillon scored 17 wins in more than 370 races. He scored his maiden Cup Series victory in May 2017, in the Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. His second Cup Series win was in the greatest race, at 2018 Daytona 500.

Austin Dillon

For Austin, it was expected to enter the world of racing

Austin Dillon was born on April 27, 1990, in Lewisville, North Carolina, as the oldest son of the former racing driver Mike Dillon, who is the general manager of the Richard Childress Racing and a son-in-law of team owner Richard Childress.

As a son of a racing driver and grandson of team owner, it was expected that Austin would also enter the world of racing. He started a racing career at the age of 15, driving Bandolero mini cars and Legend cars in the beginning. In 2007, he switched to Crate Late Models and then in 2008, he intensified his racing activities, entering few racing series, including his NASCAR debut.

He participated in 13 races of the 2008 NASCAR Camping World East Series (now K&N Series East), driving father's #3 Chevrolet and winning one race in Greenville. He finished second in the points, taking the Rookie of the Year honors.

NASCAR national series debut with Richard Childress Racing

After that, he was ready for NASCAR national series debut. In September 2008 at Richmond International Raceway, he debuted in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with grandfather's #21 Chevrolet. He finished 26th in his debut race. A month and a half later, at Memphis, Austin finished fourth in his second Nationwide Series start.

Austin Dillon in 2010

2010 Truck Series Rookie of the Year

During 2009, Austin participated in four different NASCAR series, recording nine races through the season, most of them (four) in the Nationwide Series. After two Truck Series races in 2009, Austin entered his first full season in the 2010 Camping World Truck Series , driving the #3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. In 25 races, he scored two wins and seven Top 5 finishes, being fifth in the points and taking the Rookie of the Year award.

On July 11, 2010, Dillon scored his maiden NASCAR victory, winning the Lucas Oil 200 at Iowa Speedway. During the season, he took record-setting five pole positions. The second win followed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in September.

2011 Truck Series champion with #3 RCR Chevrolet

In 2011, Austin Dillon clinched his first championship title in a career, winning the Camping World Truck Series, still in the #3 RCR Chevrolet. He won two races, at Nashville Superspeedway and Chicagoland Speedway, adding fourteen Top 10 finishes and he took the title with a just 6-point advantage over Johnny Sauter. Besides being Truck Series champion, Austin was also voted as the most popular driver in the series.

In October 2011, Austin had a Sprint Car Series debut , driving the #98 Chevrolet Impala for Curb/Agajanian Racing at Kansas Speedway. He finished 26th. In 2012, Austin had a one-off appearance in the Sprint Cup, driving the #33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing at Michigan.

2011 Truck Series champion

2012 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year

Austin main competition in 2012 was the Nationwide Series, where he moved with #3 Richard Childress Racing car. With two wins and sixteen Top 5 results, Austin finished third in the points and became the Rookie of the Year. Both of his wins he scored at Kentucky Speedway, in June at Feed the Children 300 and in September, at Kentucky 300.

2013 Nationwide Series champion without wins

In 2013, Dillon remained in the Nationwide Series and took the championship title, although he didn't score any victory. He was the runner-up three times. In total, he had thirteen Top 5 and twenty-two Top 10 finishes, which was enough to win the title, just three points ahead of Sam Hornish Jr.

In July 2013, Dillon returned to the Truck Series for the inaugural Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway, winning the race after the green-white-checker finish. During 2013, Austin also recorded 11 participations in the Sprint Cup Series, driving three different cars (five times #33 RCR Chevrolet, four times #51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet and two times #14 Stewart-Haas Chevrolet). His best result was 11th place at Michigan with grandfather's car.

Austin and Tony Stewart in 2013

2014 - first full season in the Sprint Cup Series

In 2014, the #3 RCR Chevrolet was promoted to the Sprint Cup Series. Austin sensationally took the pole position in the season-opening Daytona 500. In the race, he finished 9th. Austin was again successful at Daytona in July, finishing fifth in the Coke Zero 400, which was his season-best result. He earned two more Top 10 finishes at Indianapolis and Kansas and finished 20th in the overall standings and the second among Rookies, behind Kyle Larson.

In August 2014, Austin scored one more Truck Series victory, his sixth in a career, at Pocono Raceway. He was driving the #3 RCR Chevrolet.

Five wins for Austin Dillon in 2015

The season 2015 was the most victorious so far for Austin, as he won four Xfinity Series races and one Truck Series race. His #33 Chevrolet visited the Victory Lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Daytona International Speedway and two times at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In the Truck Series, he scored his seventh win driving the #33 GMS Racing's Chevrolet at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

In the 2015 Sprint Cup Series, Austin finished the season one place lower than in the debut season, in 21st place. His best result was fourth place at Pure Michigan 400. In total, he had five Top 10 finishes.

Ty Dillon, Austin Dillon and Richard Childress

2016 - victory at Bristol was 15th in a career

In 2016, Austin Dillon started the season with 9th place at Daytona 500. He then reached the fifth place in Las Vegas and fourth place in Martinsville. In May, at Talladega Superspeedway, Dillon finished third and scored his career-best Cup Series result to date.

He was much more successful in the Xfinity Series during 2016, scoring two wins in the #2 Richard Childress Racing's Chevrolet. In March, he was the winner at Auto Club Speedway and then his 8th series wins followed in August at Bristol.

Celebrating maiden Cup Series victory

Maiden Cup Series victory in 2017, winning Daytona 500 in 2018

In the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, his fourth full-season in the #3 Chevrolet, Austin Dillon finally scored his maiden Cup Series win. He won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Later in the season, Dillon was rarely in the top 10, finishing the year 11th in the points.

In 2018, Austin stayed in the #3 Chevrolet and opened a season with a victory at Daytona 500. Later in the season, he reached top 5 just once, finishing the season 13th in the points.

The season 2019 wasn't good, without top 5 results and Austin ended the season just 21st in the points.

2018 Daytona 500 winner

Photos: Austin Dillon FB, Getty Images,