In a nail-biting finish last year, Austin Dillon emerged victorious at the Cook Out 400 race, earning himself a coveted spot in this season’s NASCAR All-Star Race. Driving the No. 3 car for Richard Childress Racing, a team owned by his grandfather Richard Childress, Dillon is now gearing up for the high-stakes event with a whopping $1,000,000 prize on the line.
“I feel great about it, not having to take that pressure off to get into the All-Star race and go out there and race for a million dollars. Hopefully, win it and lock yourself into life. I think the million dollars would be a nice justification at the end of the day if we could go and win that thing at North Wilkesboro,” expressed Dillon.
As a five-time race winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, the 35-year-old driver is no stranger to the thrill of competition. However, Dillon has had his fair share of challenges this season, currently sitting 21st in the standings with 227 points. Despite the tough season, Dillon remains determined to clinch victory at the upcoming All-Star race and prove his mettle at NASCAR’s elite level.
Reflecting on his struggles in the Cup Series this year, Dillon shared insights into his mindset and the team’s efforts to improve performance. “I used to qualify on the pole all the time in the Xfinity series and even in the cup series I had a couple of poles there for a while but we’re trying in the simulator to do a better job of modelling what we think qualifying is going to be like, getting more aggressive on it, but it’s just so tight, man,” revealed Dillon on the Door Bumper Clear podcast.
With the All-Star race on the horizon, Dillon aims to leave his mark on the track and silence any doubts about his abilities. The upcoming event promises high-octane action and fierce competition as Dillon vies for glory and the ultimate ‘justification’ in the world of NASCAR.