Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Austin Dillon

How Austin Dillon built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Austin Dillon is a professional stock car racing driver in NASCAR's Cup Series, driving the No. 3 Chevrolet ZL1. He also participates part-time in the Xfinity Series. Notably, he is the grandson of Richard Childress, the owner of Richard Childress Racing (RCR), where Austin drives. His family connections extend to his brother, Ty Dillon, a fellow NASCAR Cup Series competitor, and his father, Mike Dillon, a former racer and current RCR general manager. This deep family involvement underscores Dillon's prominent position within a well-established racing dynasty.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

October 15, 2000: Dale Earnhardt's Last Win

On October 15, 2000, Dale Earnhardt's win at Talladega marked the last win for a No. 3 car in Cup until Dillon's victory years later.

2000: Bryan Reffner wins in No. 3

In 2000, Bryan Reffner won for Team Menard at Texas Motor Speedway, marking the last time a truck wearing the No. 3 had won a Truck Series race until Dillon's victory.

2002: No. 3 Returns

In 2002, the number 3 appeared in any of the three major series since Dale Earnhardt Jr. used it in the Busch Series.

2008: Rookie of the Year in NASCAR Camping World East Series

In 2008, Austin Dillon was named Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Camping World East Series. He ran the full schedule, initially driving the No. 3 Chevrolet for Andy Santerre Motorsports before moving to Richard Childress Racing.

2009: Failed to qualify at Talladega

During the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, Dillon was scheduled to start the Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega Superspeedway, but his truck failed inspection, preventing him from qualifying for the race.

2010: Rookie of the Year

In 2010, Austin Dillon won the Rookie of the Year award in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

2010: Full-time Truck Series with Bass Pro Shops sponsorship

In 2010, Dillon drove the No. 3 truck full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, aiming for Rookie of the Year, with sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops.

October 9, 2011: First Sprint Cup Start

On October 9, 2011, Austin Dillon made his first career start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway in the Hollywood Casino 400, finishing 26th.

November 4, 2011: Nationwide Series Announcement

On November 4, 2011, Richard Childress Racing announced that Austin Dillon would be moving up to the Nationwide Series in 2012, driving the No. 3.

2011: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion

In 2011, Austin Dillon became the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and also received the Rookie of the Year award the year prior in 2010.

2011: First win of the year and Championship

In 2011, Austin Dillon won at Nashville Superspeedway and Chicagoland Speedway, and was crowned the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion. He also won the 2011 CWTS Most Popular Driver Award.

2011: Danny Stockman Reunion

In 2011, Danny Stockman was Austin Dillon's crew chief when he won his NASCAR Championship titles in the Truck Series.

2011: RCR 1-2 Finish

The 2020 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 marked the first RCR 1-2 finish since the 2011 Good Sam Club 500.

June 29, 2012: First Nationwide Series Win

On June 29, 2012, Dillon secured his first Nationwide Series victory at Kentucky Speedway, dominating the race. However, NASCAR officials announced the car had failed post-race inspection due to rear ride heights being too low.

August 2012: Nationwide Series Plans for 2013

In August 2012, Dillon announced he would continue to drive full-time in the Nationwide Series for 2013, with Advocare as the primary sponsor.

August 2012: NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Race

In August 2012, Dillon participated in one race in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Circuit Gilles-Villeuneuve in Montreal, finishing seventh driving the No. 4 car for Fitzpatrick Motorsports.

2012: Moved to Nationwide Series

In 2012, Austin Dillon moved up to the Nationwide Series full-time, driving the No. 3 Chevrolet for RCR.

2012: Nationwide Series Move

In 2012, Austin Dillon moved up to the Nationwide Series, driving the No. 3, with sponsorship from AdvoCare, American Ethanol, and Bass Pro Shops.

2012: Rookie of the Year

In 2012, Austin Dillon won the Rookie of the Year award in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

2012: Limited Sprint Cup Series Starts

In 2012, Dillon competed in the Sprint Cup Series on a limited basis, starting at Michigan International Speedway in June, driving the No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, starting 21st and finishing 24th.

January 2013: Sprint Cup Races with Phoenix Racing

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.

August 2013: Substituted for Tony Stewart

In early August 2013, Dillon substituted for Tony Stewart in the No. 14 Stewart–Haas Racing Chevrolet at Michigan due to Stewart's leg injury.

November 16, 2013: NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship

On November 16, 2013, Austin Dillon won the NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship despite not winning any races during the season, which was a first in NASCAR's national series.

December 11, 2013: Dillon to Drive No. 3 in Cup Series

On December 11, 2013, Richard Childress Racing announced that Austin Dillon would drive the No. 3 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Cheerios and Dow Chemical Company as primary sponsors. This marked the No. 3 car's first Sprint Cup appearance in thirteen years.

2013: NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion

In 2013, Austin Dillon became the NASCAR Nationwide Series champion. He had also received the Rookie of the Year award in 2012.

2013: Danny Stockman Reunion

In 2013, Danny Stockman was Austin Dillon's crew chief when he won his NASCAR Championship titles in the Nationwide Series.

2014: Daytona 500 Pole Position

During the 2014 Daytona 500 qualifying, Austin Dillon secured the pole position with a speed of 196.019 miles per hour (315.462 km/h). This was the fourth time that the No. 3 car was on the pole for the Daytona 500.

2014: Top-Five and Consistent Finishes

In 2014, Dillon rebounded with a top-five finish in the Coke Zero 400 and was one of only two drivers to finish every race. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year standings to Kyle Larson.

2015: 21st in Sprint Cup Standings

Austin Dillon finished the 2015 Sprint Cup season in 21st place with one top-five and five top-ten finishes, while also securing four Xfinity race wins on a part-time schedule.

2015: Missed the Playoffs

In 2015, Dillon failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the year. He also fell outside the top twenty in points.

2015: Xfinity Wins and Daytona Crash

In 2015, Dillon had two Xfinity wins at Las Vegas and Charlotte. During the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, Dillon's car crashed violently, flipping into the catch fence, injuring some fans, but Dillon escaped with minor injuries and was credited with seventh place.

2016: Xfinity Series Finishes

In 2016, Austin Dillon achieved his one-hundredth career top-ten Xfinity Series finish at California and won the Xfinity race at Michigan after rain ended the race early. Dillon also drove the No. 10 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing at Indianapolis, marking the second time Dillon raced in an Xfinity event outside RCR.

2017: Fifth Place at Martinsville and Challenges at Texas

In 2017, Dillon achieved a season-best fifth-place finish at Martinsville. However, at Texas, a broken track bar caused him to start the Cup race eleven laps down, finishing 33rd.

2017: Justin Alexander Reunion

In 2017, Justin Alexander served as the No. 3 team's crew chief.

2018: Consumers Energy 400

Austin Dillon had his last top-five finish since the 2018 Consumers Energy 400 before the Las Vegas Race in 2020.

2018: Daytona 500 Winner

In 2018, Austin Dillon won the Daytona 500, marking a significant achievement in his racing career.

2018: Daytona 500 Win and Playoff Elimination

In 2018, Dillon won the Daytona 500, marking a significant victory. However, he was eliminated in the Round of 16 after a crash at the Charlotte Roval race and finished the season thirteenth in points.

2018: Justin Alexander Reunion

In 2018, Justin Alexander served as the No. 3 team's crew chief.

October 28, 2019: Stockman Steps Down

On October 28, 2019, Danny Stockman announced his departure as crew chief of the No. 3 team at the end of the 2019 season.

2019: Danny Stockman as Crew Chief

In 2019, Danny Stockman became Austin Dillon's crew chief for the Cup Series. Stockman had previously been Dillon's crew chief in the Truck Series and Nationwide Series when he won his NASCAR Championship titles in 2011 and 2013.

2020: Top-Five Finish at Las Vegas

In 2020, Dillon secured his first top-five finish since 2018 at Las Vegas, coming in fourth.

2020: Alexander Returns

In 2020, Justin Alexander returned as the No. 3 team's crew chief, after having served that position in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

2020: Victory at Texas Motor Speedway

On July 19, 2020, Austin Dillon won the O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, ending an 88-race winless streak. This victory also marked the first RCR 1-2 finish since the 2011 Good Sam Club 500.