By NATE RYAN
In his playoff-clinching victory at Richmond Raceway, Austin Dillon shared some NASCAR historical past on the venerable brief observe with essentially the most well-known driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet.
Dale Earnhardt, the late seven-time Cup Sequence champion who amassed 76 victories in a Corridor of Fame profession, was the final Richard Childress Racing driver to win consecutive Cup races on the 0.75-mile oval in Richmond, Virginia, till Dillon did so Saturday night time.
The comparisons to Earnhardt and whispers of nepotism have dogged Dillon for the reason that grandson of workforce proprietor Richard Childress was tabbed 11 years in the past to drive the automobile quantity synonymous with a NASCAR icon.
“I might win 50 races, and so they’ll say my grandpa gave me the journey,” Dillon stated with a smile. “They’re not mistaken. He did. He did a fantastic job placing me in it. Hopefully, I’m paying off on his funding in some unspecified time in the future.”
Richmond was solely his sixth victory in 433 Cup begins, however Dillon stated snapping a 37-race winless streak was “among the finest as a result of it was just about a butt kicking.” He led 107 of 400 laps, together with the ultimate 49, and cruised to a 2.471-second victory over Alex Bowman.
Dillon by no means led for greater than 35 laps in any of his earlier Cup wins. He gained the 2018 Daytona 500 by main solely the final lap after knocking Aric Almirola apart two turns from the checkered flag.
Final 12 months’s win at Richmond was his most controversial as Dillon wrecked Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the ultimate lap, and NASCAR consequently revoked his playoff eligibility.
There was no such drama Saturday night time, when Dillon cleanly outdueled 2023 Cup champion Ryan Blaney simply earlier than his ultimate pit cease.
“Anyone that claims Austin doesn’t need to be at this degree, take a look at the 30 or 40 laps he raced aspect by aspect with Ryan Blaney,” stated Richard Boswell, Dillon’s crew chief. “He raced door to door with a Cup champion. He beat him. Yeah, we have to run higher. We should be extra constant. However anyone that claims he simply can’t do it’s not trying on the information.”
The statistics are much less convincing about Dillon’s championship probabilities.
Richmond was the primary top-five end in 25 races this 12 months for Dillon, who’s ranked twenty fifth within the factors standings and within the Cup playoffs for the sixth time in 12 seasons. He has gained championships within the Truck and Xfinity collection, with 22 victories throughout NASCAR’s prime three nationwide circuits.
“Austin has earned his means,” Childress stated. “He gained races in every thing he’s ever pushed. They’re going to offer you criticism as a result of he’s my grandson. However we take it. It’s simply the best way life is. You may’t be burdened down by what folks say. Do what you do and transfer ahead. He’s gained his share.”
Dillon, 35, stated he cried final 12 months throughout RCR’s unsuccessful enchantment of the NASCAR penalty that took him out of the playoffs, noting he legitimately had handed Hamlin and Logano earlier than a late warning erased a snug lead. The Richmond repeat validated Dillon’s perception that he belongs in NASCAR’s premier collection.
“I believe I get the credit score I deserve,” he stated. “I’ve some loyal followers. We’re form of like a fighter. We don’t go away. I believe lots of people suppose that man goes to go away in some unspecified time in the future. I like that underdog mentality just a little bit.”
He additionally likes his new pairing with Boswell, who joined Richard Childress Racing after taking Chase Briscoe to the 2024 playoffs. Boswell made a pivotal name to pit with 59 laps remaining simply after Dillon took the lead from Blaney.
“I’ve a fantastic workforce proper now, most likely one of many strongest we’ve constructed,” Dillon stated. “We need to make this group as sturdy as a number of the prime groups. We scrap and claw and work out methods to win. I believe we have now enjoyable once we do this.”
Playoff outlook
Dillon turned the 14th winner to lock into the 16-driver playoff discipline heading into the Aug. 23 regular-season finale at Daytona Worldwide Speedway. There might be at the very least one winless driver to qualify for the playoffs, and Tyler Reddick and Bowman occupy the ultimate two provisional spots within the factors standings.
Reddick was on observe to clinch a playoff spot at Richmond after main 41 laps, however he completed thirty fourth after being caught in a crash that began when Daniel Suarez bumped Ty Gibbs.
“It’s just about worst-case situation for us,” Reddick stated. “We are able to thank Daniel Suarez for that. Went from a automobile that was one of many quickest on the observe to one of many slowest.”
Bubba Wallace, who’s teamed with Reddick on the 23XI Racing squad co-owned by NBA nice Michael Jordan, led a race-high 123 laps in his No. 23 Toyota however completed two laps down in twenty eighth after shedding a tire throughout a pit cease.
Common-season champion
With a Twelfth-place end, William Byron clinched the regular-season title as Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott completed final. Byron might be awarded 15 playoff factors that may present cushion to make the championship finale at Phoenix Raceway for the third consecutive season.
“It’s enormous,” Byron stated. “Nobody’s operating away with this factor, which goes to create a extremely loopy playoffs. I really feel like we’re in rhythm.”
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