Austin Dillon facts for kids

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Austin Dillon

Dillon at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2025

Born

Austin Reed Dillon
April 27, 1990 (age 35)
Welcome, North Carolina, U.S.

Height

5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)

Weight

179 lb (81 kg)

Achievements

2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion
2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion
2014 Daytona 500 pole winner
2017 Coca-Cola 600 Winner
2018 Daytona 500 Winner
2021 Bluegreen Vacations Duels Winner
2022 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Winner

Awards

2008 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Rookie of the Year
2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year
2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Most Popular Driver
2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year

NASCAR Cup Series career

408 races run over 14 years

Car no., team

No. 3 (Richard Childress Racing)

2024 position

32nd

Best finish

11th (2017, 2020, 2022)

First race

2011 Hollywood Casino 400 (Kansas)

Last race

2020 FanShield 500 (Phoenix)

First win

2017 Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)

Last win

2024 Cook Out 400 (Richmond)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
5	80	6

NASCAR Xfinity Series career

154 races run over 15 years

Car no., team

No. 3 (Richard Childress Racing)

2023 position

86th

Best finish

1st (2013)

First race

2008 Emerson Radio 250 (Richmond)

Last race

2025 BetMGM 300 (Charlotte)

First win

2012 Feed the Children 300 (Kentucky)

Last win

2018 LTi Printing 250 (Michigan)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
9	107	17

NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career

73 races run over 11 years

2022 position

95th

Best finish

1st (2011)

First race

2009 Lucas Oil 200 (Iowa)

Last race

2022 DoorDash 250 (Sonoma)

First win

2010 Lucas Oil 200 (Iowa)

Last win

2015 UNOH 175 (New Hampshire)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
7	48	13

NASCAR Pinty's Series career

1 race run over 1 year

2012 position

45th

Best finish

45th (2012)

First race

2012 NAPA Autopro 100 (Montreal)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
0	1	0

Statistics current as of November 10, 2024.

Austin Reed Dillon (born April 27, 1990) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He races full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series in the No. 3 Chevrolet ZL1. He also races part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in the No. 3 Chevrolet SS. Both cars are for Richard Childress Racing.

Austin is the grandson of Richard Childress, who owns the racing team. His younger brother, Ty Dillon, also races in the NASCAR Cup Series. His father, Mike Dillon, used to be a racer and is now the general manager for Richard Childress Racing.

Austin Dillon has won two major championships: the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series. He also famously won the 2018 Daytona 500. He earned the Rookie of the Year award in both the Truck Series (2010) and Nationwide Series (2012) before winning their championships. He holds a record for getting four pole positions in a row in the Xfinity Series.

Austin Dillon's Racing Journey

Starting Out: 2005–2007

Austin Dillon began his racing career in smaller car types like Bandolero and Legends cars. A year later, he started racing on dirt tracks. He learned a lot at a special school run by famous dirt track racer Dale McDowell.

Early Success: 2008 Camping World East Series

In 2008, Austin Dillon was named the Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Camping World East Series. He drove the No. 3 Chevrolet for the whole season. He started with Andy Santerre Motorsports but later moved to his grandfather's team, Richard Childress Racing. Austin won one race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, earned one pole position, and finished in the top ten in ten out of 13 races.

Truck Series Adventures: 2009–2011

Dillon racing at Pocono Raceway in 2011

Austin made his first start in the Camping World Truck Series at Iowa Speedway. He drove the No. 3 truck, which was special because it was the first time that number had been used in a major NASCAR series since Dale Earnhardt Jr. used it in 2002.

In 2010, Austin drove the No. 3 truck full-time, sponsored by Bass Pro Shops. He aimed for the Rookie of the Year award. Even though he crashed early at Daytona, he earned his first pole position at Texas Motor Speedway in June and finished third. On July 11, Austin won his first NASCAR race at Iowa Speedway. This was the first time the No. 3 truck won a Truck Series race since 2000. He ended the season with two wins and seven pole positions, earning him the Rookie of the Year award.

In 2011, Austin won races at Nashville Superspeedway and Chicagoland Speedway. After the final race of the season was shortened by rain, Austin Dillon was crowned the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion. He also won the Most Popular Driver Award for the Truck Series that year. In 2012, he moved up to the Nationwide Series.

Climbing the Ranks: Cup and Xfinity Series

Austin Dillon made his first start in the top-level NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on October 9, 2011, at Kansas Speedway. He finished 26th.

On November 4, 2011, Richard Childress Racing announced that Austin would move to the Nationwide Series in 2012. He would drive the famous No. 3 car, which Dale Earnhardt made well-known.

2012: A Year of Firsts

Dillon's 2012 Nationwide Series car at Road America

Austin also raced in a few Sprint Cup Series races in 2012. He drove the No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.

On June 29, 2012, Austin got his first Nationwide Series win at Kentucky Speedway. He led almost every lap and won by a large margin. However, his car failed a post-race inspection because it was too low.

Austin also competed in one race in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in Montreal in August 2012, finishing 7th.

2013: Nationwide Series Champion

In August 2012, Austin announced he would continue racing full-time in the Nationwide Series in 2013. He also planned to race in seven Sprint Cup Series events, including the 2013 Daytona 500.

Austin returned to the Truck Series for the first-ever Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway, a dirt track. He led most of the race and won after a final restart. His winning truck and trophy are now on display at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

2013 championship car at Road America

In August 2013, Austin filled in for injured driver Tony Stewart in the No. 14 Chevrolet at Michigan and Talladega. At Talladega, he was running near the front but was involved in a crash on the last lap.

On November 16, 2013, Austin Dillon won the NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship. This was unique because he didn't win any races that season, making him the first champion in NASCAR's top three series to win the title without a race victory.

2014: Full-Time in the Cup Series

On December 11, 2013, Richard Childress Racing announced that Austin Dillon would drive the No. 3 Chevrolet full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This was the first time the No. 3 car had been in the Sprint Cup Series in 13 years.

During qualifying for the 2014 Daytona 500, Austin earned the pole position, meaning he started the race from the very front. This was the fourth time the No. 3 car had been on pole for the Daytona 500.

After some tough races, Austin bounced back with a top-five finish in the 2014 Coke Zero 400. He finished the 2014 Cup season as one of only two drivers to finish every race. He placed second in the Rookie of the Year standings.

2015: Ups and Downs

Dillon racing at Michigan International Speedway in 2015

In the first half of 2015, Austin had a challenging time in the Cup Series. However, he won two Xfinity Series races, at Las Vegas and Charlotte, leading many laps in both.

At Daytona in July, Austin had a dramatic weekend. He won the Xfinity race after his teammate crashed. In the Coke Zero 400 Cup race, on the final lap, his car was hit and flipped into the catch fence. Austin was unharmed, except for some minor bruises, but five fans were injured by flying debris. He was still credited with a seventh-place finish.

He ended the 2015 Cup season in 21st place. Despite this, he won four Xfinity races while only racing part-time.

2016: First Playoff Appearance

Austin raced part-time in the Xfinity Series in 2016. He won the Xfinity race at Fontana after a close battle on the last lap. He also won at Bristol later in the season.

In the Cup Series, Austin earned two pole positions. He achieved his best career finish of 3rd place at the first Talladega Cup race. He also qualified for his first Chase for the Sprint Cup, which is NASCAR's playoff system. He made it past the first round but was eliminated in the next.

2017: First Cup Series Victory

Dillon during qualifying for the 2017 Toyota/Save Mart 350.

Austin started the 2017 season with a fourth-place finish in his qualifying race for the Daytona 500.

During an Xfinity Series race at Phoenix International Raceway, NASCAR penalized Austin for intentionally crashing another driver under caution.

Austin earned his first top-five finish of 2017 at Martinsville, placing 5th. After the Kansas race, his crew chief left the team, and Justin Alexander became his new crew chief.

Austin Dillon finally earned his first career Cup Series win at the Coca-Cola 600. He passed Jimmie Johnson, who ran out of fuel, and held off other top drivers. This was the first win for the No. 3 car in the Cup Series since October 15, 2000.

After this win, Austin didn't get another top-five finish until a fourth-place run at Darlington. He finished a career-best 11th in the final points standings. In June, Austin also started working as a commentator for Fox NASCAR Xfinity Series races.

2018: Daytona 500 Champion

Dillon celebrating after winning the 2018 Daytona 500

In 2018, Austin Dillon brought the No. 3 car back to Victory Lane in the Cup Series by winning the 2018 Daytona 500. He came from a lap down to second place on the final lap. He made contact with Aric Almirola, sending him into the wall, and then took the lead. This win happened exactly 20 years after Dale Earnhardt's only Daytona 500 win, and 17 years to the day of Earnhardt's passing. Despite this big win, Austin struggled with consistency throughout the season. He was eliminated in the first round of the Playoffs and finished 13th in points.

In the Xfinity Series, Austin earned his 100th career top-ten finish at California. He won the Xfinity race at Michigan in June, which was shortened by rain. This was his first Xfinity Series win since 2016.

2019: A Challenging Season

Dillon racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2019

For 2019, Danny Stockman became Austin's crew chief in the Cup Series. Stockman had been his crew chief when Austin won his Truck and Nationwide Series championships.

Austin and his team showed good speed in qualifying, earning pole positions at Auto Club and Talladega. At Michigan, Austin won his first career stage in a Cup Series race.

At the July Daytona race, Austin led the most laps and won Stage 2. However, with 40 laps to go, he was involved in a multi-car accident and finished 33rd.

Austin failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015. He finished 21st in the final points standings, his lowest in a full-time season, and did not have any top-five finishes.

2020: Back in the Playoffs

On October 28, 2019, Danny Stockman announced he would step down as crew chief. Justin Alexander returned as the No. 3 team's crew chief for 2020.

At Las Vegas, Austin earned his first top-five finish of 2020, placing fourth. On July 19, Austin broke an 88-race winless streak by winning his third career Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. His teammate, Tyler Reddick, finished second, giving Richard Childress Racing a 1-2 finish.

On August 15, it was announced that Austin tested positive for COVID-19, so he missed the race at Daytona. Kaz Grala filled in for him. Austin returned to the No. 3 car the following week.

At the Southern 500, Austin started from the back but rallied to finish second. In the next race, he finished fourth, marking his first time with two consecutive top-five finishes in his Cup Series career. He advanced to the Round of 12 in the playoffs but was eliminated after the Charlotte Roval race. Austin finished 11th in the points standings.

2021: Strong Start and New Teams

Dillon racing at Daytona International Speedway in 2021

Austin started the 2021 season by winning his qualifying race for the Daytona 500. He finished 3rd in the Daytona 500 itself, avoiding a last-lap crash, and took the points lead for the first time in his career.

In the Xfinity Series, Austin raced for different teams, including Ronnie and Dillon Bassett's team, JR Motorsports, Our Motorsports, and Jordan Anderson Racing.

At Michigan in August, Austin was involved in a crash that nearly flipped his car. He was unharmed.

2022: Playoff Surprise

Dillon's No. 3 car at Pocono Raceway in 2022

Austin started the 2022 season with a 25th-place finish at the 2022 Daytona 500. He had three top-three finishes early in the season. On March 27, he earned his first top-ten finish on a road course at the Circuit of the Americas.

Austin won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, securing his spot in the playoffs. He took the lead after a big crash caused by rain took out many of the lead cars. Austin was eliminated in the Round of 16 after being involved in a multi-car pileup at Bristol. He later had three consecutive top-ten finishes, a career first, and finished the season 11th in points.

In the Xfinity Series, Austin drove for Big Machine Racing at Charlotte.

2023: Penalties and Challenges

Dillon in the No. 3 at Auto Club Speedway in 2023

On October 28, 2022, Richard Childress Racing announced that Keith Rodden would be Austin's crew chief for 2023. Austin started the season with a crash at the 2023 Daytona 500. After the Martinsville race, his team received a penalty for an unapproved part. This resulted in a loss of points and a fine for his crew chief. Due to this and other tough races, Austin finished the 2023 season 29th in the standings.

2024: A Controversial Win

Dillon’s No. 3 car at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2024

During the 2024 season, Justin Alexander returned as Austin's crew chief. At the Richmond summer race, Austin ended a long winless streak by spinning out two other drivers on the final lap to take the win. This move caused some debate. A few days later, NASCAR penalized him for the move, taking away points and his playoff eligibility. Later in the season, after the Martinsville playoff race, Austin and his team were penalized again for trying to help another driver, William Byron, make the Championship 4. Austin finished 32nd in the final standings, his lowest career finish.

2025: Showing Improvement

On November 20, 2024, Richard Childress Racing announced that Richard Boswell would be the new crew chief for the No. 3 car for the 2025 season. Austin started the season with a 23rd-place finish at the 2025 Daytona 500. He later achieved three top-ten finishes in a row at Bristol, Talladega, and Texas, showing signs of improvement.

Beyond the Track

In 2021, Austin Dillon also competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona, a famous endurance race, with the RWR-Eurasia Motorsport team.

Personal Life

Austin Dillon married Whitney Ward on December 9, 2017. Their son was born on June 14, 2020. Austin attended High Point University part-time. He also played in the 2002 Little League World Series when he was younger.

Austin and his brother Ty co-own a sports management company called Team Dillon Management. This company helps manage the careers of several NASCAR drivers and golfers.