Austin Dillon Prepares for Richmond: Aiming for Redemption
Austin Dillon returns to Richmond Raceway this weekend, site of his controversial victory in the previous season. The driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing team seeks not only a repeat performance but the opportunity to secure his place in the NASCAR playoffs.
In last year’s race, Dillon’s win was marred by backlash following a last-lap spin of Joey Logano and an aggressive maneuver against Denny Hamlin, which ultimately led to NASCAR vacating Dillon’s playoff eligibility despite allowing the win to stand. "It was still a big day and I’ll always remember it as one of my favorite wins," Dillon stated, referring to the trophy gained but playoff spot lost.
Dillon noted his near dominance in that race, boasting a two-second lead before a late caution disrupted his strategy. "We had a dominant car last year… we passed two of the best to do it," he added.
As he heads into this weekend’s event, Dillon recognizes the urgency of securing a win with only two races left before the playoff cutoff. Currently sitting 28th in the championship standings, he admitted, "We need to move ourselves into a better place in the point standings," emphasizing the importance of performance at both Richmond and Daytona.
To prepare, Dillon’s team has invested time in the simulator. "We will go there and give it our best shot," he said, optimistic about their chances to achieve much-needed momentum. Dillon remains focused, asserting, “We want to be a top 20 team… we’ve had a lot of unfortunate events that kept moving us down in the point standings.”
The stakes are high this weekend as Dillon vies not only for victory but a critical step toward playoff contention.
