Austin Dillon has opened up on his future in NASCAR following his controversial win at the Cook Out 400.
The North Carolina-born driver secured his first win of the season at Richmond Raceway, after he collided with Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano with half a lap to go.
After the incident was reported to NASCAR‘s governing body, Dillon was struck was severe penalties which dampened his championship hopes.
And speaking a couple days after the race on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, Dale Jr. Download, Dillon discussed his future with Richard Childress Racing.
Austin Dillon has spoke about potentially stepping away from racing duties in NASCAR
Dillon was allowed to keep his victory at Richmond, as NASCAR’s Vice President of competition Elton Sawyer said that the rulebook did not permit the governing body to strip the RCR driver of the win.
However, the 34-year-old was docked 25 points, dropping him from 26th to 31st in the standings, and had his playoff eligibility, which he achieved by winning the race, voided.
Dale Jr. has a close relationship with Dillon and RCR, as it was the team that his father, legendary NASCAR driver, Dale Earnhardt, raced for from 1984 until his tragic passing at the 2001 Daytona 500.
Furthermore, Richard Childress – the team’s namesake – is Dillon’s grandfather, and the five-time cup series race winner revealed that his future could lie outside of the car.
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On his podcast, Dale Jr. explained that he sees Dillon as a ‘big part’ of the business side of the team and asked him what his ‘five year plan’ is as a driver and as a member of RCR.
Dillon responded: “I’m thankful you said that, because it means a lot, and I care about our business as much as anybody.
“[I’ve] watched my grandfather, the guy’s got some crazy energy, blood in him that allows him to just go. At his age, it is super impressive. So, if he comes to me and says ‘hey look, I want you to help more’, and I am already, and my brother is starting to help a little bit too. I want to do that, obviously.
“My contract right now as a race car driver is two more years with RCR. So five-year plan, we’ll see what’s going on in year two of my contract. If I’m best suited as getting out of the car and putting somebody else in it, I definitely would love to be a part of that conversation with my grandfather and Mike Verlander.
“I’d love to help run it alongside him, my dad, and my grandfather in whatever capacity it is.”
Austin Dillon has been a full time RCR driver since 2014
Dillon began his NASCAR cup series career in 2011, making his debut – and only appearance of the season – at Kansas Speedway with Curb Racing, finishing 26th.
The 34-year-old joined RCR in 2012 and made a couple of appearances for the team that year and in 2013, along with driving for Phoenix Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing, before landing a full-time drive with RCR in 2014.
Dillon won his first cup series race in 2017 at the Coca Cola 600 and has registered a best finish of 11th in the standings on three occasions in 2017, 2020 and 2022.
NASCAR returns to action on 18 August with the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan.