Dillon enjoys family support, experience in Nationwide debut
RICHMOND, Va. – Austin Dillon wasn’t lacking in people with racing experience on his radio when he made his Nationwide Series debut in the Richmond race.
He had his father, Mike Dillon, who had 154 career starts in the series, as well as grandfather Richard Childress talking in his ear.
Childress said he tried not to talk much during Austin Dillon’s debut, where he started 31st and finished 26th.
“I just said something once or twice – I let Mike talk to him,” Childress said. “He did good for us all talking to him. I was really, really
proud of him.”
The 18-year-old Dillon got a pit-road speeding penalty early in the race and then got into an accident with Steve Wallace. He ended up two laps down.
“It was not bad,” Dillon said. “I wish I could have had a better finishing place. A penalty on pit road really killed our momentum. After
that, we couldn’t get going back forward. Other than that, I got to run against some really good cars and race hard. I think I gained the respect of some guys.”
The plan is for Austin Dillon to run select races this year and next year before possibly going full time in the Nationwide Series in 2010. He currently is running full time in the NASCAR Camping World East Series.
“He raced hard,” Childress said. “He made a couple of mistakes on pit road – that’s the first time he’s pitted. All in all, he did great for his
first time.”
Dillon said he is looking forward to more Nationwide races.
“Hopefully we’ll come back next time and be a little more prepared – I know I will,’ he said. “I knew it was going to be tough because definitely I have less experience. It was a good race all in all and I had a lot of fun.”
