Austin Dillon Critiques RCR Performance, Aims for Playoff Resurgence

Austin Dillon expressed frustration with the performance of the cars from Richard Childress Racing (RCR) following a challenging race at Gateway. The seasoned driver, who secured his spot in the playoff series with a win at Richmond, finds himself grappling with a season marked by inconsistent results. Dillon’s average finish stands at 20.071, while his starting average is 18.821. His teammate, Kyle Busch, has experienced similar struggles, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive year with an average finish of 17.929.

After a particularly disappointing race at Gateway, where Busch finished 22nd and Dillon dropped from 15th at the start to 18th by the end, the challenges facing RCR were stark. Dillon’s frustration surfaced during the race, leading him to vent over the radio, stating, “Quit telling me how to drive. I’m driving a piece of s**t. I’m trying to hang onto it.” These candid remarks highlight the uphill battle both drivers face with their current equipment.

The team owner, Richard Childress, had previously acknowledged the need for improvements. During a radio exchange at Dover, he admitted that the cars were not performing to standard and committed to enhancing their capabilities. Yet the reality on the track has not yet reflected these promises, leaving both drivers in a precarious position as they navigate the playoffs.

Despite the setbacks, Dillon praised his team for their effort in salvaging points during the race. He remarked, “We didn’t come here with a good race car for some reason. All of our cars were pretty off today; we just missed it.” However, he recognized the hard work of the No. 3 RCR team, stating, “This No. 3 Dow DayGlo Chevrolet team did a great job executing with what we had. We got stage points and finished the best we possibly could right there.”

Heading into the next race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Dillon is 11 points shy of safety to enter the Round of 12. His performance at Bristol will be critical, as he has only one top-five finish in 20 starts and a 17.8 average on that track. To advance in the playoffs, he will need to replicate the success that led him to victory at Richmond.

As Dillon prepares for Bristol, he remains focused on making the most of every opportunity. “Just feel like we’ve missed some opportunities and could be in a better position, but we did all we could today,” he concluded. The upcoming race will be pivotal for Dillon and his playoff aspirations, underscoring the intense competition and challenges of the current NASCAR season.