Austin Dillon wins at Chicagoland Speedway

Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

Austin Dillon captured his second win of 2011 and his fourth career victory taking home the checkered flag in Friday night’s Fast Five 225 at Chicagoland Speedway. Dillon, who will be moving into the Nationwide Series full-time in 2012, was able to use pit strategy to his advantage and hold off Kevin Harvick in the closing laps.

Friday night’s race started off with Steve Arpin earning his first career pole in only a hand full of starts. Arpin quickly fell a lap down while Kevin Harvick proved that his KHI Chevy was the truck to beat. Leading 99 of the 150 laps Harvick lost time on pit road when he was forced to take on tires during his final stop because of a vibration. This last minute change gave Dillon the opportunity to pull away from the pack by more than four seconds as Harvick battled against Kyle Busch to hold on to second place.

The race was slowed three times for caution for debris and for oil on the track from Carmichael’s engine. Points leader James Buescher found himself down a lap early in the race but held onto his lead in the standings by three points. Dillon’s win moves him into second position with seven more races left in the NCWTS season.