Fast Facts: 2013 Nationwide Series Champ Austin Dillon

Richard Childress (l) celebrates at Homestead
with his grandson, Nationwide Series champ
Austin Dillon
credit: NASCAR via Getty Images

Austin Dillon, who drove the Richard Childress Racing No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro in the Nationwide Series in 2013, picked up his second NASCAR top-tier championship with his recent Nationwide Series title. Learn more about this third-generation driver and newest Nationwide Series champ in this special champion’s edition of Fast Facts.

• Austin Dillon was born April 27, 1990 in Lewisville, North Carolina. He is the grandson of Richard Childress, son of Mike Dillon (former Busch Series driver and current general manager for RCR), and brother of NASCAR driver Ty Dillon.
• From 2005 to 2007, Dillon raced Bandoleros, Legends and Dirt Late Models. In 2008, he moved up to the NASCAR Camping World East Series, finishing second in points and winning Rookie of the Year.
• Late in 2008, Dillon made his Nationwide Series debut at Richmond International Speedway and finished fourth at Memphis (TN) Motorsports Park in October. As an RCR development driver in 2009, Dillon raced in four series: Camping World Trucks, Nationwide, Camping World East, and ARCA.
• Dillon moved to the Truck Series full-time in 2010, earning seven poles and winning twice. He became the second rookie in nine seasons to finish the season in the top five in points.
• In 2011, Dillon competed full-time in the Truck Series again and raced in four events for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the Nationwide Series. He took the Truck Series title with two wins, 16 top 10 finishes and five poles, and earned three top 10 finishes in his four Nationwide Series starts. Dillon also made his Sprint Cup Series debut, finishing 26^th at Kansas.
• In 2012, Dillon moved up to the Nationwide Series with RCR, picking up the Rookie of the Year title and two wins on his way to a third-place finish in points. He also made his second Cup Series start, finishing 24^th at Michigan.
• 2013 saw Dillon win his second championship in three seasons, this one in the Nationwide Series. Dillon was held winless on the season in the Nationwide Series, ending the season with 22 top 10 finishes and seven poles. He also made 11 Cup Series starts, picking up a career-best finish of 11^th at Michigan in June, and returned to the Truck Series for three races for the first time since 2011; he picked up the win in the inaugural event at Eldora Speedway.
• An announcement is expected soon on Dillon’s 2014 plans, including whether he will bring the iconic No. 3 back to the Cup Series for the first time since Dale Earnhardt’s death in February 2001.
• Find out more about Austin Dillon at www.rcrracing.com and www.teamdillonracing.com.