Austin Dillon wasn’t denied another Daytona victory. (Photo: Blake Ulino | The Podium Finish)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After waiting over three hours during a rain and lightning delay, Austin Dillon raced his way into this year’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in grand fashion.
Starting 21st from the grid, Dillon had a bit of a roller coaster afternoon. Placing 32nd in an eventful Stage 1, Dillon drove his way to a solid 10th place result for Stage 2.
Suffice to say, Dillon and his peers did not anticipate a Stage 3 like the better late than never edition of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
However, the road to a fourth career Cup win was unique and adventurous. Namely, Dillon had to dodge more wrecks than Cole Trickle during the finale of Days of Thunder.
First, Dillon had to negotiate around a harrowing, multicar accident on Lap 138 in Turn 2.
As Daniel Suárez and Denny Hamlin drove the pack into Turns 1 and 2, rain began to fall, causing a havoc filled scene with carnage abound.
Dillon managed his way around the crash, scathing through the apron and taking the lead.
For over three and a half hours, Dillon and his Playoff rivals, Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr., waited out the delay.
NASCAR aimed to finish the 400-miler in its entirety versus cutting it short. Despite the depleted field count from the plethora of multicar accidents, it was still a race to the finish and Playoffs.
It was the “Austin and Austin Show” at Daytona. (Photo: Blake Ulino | The Podium Finish)
In this case, Dillon led the race’s ultimate restart on Lap 145 before Austin Cindric, this year’s Daytona 500 winner, took the lead.
For the next 13 laps, it looked like Truex and Blaney would not have to sweat out their Playoff hopes with Cindric leading the way. A repeat winner would’ve clinched their postseason spots.
Then again, when it comes to the final laps at Daytona, it would be foolhardy to dismiss Dillon. Considering his 2018 Daytona 500 victory, it was not surprising to see the Lewisville, North Carolina native making his move with three laps remaining.
Approaching the first turn, Dillon, who ran second, decided to make a move on Cindric. Making slight contact with Cindric, Dillon drove to the lead with some drafting help from his Richard Childress Racing teammate, Tyler Reddick.
Regardless of the rain or frantic action in the final laps, Dillon was not to be denied at Daytona.
Dillon bested Reddick to the stripe by 0.128 seconds with Cindric, Landon Cassill and Noah Gragson rounding out the top five finish.
Following some celebratory burnout moves in the grass and stripe, Dillon soaked in the moment.
“100%. Crazy faith,” Dillon said. “My wife was in there. She was dancing in the rain. I got upset. I said, ‘Don’t be doing that’. She said, ‘Lord, when you have faith like me, you don’t have to worry about it.’ I was like, Okay, okay. I got you, baby.
“But Ace was back there with me. We were watching Paw Patrol, watching the Carolina Cowboys winning the PBR event. They said, get ready.”
Preparation was key for Dillon and his No. 3 team as they capitalized in a Game 7 moment, even with their competition depleted.
Dillon and Reddick worked perfectly in the final laps of the 400. (Photo: Blake Ulino | The Podium Finish)
“We stayed ready,” he remarked. “And I have to thank my teammate Tyler Reddick, BREZTRI, Bass Pro Shops, everybody that makes this thing happen. Dow, who has been with me since my start. We have so many great partners. Chevrolet, Chevrolet, Chevrolet. Man, we’re in the Playoffs.”
Naturally, some may wonder what was on Dillon’s mind with his winning move. He offered his thoughts on what happened in the final laps in a must win situation.
“There was a lot going on there,” he shared. “I knew that if we got to the white; I was afraid that if I waited too long, I was afraid somebody would wreck behind us, so I wanted to go ahead and get the lead. We were able to get it.
“I had a big run to him and then I had my teammate, the 8 back there. I knew we were in good shape there to the end. He did a good job checking up any kind of run. Just a little too much push there and got him loose.”
Sometimes, it’s all about maximizing on the opportunity, even if it’s not always been the smoothest of experiences for the 12th year Cup Series racer. Refusing to give up may be the intangible pushing Dillon and his No. 3 team into a respectable Playoff run.
Arms raised in victory. (Photo: Blake Ulino | The Podium Finish)
“It’s crazy,” he said. “You just never give up and have faith. We had some tough finishes this year, like Charlotte. I beat myself up over that. I made a good move and just didn’t finish it off. Today we finished it off. I’m so proud of these guys and I’m glad to be going to Victory Lane.”
Stage 1 Top 10 Finishers
Logano-Elliott-Burton-Ky. Busch-Truex Jr./LaJoie-Wallace-Stenhouse Jr.-Jones-McDowell
Stage 2 Top 10 Finishers
Ky. Busch-Truex Jr.-Hamlin-Logano-Wallace/Gilliland-Reddick-Harvick-Stenhouse Jr.-A. Dillon
Coke Zero Sugar 400 Top 10 Finishers
A. Dillon-Reddick-Cindric-Cassill-Gragson/Ware-McLeod-Truex Jr.-Ragan-Ky. Busch
