What does it take to carry the weight of a legend on your shoulders—and on your door panel? Austin Dillon believes that the answer lies in each lap he completes while driving the No. 3 car, a number that is closely associated with NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, whose legacy looms high over the sport. After Earnhardt’s untimely death in 2001, team owner and Dillon’s grandfather, Richard Childress, felt it had to be someone special to bring the No. 3 back to the NASCAR Cup Series.

“To put my grandson in that car was unbelievable,” Childress said, reflecting on the emotional moment when Dillon secured his first Cup Series victory at the Coca-Cola 600. The choice was not made hastily. Austin and Ty, Childress’s grandchildren, had always been instructed to notify him if they were inclined to racing. Austin particularly requested the No. 3 when he stated that he wanted to drive. 

“Austin, you know that’s a famous number with Dale Earnhardt,” Childress said. But the young Dillon was resolute and responded, “But it’s your number.” Dillon has a long history with the No. 3. He was a huge fan of Dale Earnhardt as a toddler and was frequently spotted wearing a Goodwrench uniform. Pictures of him as a baby show Earnhardt cradling him. He even had the No. 3 on his go-karts and utilized it while competing in the Little League World Series.

The choice to bring back the No. 3 was emotional and important. Childress had considered not reviving the number following Earnhardt’s passing. He did, however, think that Earnhardt’s legacy would be revived with the return of the No. 3 in the series. “I hope that Dale Earnhardt fans will be re-energized and say, ‘Hey, it gives me something to look at,’” Childress said in 2013 when discussing the return of the No. 3 car to NASCAR’s top series with his grandson.

Dillon embraces the legacy he’s inherited. “I love getting behind the wheel of the No. 3 car and seeing the fans at the track who support us. It’s always a question that’s often asked, but I enjoy every minute of it and love interacting with the fans,” he said. Austin Dillon is writing a fresh chapter in the No. 3 car’s illustrious history as it continues to compete. Dillon is a prime example of what it means to uphold a legacy with dignity, fervor, and resolve by respecting the past while paving his way.

Who is Austin Dillon?

Renowned American NASCAR driver Austin Dillon is best known for driving Richard Childress Racing‘s (RCR) recognizable No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Born in Lewisville, North Carolina, on April 27, 1990, he is the son of former driver and current RCR general manager Mike Dillon and the grandson of RCR team owner Richard Childress. Ty Dillon, his younger brother, is a NASCAR competitor as well.

Dillon progressed through some developmental categories after beginning to race Bandoleros and Legends cars in 2005. He made significant progress early on, winning the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the 2013 NASCAR Xfinity Series championships. These accomplishments made him one of the few racers to win championships in both series. The No. 3 vehicle, which is closely associated with the late Dale Earnhardt, was driven by Dillon when he made his full-time return to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2014.

Since then, he has won several notable races, including the coveted Coca-Cola 600 in 2017 and the Daytona 500 in 2018. By the end of 2024, Dillon had more than 80 top-10 finishes, five Cup Series wins, and six pole positions. Along with his achievements on the racetrack, Dillon is recognized for upholding NASCAR’s No. 3 car legacy, honoring its illustrious past while advancing his career in the sport.

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Growing up in the fast lane to Daytona triumph, Austin Dillon’s NASCAR Journey

From go-kart racing in the backyard of his grandfather’s racing dynasty to taking home the Harley J. Earl Trophy in Victory Lane at Daytona, Austin Dillon’s NASCAR path has been anything from ordinary. Dillon, who was born into the royal family of stock car racing, was awake and surrounded by the sound of engines and the shadow of renowned racers, especially the No. 3 that had once been driven by Dale Earnhardt, the Intimidator.

Dillon grew up in Lewisville, North Carolina, where the garage bays of Richard Childress Racing were all around him. Richard Childress, Dillon’s grandfather and a former racer who currently runs a championship-winning team, launched Dillon’s career long before Austin had ever completed a competitive lap. However, Childress made it clear that Dillon’s racing future would need hard work. And he merited it.

Austin Dillon entered the NASCAR national scene with back-to-back championships in the 2011 Camping World Truck Series and the 2013 Xfinity Series. His ancestry was not the only factor in his rapid rise. In the development ranks at RCR, he developed his grit, precision, and vehicle feel. But the true turning point came in 2014 when Dillon was tasked with reviving Dale Earnhardt’s iconic No. 3 in the Cup Series.

NASCAR Nation was filled with both wonder and criticism as a result of the historic and seismic occurrence. Dillon’s stunning triumph at the 2018 Daytona 500 was the culmination of his gradual establishment while carrying the burden of history. Dillon narrowly lost to Aric Almirola in a thrilling overtime finish, earning one of the sport’s most coveted victories.

Dillon honored Earnhardt by bringing the No. 3 back to Daytona’s Victory Lane on the 20th anniversary of the Intimidator’s stunning victory in 1998. He said, “I did what I had to do” after the race. Tradition is the foundation of his legacy, which has been refined by perseverance and solidified by the triumph at Daytona.

Austin Dillon’s test and tribulations in revving up Dale Earnhardt’s No. 3

When Austin Dillon entered the No. 3 Chevrolet for the 2014 Daytona 500, he was not only starting his full-time Cup Series career but also carrying on a legacy left by a NASCAR legend. Once revered and feared as Dale Earnhardt’s chariot of supremacy, the number had not been seen on the track since that fateful day in 2001. For Dillon, the road has been built with great anticipation and possibility, and it would never be easy to bring it back. Whether Richard Childress’s grandson had the right to revive such a renowned figure from the start was questioned by many. Dillon was used to pressure, but this was something different. In addition to performance, each lap in the No. 3 was compared to the past.

Dillon had a mixed start to his Cup career, despite winning the 2014 Daytona 500. Even though he had some encouraging moments, such as placing in the top five at Daytona and fighting for a slot in the top 10 during his rookie season, fans were divided. Was he honoring the number, or was he only following in the footsteps of legacy? The scrutiny increased with every season in which there was no victory. Before he made his breakthrough in Charlotte in 2017 and won the Coca-Cola 600, it took three full-time years. The win was significant since it was the No. 3 car’s first Cup Series victory since Earnhardt’s last victory in 2000. Even yet, some referred to it as a fuel mileage anomaly rather than a declaration of superiority. But then the 2018 Daytona 500 followed.

Dillon drove the No. 3 back to Victory Lane despite the pandemonium of the last lap, twenty years after Earnhardt’s only triumph in the Great American Race. Although it was a contentious finish—he spun Aric Almirola to receive the checkered flag—it was a classic NASCAR moment. aggressive, unrepentant, and decisive. Yet, Dillon’s career has not been without its ups and downs.

Many still wonder if he has lived up to the weight of the number he wears, given that he has only won five Cup Series races in over ten years of racing. Dillon’s response has been one of firm commitment rather than excuses. “My grandfather has done everything for me, and everybody knows it. There’s a lot of pressure on me to perform because I’ve had a little bit of everything. But I like that pressure, the same with the No. 3; there’s a lot of pressure behind it, but I’m willing to take it and go with it,” he told The Washington Times in 2018.

Dillon always drives with more than horsepower when he starts the No. 3. He is carrying the Intimidator in spirit, the pride of a family business, and the expectations of his admirers. Austin Dillon’s trip behind the wheel of NASCAR’s most iconic number is far from complete, despite the route being full of diversions and skeptics.

What does the road ahead look like for Austin Dillon?

Austin Dillon’s future in NASCAR looks bright as of April 2025, as several developments point to a sustained upward trajectory. Dillon, who drives the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, is presently in his eleventh full-time season with Richard Childress Racing (RCR). Richard Boswell, a former employee of Stewart-Haas Racing, has joined the squad as a new crew chief, one of the many notable changes. The team’s performance and competitiveness in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season are intended to be improved by this move.

Dillon has demonstrated promise in the early going of the 2025 season by placing in the top 10 for the first time in Bristol Motor Speedway’s Food City 500. He started the season in 17th place and used a calculated pit strategy to finish in 10th, demonstrating a good start. Bass Pro Shops and Winchester, who have partnered with RCR for several races during the year, are the sponsors of Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet for the 2025 season. The squad receives significant support from this relationship, which adds to the season’s resources.

Dillon is guaranteed a spot with RCR for the next two years since his contract with the team runs through the 2026 campaign. Dillon has shown a desire to assume a leadership position at RCR to eventually move into an ownership role. His participation in team activities and his comprehension of business matters indicate that he is being prepared for more responsibility inside the company. With solid team support, strategic leadership, and a clear route to future leadership within Richard Childress Racing, Austin Dillon is well-positioned for a successful 2025 season.