By the age of 27, he achieved one of his biggest dreams. Now, Austin Dillon knows what it feels like to win the Daytona 500 and he’s prepared to do it again.
“I feel more relaxed, I do, I feel more relaxed, I feel confident,” Dillon told WFLA Dan Lucas. “I feel the car this year we have is better than the car we had last year, so now I just got to go execute because I know this car can win the race, it’s just putting it in the right positions.”
The Big Race is in Dillon’s blood. He is the grandchild of Richard Childress, former NASCAR driver and CEO of Richard Childress Racing.
Dillon was also at the Daytona 500 when Dale Earnhardt Sr. won in 1998, three years after Sterling Marlin notched back to back wins.
“This race has always meant a lot to me and my family. My grandfather has instilled that into us. He loves the excitement of this place and what it brings. It’s just a huge place to win at,” Dillon said.