Catchfence

HIGH POINT, N.C. (July 23, 2009) - Richard Childress Racing development driver Austin Dillon, an incoming freshman at High Point University who will be studying at the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication, is already on track to showing his school spirit. Dillon will drive the No. 2 High Point University Chevrolet Impala SS for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race held at Iowa Speedway on Saturday, August 1.

Dillon, a native of Lewisville, N.C., is the grandson of Richard Childress – President and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. His father, Mike Dillon, is RCR’s vice president of competition and owner of Team Dillon Racing, where the 19-year old soon-to-be HPU Panther began his racing career.

“It’s really cool to be able to carry the colors of High Point University,” says Austin Dillon. “I’m not necessarily a typical ‘student-athlete,’ but it’s an honor to show off my Panther pride this way even before I take my first collegiate class.”

Dillon’s racing career started in 2005 and has included several wins and many top-10 finishes in a number of different series. He finished second in the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Series East and won rookie of the year honors. Dillon will attempt to make his fifth career NNS start at Iowa Speedway next weekend.

“The High Point University family is extremely proud of Austin and his accomplishments; he is a dedicated and skilled young man,” says Chris Dudley, vice president for administration at HPU. “It takes an incredible young person to manage the demands of racing and the rigorous academic schedule at HPU. We support him in this endeavor, and we look forward to welcoming him to HPU this fall.”

Dillon has visited Iowa Speedway twice this season in preparation for the upcoming Nationwide Series race. In May, he started seventh and finished 16th after his left-front tire went flat in the opening laps of the NCWSE race. Just three weeks ago, Dillon rallied from last place to finish second in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) RE/MAX Series race.

“Iowa is a really fun place to race at,” says Dillon. “This will be the fifth time I’ve raced there and that experience has built my confidence in understanding my way around the track. I’ll apply what I’ve learned so far to this race and, hopefully, we’ll have a solid run.”

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com), celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2009, has earned more than 180 victories and 12 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2009 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Casey Mears (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper). Its 2009 Nationwide Series lineup includes Bowyer, Burton and Stephen Leicht (No. 29 Holiday Inn) as well as Austin Dillon and Sean Caisse (No. 2 RCR Chevrolet).

About High Point University

At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in a fun environment with caring people. HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 50 countries and more than 40 states at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report No. 5 among comprehensive universities in the South and No. 1 in its category among up-and-coming schools. Forbes.com ranks HPU in the top 6 percent among “America’s Best Colleges.” The university offers 66 undergraduate majors, 40 undergraduate minors and seven graduate degree programs. It is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the Web at www.highpoint.edu.

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release