Tuesday
Austin Dillon to Drive No. 3 Chevy Silverado at Iowa Speedway
Press Release
RCR won the first NCWTS race, at Phoenix International Raceway, and went on to capture the series’ first championship in 1995 with Mike Skinner driving the No. 3 GM Goodwrench Service Chevrolet Silverado. Skinner won 16 races in two seasons and Jay Sauter would earn four more victories before RCR discontinued the program at the conclusion of the 1999 season. In 129 NCWTS starts, RCR-prepared trucks earned 20 victories, 59 top-five and 85 top-10 finishes.
“RCR was fortunate to win the first Truck Series race and the first championship in 1995 with Mike Skinner and it’s great to see the No. 3 truck back on the track,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “We had a great deal of success with that program, so I’m excited to see what Austin can do. The Truck Series is always very competitive. The series puts on a great show and this should be a great opportunity for Austin.”
Dillon, a third-generation NASCAR driver, has already visited Iowa Speedway three times this season. In May, he started seventh and finished 16th after his left-front tire went flat in the opening laps of the NASCAR Camping World Series East-West showdown. The 19-year-old grandson of Richard Childress rallied from last place to finish second in the ARCA RE/MAX Series race in July. In August, he was involved in a mid-race accident and finished 28th in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race.
“This will be a special weekend for my family,” Dillon said. “To have the opportunity to drive the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado is amazing. Mike Skinner and that team set the bar pretty high by in 1995 earning RCR’s seventh NASCAR championship. I’m just looking forward to taking the next step in my racing career.
“We couldn’t have picked a better race track for me to make my Truck Series debut than Iowa. I enjoy racing there and feel confident heading back. Our overall goals are to learn as much as we can during the race, earn a solid finish and, more importantly, have fun.”
RCR has fielded Chevrolet Silverados for six drivers in the NCWTS: Bill Cooper, Mike Dillon, Dave Marcis, Jay Sauter, Jim Sauter, and Skinner. Mike Dillon is Austin Dillon’s father and RCR’s Vice President of Competition.
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) and Austin Dillon and Sean Caisse (No. 2 RCR Chevrolet). Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon and Ryan Gifford are RCR developmental drivers in both asphalt and dirt track racing.
- Richard Childress Racing Press Release
Article Tags: ARCA RE/MAX Series, Austin Dillon, Bill Cooper, Dave Marcis, Iowa Speedway, Jay Sauter, Jeff Burton, Jim Sauter, Kevin Harvick, Lucas Oil 200, Mike Dillon, Mike Skinner, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NCWTS, No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil, No. 3 GM Goodwrench Service Chevrolet Silverado, No. 3 RCR 40th Anniversary Chevrolet Silverado, No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper, Richard Childress, Richard Childress Racing, Ryan Gifford, Sean Caisse, Ty Dillon
