Austin Dillon wasn’t even close to finishing his post race interviews or pictures following his 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) championship, but he was already talking about the potential for 2012.
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[/media-credit]Dillon became the youngest NCWTS champion at 21 years, six months and 22 days when he won his first title on Friday night. It was also the first for crew chief Danny Stockman but the second for team owner and grandfather, Richard Childress.
“It’s got to be right up there at the top,” said Childress of where this championship ranks among his many others. “It’s so special when you’re family. Our whole family is involved, and I remember the very first championship with Dale Earnhardt. I had the same feeling tonight watching Austin, my grandson. It’s just so special to have the family and know how hard all of them worked.”
On his way to the championship Dillon won two races and avoided the bad luck and trouble that often found his competitors. It would end up being the difference when it counted most, as Dillon didn’t have as many wins such as Ron Hornaday or as many to 10s as James Buescher.
“Amazing, best feeling I’ve ever had in my entire life,” said Dillon. “I’m so happy for my grandfather. He’s got two champs this year. I’m worried about Ty [Dillon, brother] coming back and beating me for the youngest champion ever. He’s pretty awesome.
“It’s going to be a wonderful week, a wonderful month,” he continued. “Can’t ask to go out of the Truck Series any better than this, coming out as a champion. Danny Stockman has done a great job this year. We’re all a family over at RCR, and we fight like dogs, but we love each other the same. It’s cool that we’re out there, a championship. It was wild.”
Yet after only two full-time seasons – 52 career starts, four wins, 17 top fives, 32 top 10s, 12 poles and 839 laps led – Dillon won’t be back to defend his championship. He’s got plans and wants to be in the Sprint Cup Series in the near future. To get there, he has to continue moving up the ladder and in 2012 he’ll head to the Nationwide Series.
It’s why he said he’s worried that younger brother Ty, who is inheriting Austin’s spot, could win the championship. Be that as it may though, older brother is looking at another championship next season too. The entire No. 3 championship team will be moving with Dillon next year, the number too with sponsorship from AdvoCare for 20 races.
His expectations are already high, saying that he’s looking to make it two championships in a row. Having run a few NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) races in 2011 with Kevin Harvick Inc., whom Children bought out a few months ago, Dillon will have a good as shot as anyone to make that happen with Cup drivers out of the picture.
Defending NNS champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rose to the occasion to have his own spectacular season. He, like Dillon, won two races on his way to capturing his first championship. Unfortunately, sponsorship woes might keep Stenhouse sidelined in 2012, or at least limited to a partial schedule. Time will tell if the two champions will get to go head-to-head for their second NASCAR title.
“We’ve built a great team going into 2012,” said Dillon. “We’ve been working a little bit leading up to this race, and Stockman has been really harping on – worried about this race, not worried about next year. But we’re so excited I can’t wait. It’s going to be amazing, feel like we can do it again. Two in a row would be awesome, just keep moving up and doing our job and we’ll be there at the end.”
Dillon has 11 career NNS starts dating back to 2008. He does not yet have a pole or win to his name, but he’s led 13 laps (all in 2011) and has a best career finish of third at Nashville. His best career start came during that same race weekend in Nashville, a fourth.
Dillon will be teammates with Elliott Sadler who will remain with RCR after driving for KHI in 2011. Sadler finished second in points to Stenhouse and both he and Dillon will be competing for not only their first championship but win as well.
“I was able to run some really good races with the Nationwide Series this year and I feel like we stack up well, and we’ll have similar equipment,” Dillon said. “RCR and Pop-Pop always make sure we have the best, and we’ll go out there and do our job in that No. 3.”
Well, he definitely caught on quick in the truck series, as his brother has done in ARCA as well. I don’t know if he can win a championship his first season, but he definitely will win a race or two. Only time will tell, though, how long it takes before that number becomes a heavy one to carry.