[media-credit name=”Adam Lovelace” align=”alignright” width=”236″][/media-credit]Sparta, KY- Friday night Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 again saw Victory Lane but this time it was young driver Austin Dillon who it to Victory Lane for the first time in his Nationwide Series career.
“Dale would be proud,” Childress said. “I know he would.”
Dillon had also failed post race inspection because to wedge jack bolt backed out. He was fined six driver points and was knocked down to second in points. Crew Chief Danny Stockman Jr was fined $10,000 and placed on probation until December 31st. Morgan Shepard was fined six owner points. Car chief Robert Strmiska has also been placed on probation until December 31st. None of that spoiled the celebration.
“I love running the 3. It’s fun. It pushes me each and every week to give 110 percent'” Dillon said. “That’s what our guys do and I think that has something to do with the number. Not many people have a special number that pushes them. We can say that we have a number that has pressure behind that makes us run good each and every week.”
The slanted No. 3 will most likely never appear in Cup again.
“I look at the 3 as a family,” Childress said. “I drove it. I didn’t do near as good as these drivers did. It’s special because you have so many fans that want to see the 3, and then you have some that question running the 3. I wouldn’t let anyone else other than an Earnhardt or a Dillon drive the 3.”
The last time the No. 3 went to victory lane in the Nationwide Series was July 2010when it was driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr.