Austin Dillon competed in the Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan in June, finishing an impressive 11th in a fourth car from the Richard Childress Racing camp.
When Dillon pulls into MIS this weekend and puts another NSCS start under his belt, this time it’ll be in one of the series best cars. Dillon was named the replacement driver for the injured Tony Stewart this weekend at Michigan. Whether he remains in the car past Sunday will be based on the team’s performance.
“We went down through the list and saw who is available and who had track time, who was doing double duty and was willing to try to work out a schedule that would work for both sides,” said Greg Zipadelli, Competitor Direct at Stewart-Haas Racing, on Monday.
“He has a strong relationship with Bass Pro Shops, and a big part of how we go through this is making sure that our partners are happy with what we’re doing as far as who we’re putting in the car and who will represent their brands in the way they want it represented.
“Austin’s done a great job in the past at Michigan. We kind of felt like it was a good fit for us this week.”
Dillon is a future NSCS driver and has seven starts already in 2013. But he’s the current NNS point leader, holding a three-point advantage on Sam Hornish Jr. as they head to the Mid-Ohio road course this weekend. Dillon will travel back and forth to pull double duty in different states, cars and tracks.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity that’s presented itself here at Stewart-Haas,” Dillon said about the announcement. “I just want to thank all the parties at RCR and Stewart-Haas for giving me this opportunity to let me go out there in a premier ride in the Cup Series.
“We’ve had a great relationship with Bass Pro Shops and looking forward to representing them and Mobil 1 this weekend. It’s a great opportunity for me. We’re really focusing on the Nationwide championship as well, and we’re going to give both parties a great opportunity at a win this weekend. We’re going to go out there and try to run strong.”
As for Sunday, this is the perfect time and place for Dillon. He calls it his favorite track and noted that he led a majority of the NNS race before having tire problems. He’s still winless in the series but he and Zipadelli expect a good run there while filling in for Stewart.
“If you look at his record in the Truck Series and he job he’s done in the Nationwide, that’s kind of what we’re basing it off of,” said Zipadelli about the decision to give Dillon the nod.
“He runs good at Michigan. He’s got a good record there. He’s young, ready to rock and roll there. We’re ready to see what we can accomplish this weekend.”
The 2011 CWTS champion is aware of the busy schedule and the decision to have him split his focus from both series, especially one in which he’s trying to win a championship in. But, having tested at Mid-Ohio earlier this year, Dillon feels it’ll help both his performance and confidence this weekend.
Even better, there’s a full day of testing this Thursday leading into the weekend. What could be a problem is qualifying the NNS car, which Dillon sounded like he expects to miss and he’d have to start in the rear on Saturday. But as far as ruining his chance at a championship, not even an afterthought for Dillon.
“No, we’re going to win the Nationwide Series. That is our main goal. We’ve been fighting for it all year long,” he said.
“This week at Mid-Ohio we’ve had a lot of practice time. The good thing about a road course is the strategies that you’ll be using could actually help us out with the start. It obviously helps to start up front at any race you’re at.
“But we’ll have a plan. If there was a better place to do it in the Cup race, Michigan is the place for me because I have a lot of laps there and confidence there. So we’re going to do our best to come up with a good strategy for both races. I think we’ll be just fine.”
