Austin Dillon has had a year to forget, hasn’t he? The Richard Childress Racing driver has spent 11 seasons in the Cup Series, but the 2024 campaign has been the worst in his career by far. The No. 3 Chevy racer finished 32nd in the driver standings, indicating just how much he has struggled at NASCAR’s highest level. At the age of 34, Dillon has plenty of experience and should be performing better than he is, but his results have left much to be desired.

With four wins in the Cup Series throughout his career, it’s fair to say that Dillon hasn’t made a mark in NASCAR’s premier competition. Yet, his seat at Richard Childress Racing has always been assured, despite lackluster results on the racetrack. After a decade of disappointments, could his grandfather’s patience be wearing thin?

Austin Dillon needs to step up in 2025

Influence, sponsorships, talent, and hard work. That’s all it takes to break into the NASCAR Cup Series. While the latter two are a given, getting an opportunity to go wheel-to-wheel against some of the best drivers in the world comes down to more than just merit. Money and influence play a big role in having a seat at NASCAR’s highest level, with the likes of Ty Gibbs and Austin Dillon competing against the big boys thanks to having influential grandfathers within the sport. There has been plenty of chatter about nepotism in NASCAR, and it’s unlikely to go away anytime soon.

Unlike his teammate Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon did manage to win a race in the Cup Series, breaking a winless streak that had extended to over 60 races. However, it didn’t happen without controversy, as the No. 3 Chevy driver was seen wrecking Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano in the final lap at Richmond Raceway before crossing the checkered flag. After much deliberation, NASCAR revoked his playoff eligibility and docked Richard Childress Racing 25 points from the owner’s and driver’s standings while his spotter Brandon Benesch received a three-race ban.

That wasn’t the only controversy he was involved in either. After the penultimate Cup Series race of the season, Austin Dillon was found guilty of ‘race manipulation’ for helping fellow Chevrolet driver William Byron, by blocking incoming traffic at the Martinsville Speedway racetrack. With a spot in Championship 4 on the line, the Richard Childress Racing driver refused to overtake the No. 24 Chevy, which is why there was a subsequent fine of $200,000 along with 50 points deducted and suspensions for team executive Keith Rodden, crew chief Justin Alexander, spotter Brandon Benesch.

If numbers are anything to go by, Austin Dillon finished the season with an average finish of 22.556, the worst in his career so far. He also ended the year with just 493 points, the lowest tally in his Cup Series tenure so far. Taking these factors under consideration, will Richard Childress eventually lose patience with his grandson, and give the No. 3 Chevy seat to another driver? Time will tell. While the North Carolina native may be walking on thin ice if his performances don’t improve next year, his teammate has fared no better lately.

Dillon isn’t the only RCR driver whose future is uncertain

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It hasn’t been a good year for Richard Childress Racing. While Austin Dillon has had a season to forget, his teammate Kyle Busch hasn’t performed much better either. For the first time in 19 seasons, ‘Rowdy’ has ended his campaign without a single victory, failing to point his way through the playoffs as well. The No. 8 Chevy driver has come agonizingly close on several occasions, finishing 0.002 seconds behind winner Daniel Suarez at Atlanta Motor Speedway. If that wasn’t all, he finished runner-up at Daytona and Darlington, adding to his heartbreak.

Reflecting on his 2024 season, Busch wrote a heartfelt message on X, saying, “Arguably the toughest year of my career. Full of trials, [and] heartbreaks. I know my RCR guys [are] gonna get after it this winter [and] we’ll come back strong [next] season. Grateful for all of our partners, helping us do what we love. [Thanks] Rowdy Nation for sticking with me. Y’all [are] the best.”

Unlike Austin Dillon, Kyle Busch has just one more year remaining on his contract and his future at Richard Childress Racing is unclear. Could ‘Rowdy’ look for a move elsewhere, after a disastrous 2024 season? While that might seem like a logical option, the 39-year-old will wait and see how the 2025 season plays out, and if there is a noticeable performance improvement. Having won the championship twice before, Busch will aim to remain in contention for silverware every year and will want a team that can match his lofty ambitions.