A victory after two years feels dizzying. So at that time, one would shrug off everything else, even if it was a blatant error. Austin Dillon grabbed his last win in 2022 when he won the August race in Daytona. But now the tides have turned. He lingered around the front row for most of the Richmond race and surged to the victory with controversial aggression, egged on by his grandfather.

Richard Childress helped his grandson, who was suffering a terrible 68-race winless streak in the Cup Series. As he saw his fortunes overturning, Grandfather Childress pushed Dillon and denied doing it as well. But now, with solid evidence, even Childress could not help but accept it.

Austin Dillon had encountered multiple instances of bad luck, finishing 2023 with an average finish of 21.78. The 2024 season seemed on a worse trajectory, as Dillon entered the Cook Out 400 race standing 32nd in the points standings. However, he lived up to the No. 3 RCR Chevrolet name—Dillon pulled off a Dale Earnhardt finish as he spun out both Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin to grab the win. But apparently, his grandfather instigated him to be aggressive over the radio, egging him on to orchestrate the well-timed wreckfest.

However, Richard Childress denied any of such instigations in a post-race word, saying, “Hell no, nobody said to go out and wreck him; I was on the radio the whole time.” 

Childress also added that the NASCAR public may be too caught up in the digital world: “You shouldn’t believe everything you see on the internet.” But NASCAR fans and journalists alike insisted that somebody on the Childress team asked Dillon to “wreck him!” And Childress ate humble pie with no less pride. But who do you think would have said, “Pop Pop is proud of you?”

Journalist Matt Weaver showed Richard Childress the recording of somebody yelling on the No. 3 radio. And Childress admitted to it then, patting the back of the spotter who was responsible for awakening Dillon’s Earnhardt side, as many are already projecting.

Weaver wrote: “Richard Childress came over to me after the press conference and said he didn’t hear it in real time if it was said. I played the recording for him. He echoed the sentiment that ‘well if he did, spotter did a good job because it won him the race.'”

Additionally, Austin Dillon had already given a glimmer of hope during the qualifying race. He was the quickest there, optimally using both option and prime tires and also made the final round of qualifying for the first time on a non-superspeedway since last October at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Despite the much-awaited Victory Lane celebrations in the RCR fold, Richard Childress’ grandson may have attracted some enemies for the playoffs.

Richard Childress’ grandson would have to face two heavyweights

Soaring to victory can be dizzying for two reasons: the taste of success and the threat from rivals. And after the Richmond race, Austin Dillon has scored points in the bad books of two stellar drivers.

“That’s chickens**t,” Joey Logano fumed about Dillon spinning him. The Team Penske driver even swore revenge on Richard Childress’ fold in the upcoming races. However, on the other hand, Denny Hamlin had also fallen prey to Dillon’s aggressive side, but he expressed his frustration towards NASCAR.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was not as harsh as Joey Logano, as he acknowledged Dillon’s good fortune. However, Hamlin slipped a hint of regret that he was a part of the Earnhardt-inspired melee. “He’s going to be credited with the win, but obviously he’s just not going to go far. You’ve got the pay your dues back on stuff like that. But it’s worth it because they jump 20 positions in points. So I understand all that. There’s no ill will there. I get it. I just hate I was a part of it. It would have been fun if I was not one of the two guys that got taken out on the last corner.”

With Logano and Hamlin frustrated, Austin Dillon would have to gear up for the next few races. But in the meantime, he is in a much-awaited celebratory mood, although his grandfather is receiving flak for his hypocritical statements.