Richard Childress’s Grandson Makes Moves After Snatching Away RCR’s Veteran in Off-Season Move

“Those kids [have] got no respect for what they do in this sport and they’ve had everything fed to them with a spoon,” then Richard Childress Racing driver Kevin Harvick had bitterly complained about his team owner’s grandkids, Austin and Ty Dillon, in 2013 after a Martinsville Truck race. Ticked off about a controversial run-in where Ty had reportedly hit Harvick several times, his comments calling them “spoiled rich kids” was just another layer in the intensifying discourse surrounding the two brothers and nepotism. Unfortunately, over the years, the two brothers have never been able to escape that very voice of dissent.

The main contention has always been the bountiful opportunities Austin and Ty have always garnered, despite their lackluster performances. To give you an idea: 34-year-old Austin Dillon, despite being in NASCAR’s top tourney for 14 years, has only clinched five wins, 80 Top-10s and six poles. He’s even been at the helm of Dale Earnhardt’s iconic No.3 since 2014—a move that certainly didn’t earn him any favors from the community. His younger brother Ty (33), on the other hand, despite having competed in 249 Cup races in 12 years, is yet to visit Victory Lane, with just seven Top-10s and zero poles. What’s more? Many argue how any other driver who didn’t have a veteran team owner as a grandfather would’ve seen their career end long back. However, looks like the tides are changing, and Ty Dillon is finally ready to overturn the conversation…

In September last year, it was reported that the younger sibling would be returning to the Cup Series full-time with Kaulig Racing, replacing Daniel Hemric in the No. 10. “I think this is my best opportunity I’ve had, I feel like I’m stronger and wiser and better than I have ever been in my career,” the racer had said talking about the decision in December last year. But not just Ty, even the executives at Kaulig couldn’t be more excited. Overnight the team made some ambitious changes—Mike Cook, former lead engineer at Stewart-Haas Racing, joined as competition director, while Andrew Dickeson (who served as an engineer a RCR till then) joined the #10 team as a crew chief.

But, given that the latter holds zero Cup Series victories to date, the skeptics’ voices were loud. But if you listen to one community member, Dillon has already started blossoming into a high-caliber driver. Currently, Dickeson is using his expertise to mold the best out of Dillon’s capabilities, which YouTuber Eric Estepp didn’t forget to mention. In a video shared April 8, the commentator highlighted, “I want to mention the other Kaulig driver often goes unnoticed: Ty Dillon. 25th in points may not sound like much. He finished 15th in Martinsville, 16th last weekend in Darlington. Added a new crew chief Andrew Dickeson, [who] came over from RCR. Right now, Ty Dillon has a nearly three-position better average finish and is four-point positions better than Daniel Hemric was in this same car once one season ago.”

Notably, Dillon already has two top-15 finishes in 2025, which is as many as he achieved in his last full-time stint with Spire Motorsports in 2023. This level of confidence could be seen in the lead-up to this season as well. Dillon said in February this year, “My goals are high. I got into this sport to want to win races in the Cup Series and compete, to be in the playoffs, and I know this is my best opportunity yet.” High goals are being met with good results, and he has proved a lot of doubters wrong in the process.

For sure, the skeptics of Ty Dillon were numerous. Both he and his brother Austin have had unimpressive careers. Last year, Austin Dillon gained more detractors due to his right-rear hook at Richmond. Meanwhile, Ty Dillon was the victim of such a move from Austin Cindric at COTA in 2025. The difference in between the two drivers is wide, and Estepp admits that Ty Dillon made him eat his words.

“A lot of folks clowned this move. I, myself, was skeptical. ‘Really? Kaulig’s going to replace an Xfinity Series champion to give one of pop-pop’s kids another opportunity? Are we sure?’ But credit to Ty Dillon. He’s blocked out most of that noise. Remember, he’s a veteran now. He’s 33 years old, he has a family of his own. He has quieted the naysayers thus far. I know 25th does not look like much, but that’s much better than, really, anyone could have predicted coming into this season…Zero DNFs [so far this] year. That’s a big thing, that’s not throwing points away. They gotta keep that up.”

Evidently, Ty Dillon is making the most out of his opportunity. But while Dillon is performing well in NASCAR, he failed terribly in a different game.

Top Comment by vwiles34

I think both Dillon’s are taking up good ride’s that a deserving driver without the « Hook » could do...more

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Dillon ran out of breath

Well, NASCAR stars like to have fun once in a while. Even the type of fun that takes them to extreme levels. In an unique crossover, Cup Series driver Ty Dillon met with Leo Neugebauer, the world’s top-ranked decathlete. A University of Texas student, the star made his Olympic debut in Paris this past year and brought home a silver medal. It was not just a friendly meet-and-greet but a solid clash of clans. They met at the Circuit of the Americas track in the Lone Star State in early March, challenging each other to a foot race on the track’s frontstretch up to Turn 1. Well, anybody can guess that Neugebauer had an unfair advantage in this, but Dillon took up the challenge head-on.

Neugebauer said he tried to give Dillon every advantage that he could think of. “I’m in cowboy attire right now, got my hat on, my boots on, just looking appropriate for Texas. Yeah, he challenged me. I am always up for a good challenge. So, I didn’t hold back. Well, I was held back a little bit because I am in boots. I had a deficit, but I still got the W, and that’s all that matters.” Despite disastrously failing in this race involving legs instead of tires, Dillon laughed about the experience. “He smoked me in a foot race up the hill. I hung with him for the first couple of steps, but he was in cowboy boots and a cowboy hat, so, you know, I think he was leaving a little bit in the tank.”

Although Ty Dillon got smoked in running, he is smoking his tires in NASCAR. As the Cup Series season progresses, let us wait and see if the Kaulig Racing driver can achieve his goals for 2025. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!