Richard Childress Racing

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June 30, 2012

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Team Earn Career First Nationwide Series Win at Kentucky Speedway

"What an amazing feeling to be at the front of the field and crossing the finish line at lap 200 for our team's first NASCAR Nationwide Series win.

RCR/HHP Photo RCR/HHP Photo


Start - 1                     

Finish - 1                  

Laps Led - 192                           

Points Position - 1

In a dominating performance that culminated with his first career NASCAR Nationwide Series win, Austin Dillon and Richard Childress Racing's No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet team set a record for most laps led and lapped all but six competitors in the Feed the Children 300 at Kentucky Speedway. Dillon earned a perfect driver rating of 150.0 and inherited control of the driver championship point standings for his efforts, which marked the first time a No. 3 entry has won in the Nationwide Series since Dale Earnhardt Jr. did so in July 2010. The 21-year old Dillon earned his second pole award of the season and third NASCAR pole in as many starts at Kentucky Speedway and led the 43-car field to the green flag for Friday night's 200-lap event under the lights. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender drove to a commanding lead from the start of the race, accruing more than seven seconds between himself and the second-place car during a long green-flag run. Although he was running up front, Dillon reported to Crew Chief Danny Stockman that the No. 3 machine handled on the loose side, especially during long runs. Routine pit stops under green-flag conditions throughout the event provided little relief for the driver but handling issues did not hinder Dillon's performance, as he continued to increase his lead. The field was grouped back together following a lap-141 pit stop under green-flag conditions in which the caution flag was displayed for debris on the racing surface just as Dillon was exiting pit road. Following the caution-flag period, Dillon led the field to the lap-150 restart and once again pulled away from his competitors, ultimately crossing the finish line 9.852 seconds ahead of Kurt Busch. With his win, Dillon took control of the 2012 Nationwide Series driver championship point standings by a slim, two-point margin over RCR teammate Elliott Sadler.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE: 
"What an amazing feeling to be at the front of the field and crossing the finish line at lap 200 for our team's first NASCAR Nationwide Series win. I'm so proud of the guys. We've been working really hard to get to Victory Lane in my rookie season and I feel like maybe now that we have that first win under us, additional victories will come easier. I've always said that Kentucky Speedway was one of my favorite tracks, and now it is even more so. I think the slick racing surface really suits my driving style and my dirt track racing background." 
 
 

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