Austin Dillon Grabs a Top-Five Finish at Michigan

NASCAR Truck Series – Careers for Veterans 200
August 15, 2015 – Michigan International Speedway
Austin Dillon, No. 33

Austin Dillon returned to the driver’s seat of GMS Racing’s No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway in the Careers for Veterans 200. Dillon ran in the top five for most of the race despite battling a loose-handling condition and finished in the fifth position. Dillon started from the third position for Saturday’s event and led twice early in the race. However, he reported a loose condition in traffic in the opening laps that required the Shane Huffman-led crew to make adjustments during the first two pit stops to alleviate his handling issues. Dillon slipped back to seventh after green flag stops on lap 68. The 25-year-old driver made his way back to the front as the loose condition subsided and took the lead for the third time with 10 laps to go in the 100-lap event. While battling for the lead, Dillon fell back to fourth before a late-race caution was displayed on lap 92. The Welcome, N.C., native lined up fourth with six laps remaining and looked for help to gain track position in the closing laps, but found it difficult to get a run on his own, resulting in a fifth-place finish for the No. 33 team. Dillon will return to the Rheem Chevrolet for GMS Racing on September 26 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The No. 33 advanced one position, to seventh in the NCWTS owner points standings after 13 races this season.

We had a really great day in the Rheem Chevrolet. For a while there, I was loose in traffic and couldn’t get a run in the corners to be able the make the pass. It really started to come to me toward the end; we just needed a little more to get back up front. GMS Racing brought another fast truck and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity. – Austin Dillon

Start – 3, Finish – 5, Laps Led – 4, Owner’s Points – 7