Austin Dillon Survives Action-Packed NASCAR XFINITY Series Opener with Top-Five Finish

NASCAR XFINITY Series – Alert Today Florida 300
February 21, 2015 – Daytona International Raceway

Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon marked his return to regular competition in the NASCAR XFINITY Series with a pole award and a fourth-place finish in the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Camaro at Daytona International Speedway. The 2013 XFINITY Series Champion led the 40-car field to the green flag after earning his 11th-career pole award earlier in the day. Dillon and his Rheem racing team spent the first half of the race running solidly in the top-10 in a race that featured two- and three-wide pack racing. On lap 93, a multi-car incident occurred directly in front of Dillon. Despite the fact that cars spun and flipped directly in front of him, he avoided damage on the RCR machine until the red flag was displayed and another competitor failed to stop, running into the back of him and causing significant right-rear fender damage. The team pitted twice to repair the damage and Dillon restarted in the 13th spot when green-flag racing resumed with 21 laps remaining. With less than 10 laps remaining, another multi-car incident occurred directly in front of Dillon. Again, he avoided major damage except for a caved-in, right-front headlight which was repaired under the ensuing caution. Dillon lined up ninth for the final restart on lap 115, of 120, and raced his way to a fourth-place finish in the Rheem Chevrolet.

Those were some crazy wrecks out there. I really don’t know how we made it through some of them. I think it was luck and also my dirt racing background. It felt like it was in slow motion watching cars spinning and flipping in front of me. I’m hoping my lucky horse shoe can stay lodged where it’s at for the Daytona 500. I’m so thankful to my RCR Rheem Racing team for building fast, safe race cars. – Austin Dillon

Start – 1, Finish – 4, Laps Led – 1, Points – 0