Austin Dillon, grandson of team owner Richard Childress will be moving up to the Sprint Cup Series next season. Although reports of Dillon moving up to the Cup series circulated throughout the 2013 season, Richard Childress Racing did not confirm the reports until Wednesday afternoon at Charlotte Motor Speedway during a press conference.
The team stated that Dillon will drive the No. 3 car, a number that has not been used in the series since the death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001.
Dillon’s car will be sponsored by Fortune 500 company, Dow Chemical and General Mills.
“This is what you dream of — to make it to the Cup Series in competitive equipment.” Dillon said during the conference.
The 3 is back. pic.twitter.com/KmOV5rjgng
— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) December 11, 2013
Dillon, the reigning Nationwide champion and 2011 Truck series title winner, had already acknowledged he’s moving up to the Sprint Cup Series last month when he clinched the Nationwide title after the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
“That level is a little bit bigger of a jump for sure,” Dillon said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge. I think definitely Rookie of the Year is definitely what we want to get next year. … Next year is going to be tough. I know we’re up to the challenge. We got a good plan. I’m looking forward to battling it out next year.”
RCR also announced that they will not be fielding a truck team in 2014. They will though be fielding three full-time Nationwide teams with drivers Ty Dillon, Brendan Gaughan, and Brian Scott. They will also be fielding a fourth team part-time.
