'Our Odds Are Much Greater': An Optimistic Austin Dillon Looks to Repeat 2017 Success at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Austin Dillon enters the Coca-Cola 600 weekend with renewed gusto and fond memories. In his 14-year Cup Series career, he has won five races. But none was more memorable than his 2017 win at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Besides being his breakthrough win, he delivered a masterclass in fuel strategy. Now, Dillon is hoping lightning can strike twice.

Eight years ago, with his then-new crew chief Justin Alexander calling the shots atop the pit box, and a gas tank that held just enough to reach the checkered flag, Dillon edged his way to his first-ever Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory.

He put the iconic No. 3 Chevy, once driven by Dale Earnhardt, back in Victory Lane for the first time since 2000. That night, he outfoxed the heavyweights — Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr., who pitted with 32 laps remaining, while Dillon nursed his fuel and held steady to clinch the win.

Now, as he heads back to Charlotte with an average finish of 16.7 over 16 starts, Dillon carries the momentum of three top-10 finishes in the last four weeks. Ahead of this year’s Coca-Cola 600, he told the media, “I feel like as a driver, I always give myself shots at these big races to be in the hunt. Even if we’re a 15th-place car, I do a pretty good job of trying to get to the end of these things. Getting to the end is almost the top 10 here automatically.”

He added, “So, I mean when I say that, you got to do a good job throughout the race to be on the lead lap and do your job. But if you give me a car that’s a top-10 car from the start of the weekend, I feel like our odds are much greater. So that’s what we’ve got to be focused on.” Dillon also underlined the importance of qualifying, noting that a strong starting position would be key to a successful run.

Reflecting on his near miss in his bid for a second Coca-Cola 600 win back in 2022, Dillon acknowledged the chaotic twists of a 600-mile marathon. He recalled wrecking off Turn 4 after making a push for position against Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson.

Dillon conceded that while his team hadn’t fielded the fastest car that night, strategic tire calls and a sharp restart through Turns 1 and 2 kept him in contention. But a misjudgment through three and four unraveled his shot at victory.

In hindsight, Dillon admitted he might have fared better had he conceded a car length and navigated Turn 4, which could have given him the grip needed to battle through Turns 1 and 2 for one more lap. That near miss still stings him, he admitted.

But now, with form on his side, Dillon is approaching Charlotte with renewed confidence and determination to seize the moment.