Austin Dillon winning his way through criticism that comes with being kin to racing royalty

It's difficult to explain the pressure Austin Dillon was under when he began his NASCAR Cup Series career in 2014. 

Dillon, the grandson of team owner Richard Childress, was pressed into the iconic No. 3 Chevrolet that hadn't been driven in Cup Series competition since Dale Earnhardt's tragic death in the 2001 Daytona 500. He was driving for a team with a championship pedigree, and doing it amid harsh criticism and accusations of nepotism that persist to this day. 

But the 2011 Truck Series champion and 2013 Xfinity Series champion has earned his keep throughout his Cup Series career. Including his victory in Saturday's race at Richmond Raceway, he's won six times at the Cup level, including victories in the Daytona 500 and World 600. 

So, forgive Childress and crew chief Richard Boswell for believing in their driver - and, in Childress' case, his grandson. 

"Austin has earned his way from the time we put him in a Bandolero car," Childress said on Saturday evening. "He went out and won a truck championship. He went out and won an Xfinity championship. He won races in everything he’s ever driven.

They’re going to give (him) criticism because he is my grandson. But we take it. It’s just the way life is. You can’t be burdened down by what people say."

There have been some valid criticisms of Dillon over the years. His performance, while highlighted by a plethora of strong performances, has dipped significantly since 2022. There have been times - such as Richmond in 2024, where Dillon unabashedly wrecked Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin for the win - when there's been an air of arrogance and ignorance surrounding the heir to one of NASCAR's greatest organizations. 

Beneath his shortcomings, however, lies a world-class driver who has proven his ability to beat the best on any given weekend. 

"Anybody that says he doesn’t deserve to be at this level, look at the 30 or 40 laps he raced side by side with Ryan Blaney," Boswell said. "(Blaney) won a Cup championship. (Dillon) raced door-to-door with a Cup champion. He beat him at the end.

Anybody that says he just can’t do it is not looking at the facts."

Dillon isn't deaf to the criticism. He certainly hears it. But the 35-year-old driver doesn't seem to let it bother him. 

"I could win 50 races, and they’ll say my grandpa gave me the ride," Dillon said. "They’re not wrong. He did. He did a great job putting me in it. Hopefully I’m paying off on his investment at some point." 

This year, at least, Childress' investment in his grandson has certainly paid off. At least one of RCR's Cup Series entries will compete for a championship and earn the big pay day that comes with being a playoff team. 

For that accomplishment, Dillon deserves to strut around the Cup Series garage until the green flag flies in Daytona.

"You get to Cup level, it just humbles you," Dillon said. "It’s a whole other department of winning. Now I’m more thankful than anything. It’s not like, 'Kiss my butt, I won.' It’s more like, 'man, that was awesome.' To be able to get a win at the highest level of motorsport, and do it for my family, RCR, Welcome, (N.C.) the pit crew, all those guys. I’m the guy that got to wheel it tonight. Thank you, Jesus."

Theodore Roosevelt famously quipped that it's "not the critic who counts." On Saturday night in Richmond, Dillon's critics were drowned out - for the moment, at least. 

Quotes provided by NASCAR Media unless otherwise noted.