Dillon will look for to be closer to the front when the last lap begins Sunday, however he knows a victory could be his only possibility to keep his title hopes alive.
Austin Dillon seeks to lead the No. 3 automobile back to victory lane at that track Sunday (2 p.m. ET on NBC) to advance to the next round of the playoffs. He enters the race last among the 12 remaining playoff motorists after he ended up 32nd last weekend at Las Vegas. Dillon routes Alex Bowman by 32 points for the final transfer area to the next round.
” It was a magnificent race,” Dillon said. “Seeing him originate from the back to the front and make the relocations he had … I think that was incredible.”
” For me, from lap one, Im doing and racing what I can to be aggressive and keep track position to show everyone around us that were there, we have a quick vehicle to deal with us, and just type of prove a point from the beginning of the race on that were going to be a contender at Talladega.”
Dillons lone Cup win on a superspeedway can be found in the 2018 Daytona 500. That win came 20 years after Earnhardts lone Daytona 500 success.
Twenty years after Dale Earnhardts wonderful success at Talladega Superspeedway, Austin Dillon hopes the No. 3 car can repeat history Sunday.
Running 15th with 4 laps left, Earnhardt passed 6 vehicles on the backstretch en route to his win.
” Im not actually concerned about points,” Dillon said. “I think we need to go win the race to move to the next round and attempt to develop our own destiny that way. For me, its throwing care to the wind. Clearly, youve got to get to completion of those things to win, but a lot of these guys that have actually succeeded at speedway racing have likewise led a lot of laps and put themselves in situations to do that.
Earnhardt scored his last Cup triumph on Oct. 15, 2000, charging from 18th to initially in the last 5 laps.
Dillon, 10 years old when Earnhardt won that 2000 Talladega race, remembers the event. Hes well familiar with Earnhardts 76th and final Cup win.
Could Dillon once again win 20 years after a special win by Earnhardt?
” That would be fitting for us to go win at Talladega and lock ourselves into the next round of the playoffs,” Dillon said, keeping in mind the anniversary of Earnhardts win.
2. After almost 40 versions, the 2021 Cup schedule emerged.
” Were looking at where were going to have the most competitive racing that we can have, where were going to have complete grandstands, and what does that market look like, is it a new market that we can service,” he stated.
The focus turned to resuming the sport and producing a schedule as NASCAR consulted with guvs, state authorities and health authorities.
” We believe the work that Ben Kennedy has actually done by leading this really continues us on that journey not only for this year,” ODonnell said, “but were going to continue to be vibrant in 22 as well.”.
The Cup Series will check out three brand-new locations (Nashville, Circuit of the Americas and Road America) and have 2 brand-new races (Bristol dirt race and Indianapolis road course) next season..
One-day shows, reorganizing races and moving the All-Star Race to Bristol in the upgraded schedule this season set in motion ideas for an inventive 21 schedule.
” I think that mentality and state of mind was likewise brought back to the 2021 schedule as we began to think about, hi, lets continue to truly shake it up,” Kennedy stated.
NASCAR President Steve Phelps stated in November that there would be three essential elements to the 2021 schedule.
Now, Kennedy focuses on the 2021 Xfinity and Truck schedules and the Next Gen cars and trucks debut in 2022.
” Theres never an absence of something to do here,” he stated.
Kennedy informed NBC Sports that a 2021 scheduling group of about 15 individuals formed quickly after last years Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend. Phelps specified April 2020 as a goal to announce the 2021 schedule. Kennedy stated the group had actually made “a great deal of headway” on the 21 schedule when the sport stopped in March because of the coronavirus.
While NASCAR executives Steve ODonnell, Scott Miller, Brian Herbst, Ben Baker and Kennedy comprised the core group, lots of others within the approving body, drivers, teams and broadcast partners were associated with a schedule unlike any other in NASCAR.
The changes, Kennedy notes, line up with what fans told NASCAR. That caused the addition of three roadway course events, the concept of a dirt track at Bristol and an additional race in Darlington, to name a few modifications.
Getting to Thursdays statement was difficult. Unless one compares it to what the sanctioning body did to resume this season after the pandemic paused it 10 weeks. NASCAR went through more than 80 various schedules before completing its revamped version this season.
The 2021 Cup schedule was finalized after about the 40th variation and more than 50 people had actually played a part in forming it, Ben Kennedy, NASCAR vice president of racing operations, informed NBC Sports today.
” It utilized to be every year we announced a new schedule and it was like we moved a race by one week, but all the races were the same,” Brad Keselowski said. “Well, thats not actually much to announce. This is the first schedule statement weve had given that Ive been a Cup motorist that has had considerable changes. I believe thats revitalizing. I think the schedule requires to be vibrant, it requires to be changed, it needs to be dynamic every year.”.
3. One-day programs returning in 2021.
“We want race fans back at the track? We desire race fans to see qualifying and practice.
” The race groups have asked us, and weve worked carefully with them, its worked for us and our tv partners, to be as efficient as we can in 2021 on our journey to the Next Gen car.”.
Many of next years Cup races will be one-day shows, said Steve ODonnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing advancement officer.
ODonnell said the strategy is for Cup to certify and practice for the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600 and champion ending at Phoenix Raceway. Practice and certifying likewise will happen at the five new occasions on the schedule– Nashville, the Bristol dirt race and road course occasions at Circuit of the Americas, Road America and the Indy road course.
4. Another dirt race?
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” Im not sure how its going to race with our cars and trucks with that much banking, but I think another good possibility maybe down the roadway to look into this, I believe Loudon (New Hampshire) would be a perfect racetrack to go dirt racing,” he said. It would be simply like the mile (- long tracks) that the ARCA automobiles run.
One of the remarkable subplots in Saturdays Xfinity playoff race at Talladega (4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN) might be the battle between JR Motorsports and Kaulig Racing.
If Bristol prospers, Briscoe has a suggestion for where NASCAR might desire to race on dirt next.
” Theyre truly strong at obstructing,” Annett informed NBC Sports about the Kaulig Racing cars. “Its almost like theyre willing to sacrifice themselves to toss a block in those races.”.
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Chase Briscoe, who originated from the dirt cars and truck ranks, is delighted about Bristol hosting a NASCAR dirt race in March..
Kaulig Racings Justin Haley has won the previous two speedway races. He took the checkered flag in August at Daytona when teammates Ross Chastain and AJ Allmendinger trashed on the last lap battling for the lead. Haley won in June at Talladega when his teammates pushed him past JR Motorsports Jeb Burton for the win.
Kaulig Racings Justin Haley has won the past two speedway races.
” I heard a great deal of people questioning if we were going to work as well as we have at Talladega after what occurred at Daytona,” Haley informed NBC Sports. “Certainly yes.”.
Kaulig Racings Justin Haley (11) and JR Motorsports Michael Annett duel during the June Talladdega race won by Haley. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) 5. Race within the race.
The teams have actually combined to win five of the last 6 races at Daytona and Talladega. A Kaulig car passed a JRM car for the win at Talladega in June.
“I believe we need to go win the race to transfer to the next round and attempt to develop our own destiny that way.” It utilized to be every year we announced a brand-new schedule and it was like we moved a race by one week, however all the races were the very same,” Brad Keselowski said. Kaulig Racings Justin Haley (11) and JR Motorsports Michael Annett duel throughout the June Talladdega race won by Haley. Race within the race.
” I believe weve all seen how aggressive Ross Chastain can be obstructing at a superspeedway,” Haley said. Youve got to be aggressive if you want to control the race and if you desire to not get dropped.
” You could have the big block modifieds come and run a huge race or whatever, so I think down the roadway if Bristol is a great success, that Loudon would be a truly great one to add that to, however Im thrilled to include dirt racing. I believe the fans are going to be excited. Im delighted to see how it turns out.”
If Kaulig Racing can manage the front of the field, that might make it harder for others.
The Kaulig automobiles of Allmendinger, Chastain and Haley ran 1-2-3 for many of the last third of the Daytona race before the event in between Allmendinger and Chastain. That occurrence likewise gathered JR Motorsports driver Michael Annett.
” Anytime you can have a dirt race, I seem like thats just going to assist me,” Briscoe stated. “Eldora was constantly one that I had actually circled that I felt like I could win and go (in the Truck Series), so, for me, anytime you can add any type of dirt race to any schedule in a pavement series, I seem like Im going to have a bit of a benefit, so Im incredibly thrilled.”.
Haley confesses his group safeguards its positions strongly.
