The respect that drivers accord each other on the track has come down over the past few years in NASCAR. Racing clean, it seems, is passe. The focus solely remains on finishing in the best possible position, no matter the damage. And Austin Dillon has experienced this shift in racing etiquette first-hand.
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An old showdown between Tony Stewart and Dillon in Indianapolis provides a prime example of the difference between the characters of the drivers from two different generations. Dillon narrated the incident when he was asked to comment about Denny Hamlin’s opinion that driver etiquette is more or less non-existent on superspeedways today.
Dillon used the incident from a past edition of Brickyard 400 to explain his stance on sportsmanship on the track. Stewart had allowed Dillon to pass early on in the race. But when the veteran came up from behind, Dillon did not return the favor. This prompted the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion to push him out of the way.
“He [Stewart] got out of my way like it was nothing,” recalled Dillon. “I was impressed that he did that, but when he came back, I didn’t really pay the favor, and he let me know.”
Responding to Hamlin’s contention, Dillon reasoned that the lack of etiquette is because of the racing product. And the Next Gen Cup car has only exacerbated the issue.
With a certain level of parity existing in the field today, passing has become even more difficult. So drivers take any measures to overtake the competition, something which was not the case back during the heyday of Stewart, whose career spanned from 1999 to 2016.
“If anything, the speedway racing needs to be looked at. At something that we can improve and make it better than what it currently is,” added Dillon.
He believes that going to tracks and trying to run with different configurations could help make the races better. Dillon is part of a growing list of drivers who want more tests and practice runs at superspeedways.
Dillon’s run-in with Stewart on the track was a minor blip in what is otherwise a pretty close relationship he shares with the NASCAR legend.
When Dillon replaced Stewart in the #14 Stewart-Haas Racing entry
Back in 2013, Dillon was one of the most promising drivers climbing the ropes of NASCAR. Following his Craftsman Truck Series victory at Eldora Speedway that year, Stewart chose him as the replacement driver for his Cup Series car. The icon had broken his right leg in a sprint car crash before the race in Michigan and needed someone to take his place.
“I’m glad I’ve got a good wheel man in my race car this weekend,” Stewart texted Dillon at the time. The fondness Stewart had for Dillon is apparent from the words. They also shared a similar background in dirt racing.
The duo even had secret test sessions at the Eldora Speedway. “When we went the first time to Eldora together … he let me go out first,” Dillon said about the outing.
“He wanted me to be the first one to hit the dirt. I thought that was very special. He’s always been very helpful to me and my career.”
Dillon ultimately finished 14th in Michigan, driving Stewart’s car. He started another race in Talladega and came back with a 26th-place finish. Many expected their association to continue, but he instead joined Richard Childress Racing the following season.
