NASCAR fans have witnessed significant transformations in drivers’ personas after they become parents. Bubba Wallace’s transformation is the latest example, while the most eye-catching would be what we saw in Kyle Busch, who adopted a cleaner driving style once his son began kart racing. Austin Dillon, admittedly, has also become mindful of his role as a father.
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During a recent interaction with Jeff Gluck on his 12 Questions segment, Dillon responded to a query from Tyler Reddick about how fatherhood has reshaped his life, saying, “I love being a dad, and you’re learning something every day about it.”
The Richard Childress Racing driver then described the importance of spending time with the children. He admitted to occasionally letting his son, Ace, skip school. Dillon stated that his son is only four, so he is not really attending a full-fledged school, not even preschool. The hint was that the kid is not missing out on much when he skips.
So, when Ace requests to stay home, Dillon tends to indulge it. For instance, when Ace wanted to join him on a trip to their hunting land, despite concerns from Dillon’s wife, Whitney, about school the next day, Dillon felt the need to take his son along as these moments were fleeting.
He reasoned that in the future, Ace might be too preoccupied with other aspects of his life — perhaps a girlfriend or a job. And they may not get a chance to go through such experiences together. This thought drives Dillon to cherish every moment with his children, Ace and daughter Blaize, who will turn two this June.
“Right now, I’m just trying to soak in every minute I get with the two of them. I told my dad that, and he’s like, “Yeah, I fight the same thing [for Austin’s time] with you now’. So I’m fortunate I’m getting time with them at the right time,” admitted Dillon.
Whitney and Austin met in 2015 and were engaged within a year. She had been a college cheerleader before cheering in the NFL for four years. Whitney has been a source of support for Austin and his racing career since the two paired up.
She has now transitioned to entrepreneurship and owns a jewelry brand, Shop the WM. Whitney is also a lifestyle blogger and reality TV star, all while balancing her role as a mother of two children.
Despite the anxiety she experiences watching Austin race, she is also not averse to having their son, Ace, follow his father’s path into NASCAR.
