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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

The 2024 Cup Series start has not been great for RCR star Austin Dillon. Having accumulated only 93 points, the No. 3 Chevy Camaro ZL1 driver stands in the 31st position. On top of that, not only is he yet to win a race, he was unable to lead a lap even, so far this season. Richard Childress‘ grandson had no stage finishes, no pole positions, and he did not finish in the Top 5 or Top 10 either.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

Talking about his poor luck so far in the season, and with a ray of hope, Dillon opened up on his social media after the race, live from Martinsville.

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When will Austin Dillon be back to winning ways?

Austin Dillon has tasted success previously with victories in the past. He won the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship and the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship. After a disappointing P34 finish at Martinsville with just 3 points, Dillon shared his views through Instagram.

Dillon said, “Long day from the Bass Road Shop Chevy we had a problem with the left front tire locking up it. I think the power steering was going out pretty much the whole race. And when it went out it was about a 200 laps to go. Fought hard I can at least say I finished the race with no power steering. Gonna be a little sore tomorrow but we keep fighting, obviously not what we want. We want to go to Texas and try to regain some momentum.”

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His teammate, #8 Kyle Busch had a better run though, ending at P16 at the Virginia-based track. The two-times champion is also yet to win a Cup Series race this season. He was very close at Atlanta but lost to Daniel Suarez. It seems like there is an issue at hand that RCR needs to solve as a team.

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Can the change in crew chief do the magic?

Before the Martinsville race, Austin Dillon’s crew chief saw a change, as Keith Rodden was replaced by Justin Alexander. Austin Dillon reflected on his successful partnership with Justin Alexander, expressing optimism for their future endeavors with the No. 3 team.

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He mentioned that Alexander’s effective communication skills are crucial during races, providing him with the necessary information. “We had my best year in the series with the Next Gen cars the first year, and then we just kind of lost that momentum, and we couldn’t ever get it back going,” Dillon said earlier. “I think it’s a big morale boost for our team, like I said, and to get Justin back on board with traveling and going to the racetrack, you know, that was the biggest thing.”

Dillon believes that effective communication is a key factor once the race begins. He thinks that it can influence strategy and car adjustments, leading to improved race outcomes. He acknowledged that both Keith Rodden (their former crew chief) and Alexander have their strengths. But, the longstanding communication between him and Justin has been instrumental in their achievements.

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However, it seems like we have to wait a little bit for them to regain that old touch together and start winning races again.

Read More: Austin Dillon Reveals Why RCR Gambled on Mid-Season Crew Overhaul Amid Miserable Next-Gen Streak

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Written by

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Mamata Mukherjee

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Mamata Mukherjee is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Combining her love for writing and motorsports she has created some interesting and in-depth stories on drivers like Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joining ES with 3 years of experience in the field of writing, Mamata feels right at home in her role as a NASCAR Journalist. She not only loves diving deep into the lives of the top Cup Series drivers, but she also enjoys sharing the unknown off-track titbits with the fans of the sport. Apart from motorsports, she is equally passionate about is painting.

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Shreya Singh

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