NASCAR: Richard Childress Racing 2018 outlook

CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 28: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Salutes Veterans Chevrolet, celebrates with team owner, Richard Childress, after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 29: Austin Dillon speaks with the media following the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on November 29, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

Austin Dillon (continued)

RCR have been bolstering their ranks with the addition of alliances like Richard Petty Motorsports and Leavine Family Racing this offseason, which brings their alliance total up to three with the aforementioned Germain Racing.

This could either spread the mothership thin or perhaps leave them with a much greater competitive edge with more help in their garage.

In Austin Dillon’s case, he needs his team to start heading upward as he’s entering his prime years of racing where it’s going to be make or break time for his career. To be very blunt, this part of his career will determine whether or not he’ll be marked as living off his grandfather’s coattails or if he truly deserves a seat in NASCAR.

I do expect Dillon to bounce back and make the playoffs again and be more competitive this season. He’s too talented and I do think that the personnel changes and alliance boosters will add to RCR’s program overall to aid him.

The Championship 4 might be a pipe dream, but the 2018 season could lay the foundation for a run in years to come.

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