NASCAR driver clarifies Daytona 500 misconception

Austin Dillon addressed the idea that NASCAR Cup Series drivers will take it easy due to the supply shortages relating to the Gen 7 car.

Leading up to the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, which is set to mark the debut of the Gen 7 car, there has been lots of talk about the supply shortages and the effects that they will have on the production of these new machines.

While the green flag has not yet dropped on the 36-race season, those effects have already been felt throughout the garage.

This has led to speculation that drivers would possibly “take it easy” leading up to and during the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway to avoid wrecking cars and potentially putting teams in a bind as it comes to parts.

But this might not necessarily be the case.

2018 Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon, the driver of the #3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, doesn’t believe that much will change from a driver’s standpoint, as racers are still racers and the Harley J. Earl Trophy is still on the line.

Dillon made sure to reiterate that it isn’t just NASCAR that has been affected by these shortages. So why should they take a new appraoach?

“Well, I think, in general, the country is kind of in the same position that we are,” Dillon told Beyond the Flag. “But when it comes down to it, it’s the Daytona 500. When you drop the green flag, we’re going to waste whatever parts or car we have available to try to win the ‘Great American Race’, no matter what kind of shortage or problems we have.

“We’ll be as smart as we can, but we’re going to be very aggressive when you have to make those moves to win the race.”

He added that this would also likely be the case in tonight’s qualifying races, the Bluegreen Vacations Duels. And don’t expect any changes ahead of the points-paying stage endings in the Daytona 500 itself.

“I think you have to take the aggressive approach in these races, because sometimes when you don’t, you find yourself in a bad position also,” he continued. “We’ll go after it and try to put ourselves in the best position in each race.

When you look at past instances of “The Big One” at superspeedways, including the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked oval in Daytona Beach, Florida, Dillon’s approach paints an accurate picture. It’s usually one or two drivers who start it, and sometimes more than a dozen drivers end up being involved.

So sometimes lack of aggression isn’t necessarily the safe bet. More often than not, the innocent bystanders are the ones who end up back in the garage before the checkered flag flies.

Austin Dillon’s new partnership

Dillon has more than the Daytona 500 to look forward to this weekend, as he has partnered with GM and Marcus by Goldman Sachs for the launch of the all-new My GM Rewards card.

He has recently kicked off a series of Appreciation Experiences around the country spotlighting the My Chevrolet Rewards Card.

“It’s cool, GM and Marcus by Goldman Sachs teaming up to make the My Chevrolet Rewards Card,” Dillon said. “Being here at Daytona, I don’t think there’s a better place to launch this and be a part of some cool activities that we have going on at the track. Me being a car guy, I think this is a great tie-in, the fact that I can get rewards back on a future purchase on a car, that’s pretty epic.”

This card unlocks a rewards experience that only GM can offer, allowing customers to use rewards towards buying, leasing, and servicing a GM vehicle. Cardmembers are able to choose their card design to reflect GM, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac, giving them the chance to align directly with the brand of their choice as they earn best-in-class 4x rewards.

“Any purchase that you make is 4x the points back, and when it comes down to it, if I’m getting an oil change or want to do any kind of upgrades or work on my Chevrolet, you get 7x back on that number,” Dillon explained. “Pretty great to be able to add all that up when it comes down to it.

The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season is scheduled to get underway this Sunday, February 20 with the 64th annual Daytona 500, which is set to be broadcast live on Fox beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET. But first, don’t miss the Bluegreen Vacations Duels this evening. They are set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET. If you have not yet begun your free trial of FuboTV, do so today!