Austin Dillon gives surprising answer about his RCR future to Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Following his controversial victory at Richmond, Austin Dillon was the latest guest on the Dale Jr. Download this week.

On the episode, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was candid in asking the No. 3 wheelman about his future in NASCAR: “I publicly said that you need to be positioning for an executive owner stake in the business for the success of Richard Childress Racing. I see you as a big part of that, having driven the cars and been around this since you know, you were a child, it just seems to make sense to me.

“Is that realistic? What is the five year plan for Austin, the driver, and Austin as a member of RCR?” the NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee questioned.

While Dillon has shown a knack for off-track business sense, he’s not exactly ready to step aside at the moment, but he certainly doesn’t believe it’s too big of an ask, if that’s what RCR believes is the best way forward.

“I’m thankful you said that, because it means a lot, and I care about our business as much as anybody. That’s where you see the determination to keep on going, because, you know, it’s a tough sport, man,” Dillon responded. “You’ve got the ups and downs with it, and you hear, it’s impossible not to hear everything around you. … For me, I’ve had a lot of fun being the GM of our Carolina Cowboys, and I’ve learned a lot through our PBR team about people and contracts and what all it really takes to run a business. Watching my grandfather, the guy’s got some crazy energy blood in him that allows him to just go. At his age, it’s super impressive.

“So, if he comes to me and says, ‘Hey, look, at this point in time, I want you to help more,’ and I already am. My brother is starting to help a little bit too. And you know, a lot of the things that are going on, I’ve been involved with as of late, even getting Kyle [Busch] was one of those big things. I want to, I want to do that. Obviously, I’ve watched my grandfather fight for his company for a long time, so I want to keep it going and feel like I’m in a good place to do it, and my dad’s experience helps that, but my contract right now is as a race car driver for two more years with RCR. So, five year plan? We see what’s going on in year two of my contract.

“If I’m best suited as getting out of the car and putting somebody else in it, I definitely would love to be a part of that conversation with my grandfather and Mike Verlander. Think that’s another guy, underrated, that we have got, and has been awesome for our company, that’s coming in and you’ll see more of. He was Kyle’s manager for a while, working at Stewart-Haas. Mike has just breathed a lot of, you know, commitment, to making the No. 8 and the No. 3 run well. And he talks to Kyle, really well. Obviously, they have a relationship. So, he’s been a plus. I’d love to help run it alongside him, and my dad, my grandfather, in whatever capacity it is.”

For the moment, Austin Dillon will enjoy his victory at Richmond and locking himself into the playoffs, but it’s evident the future weighs heavy on his mind. One thing is for sure, he’ll do what’s best for Richard Childress Racing, and if that means stepping aside, so be it.