No. 3 luck changing at NASCAR
The no. 3 black Chevrolet was back in action on victory lane after rookie Austin Dillon took advantage of his considerable promise at the NASCAR Trucks Series race in Iowa. This was the first time the no. 3 truck won in any series since Dale Earnhardt’s death in 2001, a factor Dillon is well aware of.
"It's pretty awesome. Like I've said from the beginning of the year, I wanted to do it for the fans too. I know they want to see it out front," Dillon said. "I'm glad to sit in the no. 3. It's my favourite number to run, and hopefully I can run it for a long time."
Earnhardt is best known for his career driving stock cars in NASCAR’s top division and was nicknamed “The Intimidator” for his aggressive driving style, which frequently led him to controversy. In 1998 Earnhardt won the Daytona 500 and after completing his victory laps, drove his #3 into the infield grass, starting a trend of post-race celebrations. He spun the car twice, throwing grass and leaving tire tracks in the shape of a #3 in the grass.
Earnhardt died after crashing in the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. While heading into Turn 3 his car collided with Ken Schrader’s no. 36 Pontiac, sending Earnhardt into the wall at 180 mph. The crash didn’t appear to be major until it was discovered that Earnhardt was badly injured. He was pronounced dead hours later at the Halifax Medical Centre.
His death shook the NASCAR community, and Richard Childress, who holds the rights to the no. 3, swore the it would never adorn another black car sponsored by GM Goodwrench and placed a moratorium on using it. While it is not NASCAR official policy to allow this, most owners have honoured the moratorium. Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove a no. 3 car to honour his father in two races, in 2002 at the Daytona track where the accident occurred, and at the Charlotte track where his father made his first start.
Dillon, 20, won from the pole after holding off Johnny Sauter. It was Dillon’s first career win and he became the second youngest driver to win a truck series race since Kyle Busch. Dillon will run the no. 3 truck for a long time considering his “stupid fast” time, according to Matt Crafton. Crafton came in second place, trailing behind Sauter who took second.
Dillon is the grandson of long time NASCAR owner Richard Childress, and the first rookie to win the pole for three straight races. He opened the race with a good edge, leading Brian Ickler by 3 seconds after 30 laps in. This surpassed his earlier career high of 20 laps lead in Texas earlier this season. Dillon led for 187 laps in total.
“I put enough pressure on myself to go out and do the best I can every time I get in that car...This just proves we can do it," Dillon said after completing the 0.875-mile oval.
Dillon didn’t give the circuits' top stars much of a chance to shine when the NASCAR Truck Series made its second annual stop at Iowa Speedway. Series point leader Todd Bodine was one of several drivers affected by an accident that occurred halfway through the race. Ickler had gotten loose in a tight spot but drifted into Bodine and sent him into the wall. Bodine maintained his lead in points but finished 17th in the race.
The crash also affected Ron Hornaday Jr., who is still win-less for the season. Bodine didn’t let Ickler finish the race without letting him know how he felt. Bodine gave Ickler a bump from behind before the race went green.
Dillon was the talk of the race, and now that the black no.3 is up and running strong again, Dillon has a good chance to challenge for points.
"There's nobody that can sit here and tell you they had a better truck than he did," Sauter said of Dillon. "He dominated the race."
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