Camping World East Series Austin Dillon Will Be Following In Lagano's Footsteps

Richard Childress Racing has announced that Austin Dillon will be making his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut on Friday evening. He's one of 44 entries for the Emerson Radio 250 at Richmond International Raceway and will have to qualify to make the race.

Dillon will be driving the No. 21 Childress Institute Chevrolet, with Shane Wilson as his crew chief. He's a development driver for RCR, currently driving in the No. 3 Garage Equipment Supply in the Camping World East Series.

Dillon is the grandson of elite Sprint Cup owner Richard Childress and the son of Mike Dillon a former NASCAR driver.

I really feel Dillon's got a lot of talent, with more time will develop into a decent driver and a future star in Sprint Cup.

The most amazing fact about Dillon is that he's only been racing for three years. You would never know this by watching him race. You would think he started at a much younger age. He's raced in Bandoleros, Legends, Dirt Late-Model, UMP Modified and Asphalt Late Model.

He's been successful racing whether it's on dirt or asphalt and making it look easy with his early success in the East Series.

This year in the Camping World East Series, through the first eight races, he led the points and currently sits third in points after ten races. He's compiled one-pole, one-win, four Top Five's and seven Top Ten's.

He changed his team around after four races. He began the season running as part of Andy Santerre Motorsports and a great team used to developing young talent.

After the fourth race at Watkins Glen, he left to race using Team Dillon Racing and due to commute time it was easier for the team to switch to TDR. Another positive: Dillon could work on the car, both setting up the car and for the educational experience. 

Making the switch could have cost him winning the East Series title, Santerre has an impressive pedigree in the series and really could have mentored Dillon and helped him as he moved on in NASCAR.

While I have heard that he's always raced in the top equipment and has manufacturer backing in the CWES, you can't honestly believe he is a good driver simply because he drives the best cars?  What will he do if he's ever in a mediocre car?

But I honestly feel Grandpa has made him learn to appreciate the opportunity he's got and heck, could even have given him a car that ran like junk to race in. Let him figure it out how to make it better.

Time will tell just how well Austin Dillon will do and you heard it from me first. His little brother Ty's supposed to be even better than his big brother.