Richard Childress has built a NASCAR empire, but handing the reins of his No. 3 car to grandson Austin Dillon sparked endless debates. Dillon made his Cup Series debut on October 9, 2011, at Kansas Speedway, finishing 26th in the No. 98 Chevrolet for a part-time ride that hinted at bigger things ahead. Yet, from day one, Dillon faced the harsh spotlight of being labeled a “nepo kid,” with critics questioning if family ties trumped talent in a sport where the blame game runs as hot as the engines. And his grandfather has chosen to answer it openly.

This scrutiny isn’t unique to Dillon; NASCAR history is littered with drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., who similarly weathered nepotism jabs as the son of a legend but silenced doubters with 26 Cup wins and two Daytona 500 triumphs. Dillon’s own

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