Austin Dillon has spent his entire career driving with a shadow over his shoulder. And no, it’s not just the No. 3 on his car. Being Richard Childress’s grandson meant he was handed opportunities most drivers can only dream about. For many NASCAR fans, that was enough to write him off before he even hit the big leagues.

To them, Dillon didn’t “earn it.” He inherited it. The boos, the eye-rolls, the “silver spoon” comments… they’ve been part of his story from day one. “I could win 50 races, and they’ll say my grandpa gave me the ride,” said Dillon, after winning at Richmond. “They’re not wrong. He did. He did a great job putting me in it. Hopefully, I’m paying off on his investment at some point.”

But here’s the thing: that narrative leaves out the grit, the pressure, and the momen

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