Austin Dillon secured his first victory of the 2025 season last Saturday at Richmond, a win that earns him a spot as a NASCAR playoff contender for the first time in his career. The Richard Childress Racing driver shared insights into his evolving partnership with crew chief Richard Boswell and revealed a surprising injury he sustained recently, adding new challenges ahead of the playoffs.
Dillon’s renewed partnership with crew chief Richard Boswell plays key role in return to winning form
Before his Richmond triumph, Dillon had struggled, failing to finish better than 15th in his last 12 races, with the exception of a top-10 result at Iowa. Despite being 25th in the driver rankings, his Richmond win guarantees him a place in the postseason. Dillon recently discussed the turning point in his season during an appearance on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour Podcast, crediting a candid meeting with Boswell earlier this year for their improved teamwork.
“I have so much respect for Richard (Boswell),” Dillon said (1:40). “Earlier this year, we had to have like a sit-down meeting, just like a hey, we need to understand each other better (and) the competitive drive that each of us have, because we had moments at the beginning of the year where we weren’t on the same page and ever since that an-to-man meeting, we’ve really done some good stuff.” —Austin Dillon, NASCAR driver
This renewed alignment has helped Dillon become a six-time winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, adding to his notable record of five prior playoff appearances across his nine full seasons, as well as nine wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and seven victories in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Upcoming challenges as Dillon prepares for the last race before the playoffs
Dillon, 35, now looks ahead to the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, set for Saturday, August 23. This race is pivotal as it marks the final event of the regular season, with live coverage available on Peacock from 7:30 p.m. ET and radio broadcasts on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. His performance in this race will be important as the playoff field solidifies.
Unexpected injury reveals Dillon’s resilience leading into crucial races
Shortly after his Richmond victory, Dillon unveiled a surprising health setback that many fans did not expect. He disclosed that he suffered a broken rib from a fall while preparing for hunting season, which affected his breathing but did not stop him from competing in multiple races.
“I don’t like to talk about it, but I fell off a ladder pulling my bow case off, getting ready for hunting season,” Dillon told the reporters. “Fell on top of the bow case. It knocked the breath out of me. Knew it was pretty bad. Went ahead and raced Iowa. I got it X-rayed; seventh one on my right is broken.” —Austin Dillon, NASCAR driver
Dillon also noted that he raced at Watkins Glen and Iowa despite the rib injury. Encouragingly, his recovery has progressed well over the past two weeks. With only one race remaining before the playoffs begin at Darlington on August 31, Dillon aims to be fully prepared and compete at his highest level.
The renewed collaboration with Boswell and Dillon’s ability to race through injury highlight his determination and resilience as he approaches a critical phase in the NASCAR Cup Series. His Richmond win not only altered his own trajectory but also tightened the race for playoff spots, making the upcoming events essential for securing championship hopes.