As the NASCAR playoffs head to Bristol, Austin Dillon finds himself just 11 points below the Round of 16 cutline, with his playoff hopes hanging in the balance. Debate continues among analysts about whether Dillon, despite recent struggles, can keep his Austin Dillon playoff hopes at Bristol alive after a grueling race at Gateway.
Analysts Clash Over Dillon’s Chances After Gateway
The latest standings leave Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen, Alex Bowman, and Josh Berry deeply in the playoff danger zone. During a recent appearance on NASCAR: Inside the Race, Steve Letarte and Kyle Petty discussed which drivers still had a realistic shot at advancing. Petty firmly stated that all four trailing drivers had virtually no chance left, dismissing them as eliminated after the Gateway event.
Letarte, however, disagreed with that assessment, specifically defending Dillon’s opportunity for a comeback. While acknowledging the difficult math, Letarte highlighted the resilience shown by the #3 team at Gateway. He noted that even with one of the slowest cars in the field, Dillon managed to salvage extra stage points, which kept his hopes flickering.
Letarte Cites Team Effort and Grit at Gateway
Letarte gave Dillon credit for maximizing performance under harsh conditions, arguing the team made the best of a poor situation by staying out and chasing every available point.
“I think I think the #3 car was eliminated showing up to St. Louis, and they leave St. Louis making sure that Chastain and Cindric eliminate them. They flipped the pressure in my mind,”
—Steve Letarte, Analyst
“And I think what the #3 did is they gave themself another big gulp of fresh air. The #3 car raced and called a race today, like they wanted to be in the play. Richard Boswell said we’re staying out.”
—Steve Letarte, Analyst
The crew radio captured the frustration and determination inside Dillon’s car as he navigated through difficulties on track. Letarte relayed what he heard from the team’s communication during the race:
“We are awful. The day is awful. We have to find a bright spot and the bright spot are going to be some points in this stage.”
—Crew Chief, Austin Dillon Team
Path Forward: Bristol as Last Hope for Playoff Push
Despite many writing Dillon off, Letarte drew a distinct line between Dillon and the others trailing the cutline, saying it would be near impossible for Josh Berry, Alex Bowman, and Shane van Gisbergen to recover, but he saw new energy for Dillon heading into Bristol.
“I disagree with KP. I think that Berry, Bowman, and SVG; it would take an absolute miracle, but I think Austin Dillon has new lifeblood going to Bristol.”
—Steve Letarte, Analyst
Letarte refrained from predicting outright success but made clear Bristol presents a rare opportunity for Dillon, especially with Austin Cindric in a similarly precarious position. If Dillon’s Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet finds extra speed at Bristol, his playoff campaign could extend; otherwise, elimination looms.
At Gateway, Dillon fell from 15th to 18th, scoring modestly while continuing to grapple with equipment performance—a story familiar not just to him, but also to teammate Kyle Busch at RCR. The team’s inability to field consistently fast cars has left both drivers struggling weekly, compounding the pressure on the #3 to manufacture results.
What’s at Stake for Dillon and RCR at Bristol
Frustrations have mounted for Austin Dillon as he fights to stay afloat in the playoff chase, battling both on-track adversity and equipment limitations. The points gap is daunting, but Letarte’s argument hinges on Dillon’s tenacity and ability to capitalize on slim opportunities. All hopes now rest on whether Richard Childress Racing can deliver a competitive Chevrolet for Bristol. Without more speed, any remaining chance of postseason survival will disappear, and the playoff field will move on without the #3 car.
