In NASCAR, the unexpected is the norm. Each race tests teams anew, where momentum can shift in an instant. That pressure was palpable for Richard Childress Racing after a particularly trying Dover event when team owner Richard Childress, frustrated by subpar finishes from both of his cars, delivered a pointed message over the radio: “We’ve got to get some damn race cars … We are in trouble. Period.”

That breakthrough finally arrived at Richmond Raceway, where Dillon ended a 37-race drought with his first victory of the 2025 season, securing an automatic berth into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. But while the Richmond win relieves the immediate pressure, it also raises the stakes. With Daytona still left in the regular season, the challenge for Dillon is no longer just about qualifying, it’s about proving he can carry momentum forward and survive the gauntlet of Round 1, where every finish counts.

Austin Dillon charts his playoff course

Speaking on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, Dillon hinted at where his Round 1 hopes may lie but carefully avoided giving away too much. “At Darlington in the first race, I thought we practiced really well and I had a different feel in the car than I was used to. And I probably led us the wrong direction going into that race,” the RCR driver admitted. He added that tire management and long-run pace would be key.

Darlington isn’t the only track Dillon has in mind. He pointed to Gateway, where he finished sixth last season, as a place with a solid baseline, and Bristol, where he believes a top-ten run is realistic. Still, it was Darlington that he seemed to emphasize most. “That one’s probably circled for me. I like the long-run aspect of that track and taking care of your tires and that type of stuff,” he said, noting that its demanding nature makes it both a challenge and an opportunity.

The challenge, however, is that Dillon will have to navigate a playoff field stacked with proven winners. Kyle Larson, already dominant on short tracks this season, enters with a Bristol win, where he led more than 400 laps. Denny Hamlin, a master of ovals, has shown his ability to dictate races on high-wear tracks.

William Byron and Christopher Bell also remain constant threats on both intermediates and short tracks. For a NASCAR driver like Dillon, the path forward is less about celebrating the Richmond breakthrough and more about matching stride with NASCAR’s elite if he hopes to escape the first round.

Busch’s struggle continues amid RCR’s breakthrough

Kyle Busch’s outing in the Cook Out 400 at Richmond was tough to watch. After being the fastest in practice on Saturday, his No. 8 car became nearly undrivable during the race, with Busch openly venting over the radio about handling issues that left him fighting the wheel. “10 tight in the center. You guys f—-g killed it,” he fumed, followed by “It’s like the right rear geometry is broke… F—-ing wants to spin out.”

The turning point came in Stage 2, when contact with Chase Briscoe sparked an 11-car pileup that also ended Chase Elliott’s long streak of clean finishes. Busch’s car sustained heavy front-end damage, though he still limped home to 16th place as teammate Austin Dillon took the win. The result leaves Busch in a must-win scenario at Daytona, 148 points below the playoff cutline, adding enormous pressure to secure his postseason spot while contrasting sharply with Dillon’s playoff-clinching victory.

Meanwhile, Austin Dillon’s breakthrough win at the same race stirred another kind of scrutiny within the RCR camp. Critics quickly raised accusations of nepotism, not just about Dillon’s presence in the No. 3 car, but also about how team dynamics might play in his favor. Richard Childress pulled no punches in defending his grandson.

He pointed to Dillon’s grassroots progress, from early successes in Bandolero cars to championships in both the Truck Series and Xfinity, as proof that his seat is earned, not inherited: “Austin has earned his way … he’s won 20-some NASCAR races” and more, he argued.

On one hand, a veteran with tens of top-level wins grappling with performance issues and mounting pressure; on the other, a family-backed driver whose finally triumph reignited both hope and criticism. As the playoffs near, the team’s season may become defined as much by these undercurrents as by the results on the track.