Austin Dillon, who drives the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series, was involved in an odd incident with Brad Keselowski under caution during Sunday’s Ambetter 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The USA Network broadcast picked up a moment where Dillon took a swipe at Brad Keselowski’s No. 6 RFK Racing Ford Mustang, which prompted Keselowski to swerve back intensely causing damage to both cars and nearly spinning Dillon out.
Video: Austin Dillon, Brad Keselowski Bang Doors Under Yellow… But Neither of Them Know Why?
Following the race, Dillon was interviewed by USA Network’s Kim Coon and in the interview, Dillon stated that he has simply reached a breaking point with other drivers with how they race him in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“You guys saw it, right? Just hard racing I guess,” Dillon said of the run-in with Keselowski. “We’ve gone at it a couple of times the last two years, one time I hit really hard. So, I just don’t like the way some people race me. Probably not the right way to do it under caution.”
For Dillon, there is extreme pressure as the Playoffs, which begin in six races, are looming large and he is outside the Playoffs bubble as he sits 20th in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings after a 23rd-place finish on Sunday.
The 32-year old driver, who has made the Playoffs four times in the last six seasons has one thing on his mind — finding victory lane.
“We’ll go to fight on at the next race. We gotta get this No. 3 car in the Playoffs,” Dillon explained.
When asked on USA Network if he plans to reach out to Keselowski to discuss the incident, Dillon simply stated, “Nah, I don’t talk to him.”
Here is Dillon’s full post-race interview on USA Network:
"I don't like the way certain people race me."
Austin Dillon says this isn't the first time he and Brad Keselowski have gone at it on the track… then says he doesn't plan to talk to him. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/UrA0wFkPrn
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 17, 2022
While Dillon suffered another disappointing finish on Sunday, Keselowski, who finished seventh, had one of his better outings of the 2022 season. Keselowski chalked the beef with Dillon up to two drivers just losing their tempers on track.
“Hot in the cars and we all let the tempers get the best of us,” Keselowski explained on USA Network.
While Dillon was vocal about his past run-ins with Keselowski, Keselowski was reluctant to bash Dillon on camera.
“Yeah, I’ll talk to him privately,” Keselowski said when pressed what he thought of the incident with Dillon. “I don’t need to be a jerk in the media.”
