Search
Close this search box.

Partner

Justin Alexander Replaces Keith Rodden as Crew Chief for Austin Dillon, RCR No. 3

Photo Credit: Tyson Gifford, TobyChristie.com

share it
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit

After a dismal start to the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series campaign, Richard Childress Racing is making a change to the personnel lineup on the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro, beginning with Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway.

The championship-winning organization announced the changes on Tuesday, which includes the reuniting of Austin Dillon and long-time crew chief Justin Alexander, who effective immediately, will replace Keith Rodden as crew chief of the No. 3 Chevrolet.

In addition to the crew chief change, Joel Keller has been appointed the lead engineer for the No. 3 team.

After six years removed from being a full-time crew chief in the NASCAR Cup Series, Rodden was selected by Richard Childress Racing to take over crew chiefing duties of the No. 3 Chevrolet, as Alexander was leaving his post to become RCR’s Competition Director.

Paired with Rodden, Dillon would have one of the most difficult seasons of his NASCAR Cup Series career to date, scoring a single top-five result and seven top-10s, which resulted in a 29th-place points finish at the end of the 36-race campaign.

In the first seven races of 2024, Dillon has only notched a single top-20, finishing 16th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. These tough results have left the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet sitting 28th in points.

Rodden will remain with Richard Childress Racing, but will utilize his experience as a veteran crew chief and race engineer to take on a larger role across the team to maximize the capabilities of RCR’s Chevrolets and provide, leadership, coordination and support.

“The organizational changes were made to help Richard Childress Racing’s overall NASCAR Cup Series program as we prepare for the rest of the season and locking two teams into the NASCAR Playoffs,” said Andy Petree, executive vice president for RCR. “Justin Alexander and Austin Dillon share a unique chemistry that has proven effective in the past. We want to thank Keith Rodden for his leadership of the No. 3 team and know that the contributions he will continue to make to RCR in his new role will be valuable across the organization.”

Alexander has been with Richard Childress Racing for more than a decade, in which time he’s spent five seasons as a crew chief for Austin Dillon in the NASCAR Cup Series, which has produced four victories, 14 top-five and 39 top-10 finishes.

The pairing will reunite for the first time in Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway, where Dillon will look to score his first top-10 result of the season, at a facility that has been kind to the Lewisville, North Carolina-native in the past.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Post

2025 YellaWood 500 entry list NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway
Entry List: 2025 NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega
Bill, Cathy and Billy Venturini share a moment after the ARCA Menards Series West race at the Las Vegas Bullring, Venturini Motorsports' final race before Nitro Motorsports take over.
A Dynasty Ends, A Legacy Lives On: Venturini Motorsports Passes the Torch After 43 Historic Years in ARCA
Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR Las Vegas Motor Speedway Chris Gayle Chris Gabehart
Emotions and Trust Fuel Denny Hamlin After Championship 4 Berth
William Byron Ty Dillon Las Vegas Motor Speedway NASCAR Cup Series Hendrick Motorsports Kaulig Racing South Point 400
William Byron 'Bummed Out' After Late Incident with Lapped Car Ty Dillon
Viking Motorsports has parted ways with Matt DiBenedetto with three races remaining in the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series, Connor Mosack will take over the car.
Viking Motorsports Replaces DiBenedetto with Mosack for Final Three Races of 2025
Joey Logano Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR Playoffs Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Joey Logano 'Wasn't Good Enough' at Las Vegas; Collects Sixth-Place Finish

Join Our Newsletter

Ready to have NASCAR news hand-delivered to your email daily?

Related Article