Austin Dillon through the years

1998: Who's that celebrating with Dale Earnhardt after the No. 3 won the 1998 Daytona 500? Car owner Richard Childress' grandsons, Ty Dillon (left) and Austin Dillon, along with Earnhardt's daughter, Taylor Nicole.

2008: Dillon made his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start in 2008 as driver of the No. 21 Childress Institute Chevrolet. He ran two races that year and didn't race full-time in the series until 2012.

2010: Dillon captured seven poles in his first full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

2010: Dillon found Victory Lane twice in that first year as a full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He won at Iowa Speedway and celebrated with grandfather Richard Childress, then again later in the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

2011: Dillon made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Kansas Speedway, driving the No. 98 President Ronald Reagan Centennial Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.

2011: Dillon's first championship came this year, driving the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Austin's brother, Ty, got in on the official champion photo shoot at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

2012: Dillon earned his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in Kentucky Speedway's June race, then swept the track for his second win of the season in the fall race.

2013: Dillon won his second championship, earning the NASCAR Xfinity Series title on the strength of 13 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes.

2014: As Dillon moved to full-time racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, he brought the No. 3 back to the racetrack at the top level, as well. Richard Childress hadn't run the No. 3 since Dale Earnhardt's death in 2001. Dillon promptly put the No. 3 up front for the Daytona 500, capturing his first NASCAR Cup Series pole.

2015: Along the path of his career, Dillon also brought the cowboy hat back into the garage. And not just at Texas Motor Speedway. Finally, Richard Petty had some company in the western wear department.

2016: An avid Carolina Panthers fan, Dillon gave a nod to quarterback Cam Newton's signature move with a dab after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway.

2017: The dab fad having faded quickly, Dillon was ready with a new move when he got his breakthrough first NASCAR Cup Series victory: the infield grass slide. Dillon led only the final two laps of the marathon Coca-Cola 600, slipping past seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson for that first premier series victory when the No. 48 ran out of gas.

2017: Dillon and Richard Childress Racing teammate Ryan Newman made the 2017 NASCAR Playoffs, each with one win during the regular season.

2017: Dillon exited the playoffs at the end of the Round of 16, but brought his style to the 2017 NASCAR Awards, with then-fiancee Whitney Ward.

2017: Dillon wrapped up the year on a particularly high note, wedding Whitney Ward on Dec. 10.

2018: Twenty years after celebrating in Victory Lane with Dale Earnhardt, Dillon basks in his own Daytona 500 glory to kick off the 2018 season.

2018: Dillon and wife Whitney are red carpet styling at the NASCAR Awards in Las Vegas.

2020: Dillon qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs with an upset win at Texas Motor Speedway. After missing the postseason in 2019, Dillon guaranteed a return trip with the victory.

2020: The trip to Victory Lane was Dillon's first as a father. He and wife Whitney welcomed son Ace RC Dillon into the world in June.

2022: A winless 2021 was rectified in one of the most thrilling ways possible for the driver of the No. 3 machine. Despite entering on the outside looking in, Dillon won the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway to propel into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

2024: Entering the Richmond Raceway summer race 32nd in points, Dillon's only realistic hope of making the playoffs was to win a race. With his back against the wall and a playoff berth within reach, Dillon moved Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin out of the way to score a dramatic win in NASCAR Overtime. The win was his first since the 2022 campaign.