Austin Dillon to Nationwide Series

Austin Dillon, grandson of championship-winning team owner Richard Childress, will make his Nationwide Series debut Sept. 5 at Richmond International Raceway. The 18-year-old is competing for a championship in NASCAR's Camping World Series East Series and sits third in the point standings external link. His progression and victory earlier this year, however, prompted Richard Childress Racing to give Dillon a shot at making a Nationwide Series race. In the 2009 season, he expects to run a partial Nationwide Series slate along with a partial schedule of Camping World Series events. As of right now, Dillon said he plans to run the RCR #21 or 33, but later his permanent number could be the storied #3, the number piloted by the late Dale Earnhardt and the number that has created an immortal fan following since the legendary driver's death in 2001. NASCAR.com