Austin Dillon expressed his deep affection for his wife, Whitney Ward Dillon, on her 36th birthday, August 19. Known for his career as a NASCAR driver, Dillon shared an emotional birthday post that highlights the strength of their relationship and his gratitude for her presence in his life.
Whitney, a former Tennessee Titans cheerleader, and Austin’s journey together began in 2015 after meeting at a racetrack. Their relationship quickly blossomed, resulting in an engagement in 2016 and a wedding the next year at Childress Vineyards in North Carolina. Together, they have two children: their son Ace, born in June 2020, and daughter Blaize, born in 2023.
The Story Behind Austin and Whitney’s Relationship
The two first crossed paths in 2015, but Austin initially struggled to approach Whitney. A mutual friend helped break the ice, and it was at an after-race party in Kentucky where Austin’s memorable dance—reminiscent of Magic Mike—sealed the connection. Whitney later described this moment as love at first sight.
“I mean, he took the shirt off and he did the whole nine yards and I was like, ‘No, what? This is my husband,'” Whitney said (via The Express).
Their relationship was publicly confirmed during a race event at Boyd Speedway, located on the Georgia–Tennessee border. Austin recalls sharing a ride with Whitney’s brother around the track and announcing his relationship over the microphone, which was met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
“I took her brother and him in a ride around the track, and that was kind of when I felt like I’d locked in the family. When I talked on the mic that night, I said, ‘Yeah, I’m dating a girl from Soddy.’ Everybody cheered. It was cool,” Austin Dillon said in 2022 (via WDEF News 12).
Whitney Dillon’s Background and Public Presence
Whitney’s athletic and professional background is rooted in her time as a college cheerleader at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, followed by four years with the Tennessee Titans cheerleading squad. Beyond cheerleading, she has featured in reality television series such as Racing Wives and Austin Dillon’s Life in the Fast Lane. Whitney also runs a jewelry business and authors a lifestyle blog called The BFF Blog.
Austin Dillon’s Birthday Message and Recent Career Highlights
In his Instagram tribute, Austin offered a heartfelt birthday message expressing his appreciation for Whitney’s support and their life together as parents. He acknowledged her strength and role as a mother while looking forward to many more years by her side.
“Happy National Whitney Dillon Day. Happy Birthday my love. I’m so thankful God gave me you. You are my rock and I love you. Thank you for supporting me in this crazy world that we live in. Thank you for our wonderful babies and being an amazing Mom. I can’t wait for 100 more of these birthdays together,” Austin Dillon wrote.
Alongside celebrating Whitney’s birthday, August proved successful for Austin professionally. He earned a victory at the Cook Out 400 and secured a position in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. During the race at Richmond Raceway, Dillon led for 107 laps, including the last 49, finishing 2.471 seconds ahead of competitor Alex Bowman.
His previous Richmond win came under controversial circumstances last year, involving collisions with Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap, which caused his victory not to count toward playoff eligibility due to a penalty. This year’s triumph, however, was clear-cut and marked the most laps led by Dillon this season.
