After finishing 15th at Richmond following a victory last year, Austin Dillon entered the 2026 NASCAR Cup season with hopes of building momentum at Daytona and Atlanta. Instead, the opening two races placed him well behind, sitting 34th in the standings with just 17 points. As the series prepares for its first road course event at Circuit of the Americas, Dillon faces a challenging reality that his road course reputation isn’t fully reflected by the numbers.
Challenges on Road Courses Compared to Oval Tracks
Road courses have historically been a difficult area for Dillon, especially when contrasted with his performance on oval tracks where he grew up racing. With 45 Cup starts on road courses, his results have often failed to show marked improvement. Despite dedicating time to simulators and endurance races, the statistics still underscore his struggles in this format.
Dillon’s average finish on road courses stands at 23.5, indicating that he frequently runs in the middle or lower parts of the pack during these events. Over his career, spanning 16 years, he has only secured two top-10 finishes on road courses: a 10th-place at COTA in 2022 and another top-10 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval later that same year.
Dillon Discusses His Growth and Road Course Approach
Despite these results, Dillon emphasizes his personal progress in handling road courses. Speaking with journalist Chris Weaver, he shared,
“I think I’ve done a much better job of showing pace over the runs. I think that, uh, when you get in a big group of cars, you got to be super aggressive and know where to position your car. I think that’s where I’ve lacked for a long time, is the positioning.”
He went on to add,
“I’ve got pace, but I got to position my car in better places so I can keep people away from making too much offense. But overall, I’ve become a much better road racer over the years than where I started. and it and it’s become a fun challenge and something I get excited to go do,”
reflecting his determination to improve despite the challenges.
Efforts Outside Cup Racing to Boost Road Course Skills
While Dillon’s overall career average finish across all track types hovers around 18.7, his road course results frequently fall into the 20s and 30s, showing a persistent gap he has worked diligently to narrow. He has pursued several avenues to raise his road course performance beyond the regular Cup schedule.
In 2021, Dillon participated in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, tackling a hybrid circuit that mixes oval and infield sections to strengthen his road course skills. Additionally, he has driven endurance races at COTA through World Racing League events, gaining valuable laps to refine his instincts and adaptability.
More recently, Dillon has spent considerable time in Richard Childress Racing’s simulators focusing on braking zones and corner entry techniques—key areas he believes can dramatically elevate his performance on road courses. For the 2026 season, he is also working with the new 750-horsepower engine package, optimized for short tracks and road courses, adding another layer of adjustment to his preparations.
The Road Ahead at Circuit of the Americas
As Dillon approaches Sunday’s race at Circuit of the Americas, much will be revealed about whether his off-track efforts and evolving strategy pay off. The race represents not only a critical challenge for the No. 3 RCR driver but also a significant test of his ability to compete more consistently at road courses, a discipline that has remained a stumbling block throughout his career. Success here could mark a turning point in his ongoing quest to improve and ascend the NASCAR standings.
