Austin Dillon snags first Top-10 of 2025

BRISTOL, TENN- Austin Dillion snagged his first NASCAR Cup Series Top-10 of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway Sunday, continuing to show solid short-track speed. 

Prior to Bristol, the No.3 car’s highest finish came at Phoenix with a 12th-place run, and his last Top-10 came at Martinsville last fall. Of course, fans also remember his controversial win at Richmond last Summer, taking out Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin in the process. 

Dillon typically isn’t someone you think of when you head to the short tracks, his success tends to show up at the superspeedways. 

Starting 17th Sunday, Dillon had to fight his way through the hornet’s nest to get to the Top-10. He was unable to collect any stage points, but was able to linger just close enough to the front to take advantage of some mistakes, and when Ryan Blaney finally pitted from the lead to complete the cycle, Dillon found himself in 10th. 

The No. 3 team will no doubt require a victory to get into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, but looking back at 2024, they shouldn’t be one to gloss over to potentially do that.

Dillon is ranked 26th in points, 55 points behind the elimination line for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

While the Richmond win last summer was controversial, fans should remember Dillon was about to win that race straight up before the caution threw it into chaos. 

With the Easter break coming up this week, the Cup Series drivers will get a much needed rest before heading to Talladega, a track Dillon will no doubt have circled as a chance to win. Last fall, he came home eighth, but prior to that he hadn’t finished higher than 30th in three consecutive Talladega races. Overall, Dillon has six top-10’s in his career at Talladega, including two top-fives. 

The Jack Links 500 from Talladega Superspeedway awaits the drivers after the Easter break, with the race scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on April 27.