By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
Austin Dillon has won the 2012 Sunoco Rookie of the Year. The grandson of Richard Childress won the Rookie of the Year for the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
He won the Rookie of the Year after winning the 2011 Camping World Truck Series Championship.
“Winning Rookie of the Year in the Nationwide Series means a lot to me and the entire Richard Childress Racing team,” Dillon said. “We worked hard all year, and to be recognized for that effort is a great feeling. I’m proud of what we accomplished and excited for what’s ahead.”
READ MORE: Click here for our latest Racing coverage
⚡️ Level up your game-day experience! ⚡️️ Add some extra thrill to every play by betting with our trusted sports betting partners. Click the link below to get in on the action! 👇
The Capital Sports Report is your source for national sports news, but we need YOUR help to keep going strong! 💪 Just like traditional newspapers, we rely on your support to bring you the best coverage possible. Donations allow us to expand our reach, travel to cover more events, and bring you unique stories and perspectives you won’t find anywhere else. Invest in the future of sports journalism – donate today! You can make a monetary donation here.
Snag some fresh merch and show off your style! Quality threads and unique designs are waiting for you. Shop now and level up your look!
https://the-capital-sports-report.printify.me
Dillon is the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet in the series. Dillon finished the season with two wins and three poles.
He competed in his fifth Nationwide Series season in 2012. However, as a 22-year-old, he claimed his first two wins in the series as a full-time competitor.
Before the 2012 season, he competed in 11 Nationwide Series races over four seasons.
Both wins came at the same venue. He won the Feed the Children 300 on Friday, June 29th, 2012, at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky.
Dillon led 192 laps in the Bass Pro Shops entry for Richard Childress Racing. The race had just 200 laps.
Several months later, Dillon also won again at Kentucky Speedway. He won the Kentucky 300 on Saturday, September 22nd, 2012.
Dillon drove the AdvoCare entry to Victory Lane. He led 65 laps in this particular race.
“Austin showed incredible maturity and skill in his rookie year,” Childress said. “He handled the pressure of driving the No. 3 car with class and delivered results that made all of us proud. This is just the beginning for him.”
READ MORE: Click here for our latest Sports coverage
He also had 16 top-fives and 27 top-ten finishes.
The young driver finished third in the Nationwide Series points standings, behind Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Elliott Sadler. He also joins Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle as the only drivers to win Rookie of the Year in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Editorial Note: There are affiliated links on this page. We may receive compensation if you purchase a product through a link on our site. If you enjoy our work and would like to donate to support our coverage, you can do so through this PayPal link https://paypal.me/tcsrmedianj
Follow Us on Social Media:Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram, Tumblr, YouTube, and TruthSocial
Check out our videos: Videos Keep Independent Journalism Alive! Ad-free experience and Exclusive Premium-plus content. Join our Paid Substack for additional content for $10 per month. This is ad-free content. We believe that what you read matters and great writing is valuable. Through Substack, writers can flourish by being paid directly by their readers.© 2007-2025 The Capital Sports Report. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcasted, rewritten, or redistributed.
