Chase grid profile: Austin Dillon, No. 15

By Tim Durr
Published

(Editor's Note: In the week leading up to the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup at Chicagoland, we will be profiling each of the 16 Chase drivers.)

Driver: Austin Dillon 

Seed: No. 15

Team: Richard Childress Racing, No. 3 Chevrolet 

Crew Chief: Slugger Labbe 

Best finish: 3rd, Talladega 

Age: 26 

Hometown: Welcome, North Carolina 

In each of his first three seasons, Austin Dillon has found himself on the Chase bubble heading into the final weeks of the regular season. This year, he makes his first Chase for the Sprint Cup. 

One of the main reasons Dillon secured his first Chase berth is his increased consistency in 2016. He's posted a top-15 average finish this year after a career average of 19.25 through his first two seasons. 

Add in only one DNF at Pocono in June and Dillon is becoming a consistent contender for top-10 finishes, he's posted 10 through the first 25 race of 2016.

Five defining moments:

1. GEICO 500 at Talladega -- Dillon remarkably earned his best career finish after getting caught up in the "Big One." He restarted 17th with three laps to go and rallied to finish third. 

2. Axalta 'We Paint Winners' 400 at Pocono -- Dillon suffered his only DNF of the season at The Tricky Triangle. It was his second finish outside of the top 30 in three races, which could have easily taken him out of Chase contention.

3. Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol -- After failing on the bubble with Chris Buescher's win at Pocono and a 31st-place finish at Watkins Glen, Dillon finished 4th and moved 55 points to the good of the Chase cutoff.

4. Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington -- Dillon kept his Chase hopes alive with a 12th-place finish, honoring his grandfather, Richard Childress, with his throwback paint scheme.

5. Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond -- Dillon clinched a spot in the Chase for the first time after finishing 13th.