Austin Dillon’s heartfelt letter remembering...

“I’ll begin at first. I grew up watching a larger-than-life determine drive race automobiles like he was born to do it. Dale was a superhero in my home and when he handed his legend solely grew. The bar was set excessive from a younger age.

“Rising up round my grandfather and watching him maintain Dale in such excessive regards as a driver, pal, and competitor, I by no means thought anybody else might examine. It was plain and easy. There was Dale, after which there was everybody else.

“I grew up round some nice drivers that got here by RCR, together with Corridor of Fame drivers. However throughout that point, there was one man on one other workforce, and all of us knew that when he confirmed up, we had been combating for second place.

“It was clear each race who had probably the most expertise and who hated to lose probably the most. For apparent causes, my household was by no means the largest fan of this man. He was the enemy on the time, and he was arduous to beat. I might by no means actually present my fandom, however secretly I used to be a fan.

“My Grandpa actually hated shedding to this man, however I do know he revered him. This man actually owned the Truck Collection. When he confirmed up, it was an excellent day for those who completed second. As a driver, for those who beat him, your truck was most likely quicker, so that you by no means actually beat him, your workforce did. So, did anybody ever actually beat him? I don’t know, however it felt dang good for those who did since you felt such as you completed one thing that day.

“Shifting from Friday to Saturday, properly yeah, he owned Saturdays, too. At instances, he seemed like he was in a Cup automobile racing on Saturday. His depth each lap and willingness to make any transfer impressed a technology of racecar drivers.

“His Rowdy restarts had been one in every of a sort. This man might hearth off quicker than everybody and by the point his tires had been shot it was time to pit. As soon as once more, for those who beat him, you actually had been doing one thing. It was virtually an instantaneous qualification that you simply is perhaps a race automobile driver.

“He liked racing a lot that he determined to construct his personal race workforce whereas he drove. I had gained sufficient respect from him that he provided me the possibility to drive for his new workforce. I used to be blown away that he had sufficient respect for me to supply me a experience. Admittedly, it didn’t go over so properly with my Grandpa (and I’m not so positive that isn’t why he took off his watch that one time).

“All through the years, I used to be capable of compete towards the man on the Cup degree the place he gained a number of championships and races. Throughout that time-frame, I had a number of completely different teammates every bringing one thing completely different to the desk.

“If you grew to become accessible in 2023 it was a no brainer that we needed to go after you. Once I made the decision, your response was hilarious. You requested, ‘Do you suppose your Grandpa would need me?’ I had already checked with my Grandpa, and his response was the identical as yours, ‘Do you suppose he would need to come to RCR?’ I mentioned ‘sure. You each are the identical individuals. You might be RACERS.’

“Once we obtained nearer to signing, I might inform how excited my grandpa was. I began listening to issues like ‘He’s the one man I’ve ever seen drive like Dale. He takes no prisoners.’ That made me glad, understanding my grandpa had a driver that obtained him fired up the way in which Dale did.

“As we began off your first season with RCR, you took off such as you at all times did. You drove proper to the entrance. However this time, you had been in our automobile. You grew to become household. I watched you’re employed, push, prod, and convey instantaneous success to RCR.

“Your mentality and mindset rubbed off on these round you, and the workers within the store. They knew that you simply introduced a typical of excellence. It wasn’t at all times roses. The wins obtained more durable to come back by, however the grind and mentality by no means modified.

“I watched you battle with our race automobiles and spend numerous hours within the sim making an attempt to get outcomes. I used to be most impressed by your combat when issues obtained to their lowest. You stood your floor. Individuals had been speaking, however they didn’t know the work that was being put in behind the scenes. That model of KB is the one I’m most pleased with. The one which was going to place us again the place we wished to be – within the Winner’s Circle.

“I can’t thanks sufficient, KB. You’re the final racer and my favourite teammate and driver of all time. I at all times felt like I had your again and also you had mine.

“My favourite conversations with you had been our conversations about Brexton and his skills on the race observe. I understand how glad and excited he made you. You raised one of many nicest, well-mannered children, and that could be a direct reflection of his mother and father. Sam is one sturdy lady and the perfect MOMager within the enterprise. I promise to at all times be there for Sam, Brex, and Lennix. They’re RCR household for all times.

“I like you brother. Myself and all the RCR staff will preserve combating and striving for extra victories in your reminiscence.”