[LSC9901]

A black car with white 3's on either side rumbles onto the red-clay track, weaving deliberately past the frontstretch bleachers and across the start/finish line. To look at the paint scheme and to glimpse the crystal-blue-eyed kid smirking from behind the wheel, you'd swear you were witnessing the second coming of Dale Earnhardt. You almost are.

Jeffrey Earnhardt, the 18-year-old grandson of the Man in Black, has returned to the Virginia hills and to the bullring that quietly launched his career four years ago. But the fans at Wythe Raceway don't pump three-fingered salutes this July night. In fact, they hardly cheer at all. Instead, they treat Earnhardt as one of their own, not because he has a legendary last name but because he races like nobody knows what it is.

ESPN - Smith: Is Jeffrey Earnhardt the next best thing? - Racing

[oncea3fan]

doesn't richard childress have a grandson that also runs a dirt car, #3 goodwrench car at that.

[LSC9901]

Childress' Grandsons Among Shootout Competitors

CONCORD, N.C. (July 19, 2006) - The numbers that adorn the race cars Austin and Ty Dillon drive each Tuesday night in the Summer Shootout Series at Lowe's Motor Speedway speak volumes about the youngsters' racing heritage.
Sixteen-year-old Austin drives a black Legends Car that features a slanted No. 3 while his 14-year-old brother Ty pilots a black Bandolero with a similar No. 2.
Die-hard NASCAR fans immediately identify the connection to the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Busch Series car and the No. 3 that the late Dale Earnhardt carried to six of his seven NASCAR championships while driving for RCR.
The similarity of the numbers is no coincidence as Austin and Ty's grandfather is former driver and championship-winning NASCAR team owner Richard Childress.
"I drove a black No. 3 car when we were sponsored by Black Gold, and then Dale Earnhardt made the black 3 car famous," Childress said. "So it's really neat to see Austin out there in the next version. It was something Austin wanted to do because it was my number. It's neat to watch Austin race it, but when I'm watching, I'm more worried than I am thinking about the number."
Austin and Ty were literally born with racing in their blood.
Their father, Mike Dillon, competed in the NASCAR Busch Series for several years and now serves as vice president of competition for Richard Childress Racing. Their mother, Tina Dillon, is Richard and Judy Childress' only child and oversees the day-to-day operations of Childress Vineyards.
"Growing up around our house, there were always stories about racing," said Austin Dillon. "Since our dad was a racer, we spent a lot of time at the track when we were little. We traveled a lot, so we got to visit new places and experience a lot of new things, which was pretty cool."
Even though racing has always been a major part of their lives, Austin and Ty didn't warm to the idea of driving until later in their childhoods.
"We were always more into the stick-and-ball sports," Austin admitted. "Then, one day we were watching TV and saw a Bandolero for the first time. That was when Ty and I thought 'we should try that'."
"I never pushed them into racing," Childress said. "I got them go-karts when they were real little. They'd drive them for a while, but they would always go back to the stick-and-ball sports. They were pretty good at baseball and soccer, but I always told them to call me if they ever decided to go racing.
"When Ty turned 13, he reminded me of the offer. So we got together and decided to get him a Bandolero car. Austin then decided if his younger brother was going racing, he was too."
Now in their second season of Summer Shootout competition, the Dillon brothers are making steady progress. Austin, who recently moved from Bandoleros to Legends Cars, is a contender each week in the National Guard Semi-Pro division, while Ty is a regular among the top-10 finishers in the Lucas Oil Bandolero Young Guns division which features drivers ages 12 to 16.
"I think both of them have done exceptionally well," Childress said.
"Austin's more aggressive and Ty thinks things out a little more. Both of them are developing a good mix and they both know how to win."
Childress' hectic schedule limits the amount of participation he has in his grandsons' racing.
"I'm not involved as much as I'd like to be," Childress admitted. "I'm supporting it as far as giving them all they want to race with and hooking them up with the right people, but I'd love to have more time to spend with them. Hopefully, we can get ourselves in a position where I can get some time and go racing with them."
Mike Dillon's responsibilities in guiding the Richard Childress Racing teams also limits the amount of time he has to work with his sons.
"Dad's very involved in our racing, but most of the time he's on the road at the big tracks with the Cup teams," Ty Dillon said. "He does everything he can, when he can."
"Dad gives me a lot of advice which is always helpful," Austin Dillon said. "He just wants us to do well."
Like virtually every other major NASCAR team, RCR has a driver development program. But Childress says it's too early to know if his grandsons will become part of that system.
"They've only been racing for about a year," Childress noted. "They actually got a late start compared to some of the kids they race against. I just want to see how they handle themselves in tight situations and see how their car control progresses.
"I'm going to support them, but I'm also going to be honest in telling them if I think they have a shot to take it to the next level. They have to know how to be aggressive and how to win, and they've showed me both of those things already."
Austin Dillon fully understands the racing business and knows the odds are steep that he will become a professional driver. As a result, he's already thinking about an alternative that will keep him connected to the sport.
"I plan on racing as long as I possibly can," Austin explained. "But I also hope to go to college one day to do something in mechanical engineering. I've already started casually looking around at a few schools, so it's something I really want to do."
Ty Dillon also plans to travel a path similar to his brother's, but perhaps with a little more emphasis on driving.
"I'm looking forward to racing as long as I can, and trying to make it to the top," Ty explained. "But I'd also like to go to college and study mechanical engineering."

[PenelopePitStop]

Forgive me ... I'm lost ... and don't have time to read all the details ... if in fact ... they answer my questions.

I caught Austin and Ty's grandfather is Childress. But how is Jeffrey grandfathered to Dale Sr.?


Dumb it down for me please. I wasn't aware that Dale had a child old enough to have an 18-year-old son.

Perhaps I'm missing something ... again ...

[jks812]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

I caught Austin and Ty's grandfather is Childress. But how is Jeffrey grandfathered to Dale Sr.?


Dumb it down for me please. I wasn't aware that Dale had a child old enough to have an 18-year-old son.

Perhaps I'm missing something ... again ...

Jeffrey is Kerry's son, Sr's oldest child. The one from his 1st marriage.

[PettyBlue]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Forgive me ... I'm lost ... and don't have time to read all the details ... if in fact ... they answer my questions.

I caught Austin and Ty's grandfather is Childress. But how is Jeffrey grandfathered to Dale Sr.?


Dumb it down for me please. I wasn't aware that Dale had a child old enough to have an 18-year-old son.

Perhaps I'm missing something ... again ...

Dale Sr. had 3 wives and 4 children.He begat Kerry in 1969 with his first wife which makes Kerry 37 years old and Kerry begat Jeffery in 1989. Links for your reading. Dale Earnhardt and his children from all 3 wives. TEC | Earnhardt Family

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by jks812

Jeffrey is Kerry's son, Sr's oldest child. The one from his 1st marriage.

Thank you, jks! I didn't know that Kerry had a son, let alone one that was 18 years old. Man, how time flies ...