Why the Hate on Austin Dillon? (and other hot takes)

Austin Dillon delivered one of the best feel-good moments this decade in NASCAR, winning the 60th running of the Daytona 500, 20 years after Dale Earnhardt won his first and only Great American Race.

Bringing the No. 3 back to Daytona’s victory lane was sure to hit longtime fans right in the feels (it did for me) and Dillon even dedicated the race to Dale Sr. and his fans.

While that should have solidified Richard Childress’ grandson as a heavy fan favorite, people on social media were quick to criticize Dillon for quite a few things: the last lap pass at the expense of Aric Almirola, the “ridiculous” dab to the fans and the team slide celebration in the infield grass.

This isn’t the first time Dillon has been criticized in NASCAR for what I believe to be some of the most shallow and crass complaints I have ever heard or read.

At last year’s Coca Cola 600 where Dillon got his first win after surviving on fuel, fans were quick to dismiss him as a “fortunate son” and a “punk.”

And of course, when Richard Childress Racing decided to bring back the iconic No. 3 back to NASCAR to begin with, people once again pointed their derision toward Dillon and RCR.

Dear NASCAR fans, I ask you, if a member of the Earnhardt family were piloting that No. 3 car and did the exact same thing to win the Daytona 500, would you share that same kind of dismissiveness toward them?

This is Dillon’s fifth season in the Cup Series, and while his time in NASCAR’s top series has been generally underwhelming, he isn’t going away anytime soon (he’s 27) and he isn’t going to stop driving the No. 3 because of internet trolls.

And even if Dillon’s entire Cup Series career is underwhelming, it won’t diminish the legacy of the No. 3. It’s the fans who keep legacies like that alive. The number didn’t take Earnhardt to victory lane 76 times; it was quite the opposite.

When I see the No. 3 with Goodwrench or Wrangler as the sponsor, Dale Sr. is what always comes to mind and the great memories that come from his time on Earth. When I see the No. 3 DOW Chevrolet, I don’t think of Earnhardt; I think of Austin Dillon, who like it or not, is your 2018 Daytona 500 winner and one of many young drivers slowly taking over the Cup Series.

Hot takes: Daytona was fun, but now the season really starts this Sunday at Atlanta. Expect to see this year’s championship contenders up front this weekend, AKA most of those who crashed at Daytona.

It’s OK for a grown man to cry. After all, Bubba Wallace went from being without a ride to second place at the Daytona 500 in less than a year. Expect this guy to do great things in the future.

Austin Dillon may like to wear the black hat, but is Denny Hamlin ahead of him in line? He did take out Chase Elliott at Martinsville last year and (accidentally) put Bubba Wallace into the wall at the finish of the Daytona 500.

Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott were aggressive Sunday at the Daytona 500, much to the ire of other drivers. Get used to that, because these young bucks want to win and they don’t care who’s in their way.