Austin Dillon learned early that NASCAR’s unwritten rules carry consequences. During a Brickyard 400 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart delivered a masterclass in old-school racing etiquette, one that Dillon still cites as a pivotal moment in his career.
The incident, emblematic of shifting generational attitudes, highlights Dillon’s growth from rookie to veteran. But it also underscores a simmering debate: Is modern NASCAR’s “win at all costs” mentality eroding respect on the track?
Tony Stewart’s Indianapolis Showdown With Austin Dillon Exposes NASCAR Generational Divide
Dillon, then a rising star, found himself battling Stewart mid-race. The veteran initially yielded position, a gesture Dillon called “impressive.” But when Stewart later charged back, Dillon hesitated to reciprocate the courtesy. Stewart responded by shoving Dillon’s car aside, reclaiming the spot with blunt force.
“He got out of my way like it was nothing,” Dillon recalled. “I was impressed that he did that, but when he came back, I didn’t really pay the favor, and he let me know.” The move wasn’t malicious, just a veteran enforcing norms. “So you know those are things that those guys did a good job of showing [lessons],” Dillon admitted.
Stewart’s era prioritized mutual respect, even amid rivalry. Today, Dillon argues, the Next Gen car’s parity makes passes harder, incentivizing aggression.
“I don’t really blame the drivers here; I blame the product that we have, you know. It’s just a different style of racing with these cars, and I think the speedway racing needs to be looked at as something that we can improve,” he said, urging NASCAR to rethink superspeedway configurations.
Tony Stewart’s Surprising Mentorship of Austin Dillon Beyond the Indianapolis Feud
Despite the Indianapolis clash, Stewart and Dillon forged an unlikely bond. In 2013, after Stewart broke his leg in a sprint car crash, he tapped Dillon to sub in his #14 Chevrolet at Michigan. “I’m glad I’ve got a good wheelman in my race car this weekend,” Stewart texted him—high praise from a legend.
Their shared dirt-track roots deepened the connection. Stewart invited Dillon to secret test sessions at Eldora Speedway, even letting him hit the clay first.
“He wanted me to be the first one to hit the dirt. I thought that was very special,” Dillon said, “He’s always been very helpful to me and my career.” The mentorship peaked with a 14th-place finish for Dillon in Stewart’s car, a modest result with outsized significance.
Stewart’s lesson remains. As Dillon pushes for superspeedway reforms, fewer restrictions, and more testing, he balances old-school respect with modern pragmatism. “We can improve and make it better than what it currently is,” he said. For now, the echoes of Stewart’s shove remind him: In NASCAR, every favor carries a tab.