Ty Dillon ‘At Peace’ Following RCR Return At Indy

Ty Dillon (center) on the grid Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with his wife Haley (left) and grandfather Richard Childress. (Photo Courtesy of Ty Dillon via Instagram)

INDIANAPOLIS - Though Ty Dillon’s long-term future in NASCAR is still somewhat unclear, he was able to celebrate a special moment with his family at historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The younger Dillon came home 19th in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 presented by PPG in a one-off race with Richard Childress Racing, the team owned by his Hall of Fame grandfather.

It was Dillon’s first Cup Series start in RCR equipment since the 2015 season finale at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway and his first appearance overall for RCR since a pair of Xfinity Series races last year.

“First and foremost, I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to be back in a Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in the Cup Series, especially at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” said Dillon. “Overall, I’d say that we hit our goals – [we] made the car better throughout the race and finished inside the top 20. We all wanted more at the end, but I’m proud of the effort that everyone at RCR put forth all weekend.”

The No. 33 Titan Risk Solutions Chevrolet team progressively improved from Friday’s practice to Sunday’s race. After being scored a distant 38th fastest in practice, he jumped up and qualified 22nd on Saturday.

Sunday’s 400-miler provided both an improvement from grid to checkered and a third top-20 finish in a limited Cup Series slate for Dillon this year. He was 16th at Texas Motor Speedway in April and 20th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in June, both with Kaulig Racing.

“Our Titan Risk Solutions Camaro fired off loose, especially in the rear of the car. I was using the right rear tire too much and [just] needed the car to shift forward to not be so heavy on the rear,” Dillon explained. “[Crew chief] Keith Rodden and the guys worked on the balance during every pit stop, and once we made a shock adjustment, it was much better.”

Ty Dillon in action at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Rusty Jarrett/NKP photo)

Dillon’s effort marked the best finish for the No. 33 entry, which has also been run by Austin Hill and Will Brown this season, in its five appearances on the Cup Series grid this year.

“The first adjustment helped 70 percent, and then the second adjustment put us even closer to having the feel that I was looking for. It was extremely hard to pass once the field got strung out,” Dillon noted. “I didn’t want to ride in a line, so I tried to make a couple moves. Some worked, some didn’t.”

After dropping back to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this year in an effort to revitalize his career, Dillon has fought to find his footing. In 15 starts with Rackley W.A.R., Dillon has a best finish of ninth at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in May and ranks 19th in the point standings.

He’ll need a win in the Truck Series’ regular season finale at Richmond (Va.) Raceway - where Dillon will do double duty, also racing the Cup Series race with Kaulig Racing - in order to qualify for the playoffs.

But Dillon’s focus wasn’t on the future Sunday at the Brickyard. It was squarely in the moment as he climbed from his race car and reflected with both his grandfather, his wife Haley, and his youngest son Bear, who was born in April.

The 32-year-old’s Brickyard 400 appearance was his last scheduled start with RCR, at least at this point. If it was, Dillon said he’s “at peace” with all he’s done for his family’s organization.

“This weekend meant the world to me to race for my grandfather’s team one more time,” Dillon wrote on Instagram Sunday night. “Who knows what God has in store for my future, but I’m grateful that it happened.

“We’ll just have to see what’s next.”