It’s not often that NASCAR drivers get to take a look at the lives of their pit crew, especially those who served under the stars and stripes. Austin Dillon had that opportunity recently, and it was special for various reasons. 

Dillon, who drives the #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, has an army veteran by his side in the pits. Tyler Rader, Dillon’s fueler, walked away from NASCAR seven years ago and enlisted in the army. 

As part of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Mission 600 program, which serves as a buildup to the Memorial Day weekend race, the Coca-Cola 600 (on May 24 this year), drivers often visit military bases like Fort Bragg as a way of giving back to the troops, learning their lifestyle and routine while thanking them for their service.

When Austin Dillon visited Fort Bragg earlier this week, it was made even more special because Rader was posted there as part of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Rader, who thought he would never be able to complete a round of military exercises and training, said (via NASCAR.com), "Getting back here and absorbing back into the military life and kind of getting to do the day-to-day things is surreal."

Dillon said, "They’re elite at their jobs. They train and train until they can’t get it wrong, and that’s one of their sayings. What they do and what they sacrifice for our country, and the time spent to be ready, I think, is the biggest thing I love and respect about these guys."

Rader found an old friend at Fort Bragg, First Sergeant Omar Melendez, who he served alongside in the 75th. Rader spoke about Melendez and what he learned from his time at the 75th,  "Just kind of reminiscing with [Melendez] and talking about the guys we served with there. I honestly attribute the 72nd Ranger Regiment to all my leadership abilities."

What the military day looked like for Austin Dillon

Being a NASCAR driver, Austin Dillon is used to the rush of adrenaline, but what he felt at Fort Bragg would have been at a different level. His morning started with heading to the shooting range, where he and Rader took shots with three different weapons.

They started with an M4 carbine, then a Beretta M9, and ended the shooting session with an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. Then they moved on to some heavy lifting, first watching soldiers set up and fire a howitzer cannon before taking a shot each. Lunch followed at the Devil’s Den Warrior Restaurant. 

Post-lunch, it was time for the RCR mates to move on to jump tower demonstrations, where soldiers simulated the process of air drops from over 1,000 feet. Following the jumps, Rader and Dillon showcased their aviation skills on the flight simulator, taking turns on the Apache and Black Hawk helicopters. 

For Austin Dillon, the best part of the day was the time spent on the shooting range. "You get cool hints, especially from a shooting aspect. I’m a big shooter, and Winchester is a partner of ours, and learning some handgun tips was really nice today. And yeah, getting a pull back on that howitzer — that was awesome getting to pull the trigger on that."

The No. 3 Chevy driver heads into the Watkins Glen weekend after an 18th-place result at Texas last weekend. He has yet to secure a Top 10 this season.

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Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Yask Kotak