Austin Dillon Announces Two Sponsors for Richard Childress Racing Debut Season

Richard Childress Racing will return the No. 3 Chevrolet to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2014 with Austin Dillon driving, the team announced at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Wednesday along with two new sponsors.

The No. 3 has not been used in the Sprint Cup Series since Dale Earnhardt drove it in 2001.

Earnhardt died from injuries sustained in the 2001 Daytona 500 and the number was set aside.

Dillon, grandson of team owner Richard Childress, is preparing to return it in his rookie season. He won the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck series titles in the No. 3 as well.

Dow Chemical and General Mills will be the primary sponsors for the car.

Dillon joins Paul Menard (No. 27) and Ryan Newman (No. 31) as Sprint Cup drivers for RCR in 2014.

“My grandfather and everyone at RCR have done a great job of not pushing me too quickly into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” Dillon said. “I feel like I’ve been able to spend adequate time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series preparing for this next step in my career.

“I am thrilled to be making this move with partners like Dow and Cheerios, along with some long-time partners who have supported me and RCR throughout my career. I am truly grateful and looking forward to this opportunity.”

“We are proud to support a proven champion in Austin Dillon, a driver who shares many of the same values as Cheerios,” said Gregg Dorazio, manager of Shopper Marketing and Motorsports at General Mills. “We have been an active sponsor in NASCAR for many years now and this is an exciting opportunity to be part of a historical moment in the sport.”