LONG POND, Pa. – While his 2016 plans have yet to be finalized or released, Ty Dillon said Friday at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway that he would like to run full time in both XFINITY Series and Sprint Cup.
While Dillon will be nestled safely on the XFINITY Series tour in the Richard Childress Racing stables, where exactly the 23-year-old will land on the Cup side remains to be seen.
“I think in a perfect world, just to kind of put it out there,” said Dillon. “I would love to run both series full-time and compete for the Rookie-of-the-Year title in the Sprint Cup Series and do what my brother is kind of doing this year in the XFINITY Series, but run all the races if I could.”
“So, I think that’s what our full intention is. But, right now, that’s all things that are kind of hypothetical and stuff that we’re working towards and maybe the second half of the season we’ll have some more news and hopefully have some things nailed down for next year. But right now I’m focused on getting that points lead back in the XFINITY Series and having a great run here this weekend and build some confidence.”
Richard Childress Racing currently fields three full-time teams with Dillon’s older brother Austin, Ryan Newman and Paul Menard. RCR has also funneled XFINITY Series driver Brian Scott through an alliance with Circle Sport Racing, the same team Dillon will race in Sunday’s Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400.
The idea of running both series full time has certainly paid dividends for some drivers in the past, but Dillon noted that brother Austin has seen improvement with his No. 3 Cup team this season, since running a heavier schedule in RCR’s No. 33 Chevrolet on Saturdays.
Dillon has won twice in 2015 at Las Vegas and Charlotte. The confidence has carried the two-time XFINITY Series champion to respectable performances on Sunday, another point Ty Dillon pictured as a reason he would like to both.
“I think it’s proven to do really well for Austin,” he added. “He’s done really good in both series this year. He’s had some finishes that did not go his way, but his performance in the Cup Series has been a lot better this year. I think a lot of that is due to the confidence from being able to go back and forth. A lot of the drivers are doing that because the cars are getting more similar it seems like.”
While the Lewisville, North Carolina native says he’s ready to make the jump to the sport’s highest level, his grandfather and six-time championship Cup car owner Richard Childress says primary sponsorship for a fourth team is the main factor.
“We’re kind of working on it now,” Childress said at Charlotte Motor Speedway last month. “It sort of depends on the sponsorship and all, but we want to get him set up for the XFINITY Series next year, and if we can get him going in the Cup (Series), that’s kind of our plan.”
If a fourth team doesn’t materialize for next season, Dillon won’t rule out the possibility of driving a car with RCR ties. One of those teams that may be under consideration is the No. 13 Chevrolet of Germain Racing. Driver Casey Mears is in his final contract year with the organization. The team formed a technical alliance with RCR in 2014. Should Mears contract not be renewed, the No. 13 seat would open and potentially lay a path for Dillon to make a Rookie of the Year run next February.
“They’ve (Germain Racing) had a great relationship with RCR and I don’t really know the situation over there,” added Dillon. “So, it’s kind of tough for me to comment. But they’re a great team. But like I said, we’re fully focused on getting sponsorship for RCR and I think that’s all of our attention right now. Like I said, if something were to happen up, maybe it will open up our horizons a little bit on something like that.”
For now though, Dillon will continue his championship march in XFINITY and wait to see if the rest of the dominoes fall that pair two sets of brothers (Kyle and Kurt Busch) on the track in 2016.
Dillon will make his fifth career Cup Series start this weekend at Pocono. The former Pocono ARCA winner’s sponsor Yuengling, is based just an hour west of the race track.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
