Austin Dillon rolled into the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with a spark of hope, thanks to a clutch win at Richmond Raceway. Leading 107 of 400 laps, he snagged his sixth career victory, a redemption song after the 2024 Richmond drama that cost him a playoff spot. That win catapulted him from 28th in the standings to a playoff berth, giving Richard Childress Racing something to cheer about.

But let’s keep it real, as outside that Richmond shine, Dillon’s season has been a grind. With just one win, one top-five, and five top-10s, most of his 119 laps led came in that single race. Now, sitting 14th in the playoff standings, he’s clinging to a slim buffer above the Round 1 cutline as the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway unfolds.

The pressure’s on, and it’s showing. Dur

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