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Dillon Eyes The Next Step

Austin Dillon, grandson of championship-winning team owner Richard Childress, will make his Nationwide Series debut Sept. 5 at Richmond International Raceway.

The 18-year-old is competing for a championship in NASCAR's Camping World Series East Series and sits third in the point standings. His progression and victory earlier this year, however, prompted Richard Childress Racing to give Dillon a shot at making a Nationwide Series race.

"It's going to be a tough race to make, but I think we'll have some of the best equipment out there and my grandpa is 100 percent behind me on this," said Dillon, who in his Camping World debut won the season-opening event at Greenville Pickens Speedway.

In starts nine starts this season, Dillon has four top-five and six top-10 finishes.

"With the success we've had this year and how fast we've progressed, I'm ready for the next step and this will help us get prepared for next year and getting [NASCAR's] approval to run on certain tracks," Dillon said.

In the 2009 season, he expects to run a partial Nationwide Series slate along with a partial schedule of Camping World Series events.

Dillon currently drives the No. 3 in the NCWS East Series. As of right now, Dillon said he plans to run the RCR No. 21 or 33 in the Nationwide Series, but his permanent number could be the storied No. 3 -- the number piloted by the late Dale Earnhardt and the number that has created an immortal fan-following since the legendary driver's death in 2001.

Not since then has the No. 3 been on the track with any regularity; the number was placed into retirement and has only made a few public appearances, such as the time his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove the number in a 2002 Nationwide race and in a 2003 program at Lowe's Motor Speedway honoring past Cup champions.

It's uncertain what kind of fan reaction could come from returning the number to the track, but Dillon said he is sensitive to the subject.