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Austin Dillon Cleared to Return to Racing

Austin Dillon will return to the wheel of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet this coming NASCAR Cup Series doubleheader at Dover International Speedway, he announced Aug. 20.

Dillon tested positive for COVID-19 and missed the Cup race at the Daytona International Speedway road course.

Dillon will start the first race of the doubleheader in 32nd.

“Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Dillon will return to competition for this weekend’s doubleheader at Dover International Speedway,” a Richard Childress Racing spokesperson said in a team statement. “Dillon, who originally tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday morning, Aug. 15 and missed the NASCAR Cup Series race at the Daytona International Speedway road course, has worked with NASCAR, his primary care physician and RCR’s health partners at Wake-Forest Baptist Health, and has had two negative COVID-19 test results at least 24 hours apart.

“We commend NASCAR for their efforts in providing a safe environment for all fans and competitors, thank everyone in the industry for their well wishes and enthusiastically welcome Austin Dillon back to competition.”

Dillon already has clinched his playoff berth with his win at Texas Motor Speedway. The 30-year-old has one win, two top fives and six top 10s this season.

In Dillon’s absence, Kaz Grala wheeled the No. 3 Chevrolet to a seventh-place finish, including leading three laps, in his Cup debut.

Frontstretch.com

Mark Kristl joined Frontstretch at the beginning of the 2019 NASCAR season. He is the site's ARCA Menards Series editor. Kristl is also an Eagle Scout and a proud University of Dayton alum.

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