Austin Dillon to replace Keith Rodden as crew chief with Justin Alexander

The No. 3 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) team has undergone an organizational shakeup. According to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, Justin Alexander will replace Keith Rodden as crew chief for Austin Dillon.

Dillon will also have a new engineer in Joel Keller, Pockrass noted. Rodden will take on a more organizational role. Alexander had been serving as RCR’s competition director.

It’s another major change for Dillon and his team, who have undergone constant turnover in recent seasons. Alexander was named crew chief ahead of the 2020 season after previously serving in the role in 2017 and ’18. At the time, Alexander replaced Danny Stockman, who was Dillon’s crew chief in the CRAFTSMAN Truck and Xfinity Series when he won his NASCAR championships in 2011 and ’13. All four of Dillon’s Cup Series wins have come with Alexander as his crew chief.

Austin Dillon, RCR make major change

Rodden, who has also sat atop the pit box for Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne, took over for Alexander to start the 2023 season. Dillon finished a career-low 29th in the points standings last season. Through seven races this campaign, Dillon sits 28th in the points standings, with just one top-20 finish to his name. Dillon last tasted victory in the 2022 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“The organizational changes were made to help Richard Childress Racing’s overall NASCAR Cup Series program as we prepare for the rest of the season and locking two teams into the NASCAR Playoffs,” said Andy Petree, executive vice president for RCR. “Justin Alexander and Austin Dillon share a unique chemistry that has proven effective in the past.

“We want to thank Keith Rodden for his leadership of the No. 3 team and know that the contributions he will continue to make to RCR in his new role will be valuable across the organization.”