Austin Dillon reveals that he’s been racing with a broken rib after recent fall

After earning his first win of the 2025 season at Richmond Raceway, Austin Dillon surprised those watching when he revealed in his winner’s interview that he recently suffered a broken rib.

He later expanded on that in the post-race press conference. “I don’t like to talk about it, but I fell off a ladder pulling my bow case off, getting ready for hunting season,” explained Dillon. “Fell on top of the bow case. It knocked the breath out of me. Knew it was pretty bad. Went ahead and raced Iowa. I got it X-rayed — seventh one on my right (side) is broken.

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“I’ve been racing with it. It’s been pretty painful. I raced Watkins Glen, Iowa, then here. Should be good. It’s made pretty big improvements over the last two weeks.”

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Even more impressively, Dillon finished tenth at Iowa Speedway and then 15th at the Watkins Glen road course, before coming to Richmond and winning the 400-lap race. Dillon led 107 laps on Saturday night, which is a record for the Richard Childress Racing driver.

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But unlike Dillon’s 2024 victory at the same track, there was no controversy this time as Dillon cruised to the checkered flag. This win (the sixth of his career) vaulted Dillon from 28th in the championship standings into the NASCAR Cup playoffs. This will be Dillon’s sixth appearance in the playoffs, but his first since the 2022 season.

Photos from Richmond – Race

Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

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Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

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Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

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Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

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Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

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Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford

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Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

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Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford

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William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

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Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

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Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

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Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota

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Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

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Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

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Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

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Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

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Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford

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Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

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Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

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Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

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Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

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Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

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Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet

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Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

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Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

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Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota

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Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford

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Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

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Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

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Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

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Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

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Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford

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Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

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Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

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Austin Dillon wins thrilling NASCAR Cup race at Richmond in tire chess match

Alex Bowman frustrated with SVG, Jesse Love for ‘no favors’ at Richmond

William Byron clinches regular season championship: “It feels damn good”

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