CONCORD, N.C. -- Sometimes, a driver just needs a change of scenery. This has certainly been the case this season for Ty Dillon, who has performed consistently on the track and gone viral on social media with his playful jabs towards other drivers.
Just compare this to the 2022 and '23 seasons when he drove for Petty GMS -- now Legacy Motor Club -- and Spire Motorsports. These teams just weren't the right fit for Dillon, nor was he what they needed for their respective cars.
This relationship with Kaulig Racing has been a different story.
"Starting from Matt Kaulig to Chris Rice, Ty Norris, the communication person-to-person has been unbelievably clear and confident to me," Dillon said in response to a question from AltDriver. "We had a goal from the off-season that nobody really believes in our team and our situation, so let's make them realize we're here, and that's something Chris has pushed week in and week out, that he believes in me.
"I know my guys believe in me. Andrew Dickeson, my crew chief, is one of the most positive guys in the sport, and it has really fed this energy that I think that past race teams, it wasn't that they were negative, it was just a lack of communication of belief, and a lack of communication of where we want to go and how this thing should be approached.
"And the continuation of pushing that narrative week in and week out, no matter what happens, and revisiting that has been just a grower of my confidence."
The Bracket Buster does it again.
And he’s already got eyes on his next opponent. 👀 pic.twitter.com/KrfnmiZHyj
— Kaulig Racing (@KauligRacing) July 6, 2025
The results on the track have been apparent at times. Dillon was in contention for the win during one of the Duel races at Daytona, and he ultimately finished third. He led laps in the Daytona 500, as well as at Kansas Speedway. His average finish (22.7) through 19 races is his best since 2022 and his average starting position (23.8) is his best since 2019.
Dillon has run well in the No. 10 Chevrolet after this change in scenery, yet he also has fallen short on some occasions. For example, he was in contention for at least a top-five finish at Phoenix Raceway before a speeding penalty on pit road. He finished 16th.
Dillon knows that he has fallen short of perfection throughout his first full season with Kaulig Racing. He has also discussed this extensively with Team President Chris Rice. Now, he is taking on each event on the NASCAR schedule with a different strategy.
"There were some mistakes made earlier in the season, and (Rice) came to me with some advice, but belief in a sense, like, 'Hey, I know we're achieving, we're overachieving in these moments, now let's work on this," Dillon said. "And some of the advice was, 'Let's take the races in thirds. First third, we're just gonna ride. You haven't been here in a year, and let's get adapted. Second third, let's amp it up, and then the last third, let's attack.'
"And that was a mindset that he would tell, he would come to the window net and tell me that, 'Hey, take it as thirds,' and that was something that was just nice to hear. And knowing somebody that runs your race team is in your corner, and strategizing, like, how we can get better week in and week out, and staying, like, diligent on that has been good, and he's given me advice along the way throughout the season in that same sense of, like, 'Okay, this is how we're gonna get better. Hey, you fell short here, let's get better at this.'"
These conversations have made Dillon feel like he is leveling up each week of the season, but the results haven't fully reflected this, especially considering that he only has one top-10 finish so far. This is the same number he had at Petty GMS in 2022.
Work still remains for the North Carolina native, who is now in his seventh season as a full-time driver. He hasn't made the playoffs or won a race since moving up to the Cup Series, but he is the most confident he has been since he was contending for wins and championships in Trucks and Xfinity.
"I think, hopefully, by the end of the season, people will understand or maybe respect the fight to get back to where I've been, and I think there's still a lot of good results that need to come to have the ultimate respect," Dillon said.
"But I've heard it more than I've ever heard in my career, that we're overachieving, and we're doing a great job, and it's nice to hear, but there's a lot more to go."