August 15, 2020 | By Lee Spencer

Positive COVID-19 test sidelines Austin Dillon for Daytona race

Austin Dillon will miss Sunday’s Go Bowling 235 NASCAR Cup Series race at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course after testing positive for COVID-19.

Dillon is the second driver in NASCAR’s premier series to test positive for the coronavirus. Jimmie Johnson missed the July 5 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after announcing a positive test on Friday before the event.

Kaz Grala will replace Dillon in the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Dillon has already qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs by virtue of his victory at Texas Motor Speedway.

RCR issued the following statement on Saturday morning announcing the driver change:

“This morning Richard Childress Racing's NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Dillon tested positive for COVID-19. In accordance with NASCAR's safety protocol, Dillon is self-quarantining away from RCR's facilities and will not be competing in this weekend's NASCAR Cup Series race at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course.

“Austin's wife Whitney and son Ace remain healthy and symptom-free. Kaz Grala will drive the No. 3 Chevrolet for RCR this weekend.” 

 The race will be Grala's Cup debut. The 21-year-old driver recently finished fourth in an RCR car at Road America in his second Xfinity Series start of the season.