By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—The 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season has a little bit of a different feel for Ty Dillon and Germain Racing.
Over the offseason, Germain Racing moved their shop from Mooresville, North Carolina to Welcome, North Carolina. In addition to moving its shop, the organization works more with Richard Childress Racing.
“This season has a little bit of a different feel in it,” Dillon said. “I think that the opportunity is massive for us. I believe this is a big year for us in general. We have a little bit of work to do from the speed standpoint as far as the runs go on,. With our growing relationship with RCR and our teams moving closer together, we are communicating very closely. There is no reason why we should be far off as where the RCR cars are. I am super pumped to get this season started. I think it will be a great one for us.”
With both shops being on the same campus, the communication and access to items
“I think the biggest benefit is that we are forced to communicate,” he said. Even when you go to lunch, you see the RCR employees. Every little thing that gets passed down from department to department, there’s 250 or so employees at RCR and we have about 50 or so at Germain, we intermingle now.
“And the communication has to be there no matter what. Access to things is quicker. It’s not an hour and 10 minute drive that you have to dedicate the whole day. It’s a 10-minute walk to get whatever you need done. I think that’s going to help everything.”
With any move, a sense of normalcy gets halted; however, the employees of Germain Racing did not miss a beat and continued to work to building race cars.
“I think our employees are so strong. We didn’t miss a beat moving from Mooresville to Welcome. I’m so proud of everyone who put in the work. A lot of these people’s drive from home to the shop is a lot longer,” he said.
With moving shop, the 26-year-old driver can see that the new location has already created a better culture with RCR.
“When I’m at the shop, they’re all telling me this is going to work; this is going to work better. Yeah, the drive is frustrating, but we can already see improvement,” Dillon stated.
Dillon does not see any added pressure when it comes to the 2019 season. There is only one goal: win.
“I don’t know if we’re under any pressure to have to do a certain thing,” a passionate Dillon stated. We all want to win. I think we all have the mindset to win a race this year. And we all have the mindset to make the Playoffs. I think that’s a very possible thing for us this year. I think that’s where our goal is set. We don’t want to have the pressure of having to do anything, but we know that what we can accomplish.
“And I think winning a race is very possible. I’m very determined to do that and to do whatever it takes to do so. I think we have the opportunity to really surprise a lot of people and look back at one of the teams that took one of the biggest steps. Hopefully today is the first day that marks the start of huge growth and opportunity for our team.”