If you’re not in a duck blind this weekend, Winchester Ammunition is giving you a hunting-themed alternative. The No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet—piloted by Austin Dillon—will be on the track wearing a new Winchester Xpert Waterfowl paint scheme during the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series.
The green flag drops on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m., at Martinsville Speedway. Its half-mile paperclip-shaped oval has a reputation for paint swapping, fender bending and cars retiring to the garage long before the race ends. Winchester couldn’t have picked a better place to unveil a high-velocity and hard-hitting paint scheme.
Waterfowlers for generations have relied on the dependability and consistent performance provided by Winchester Xpert shotshells. It features corrosion-resistant shot and high velocities that allow for increased range and shorter leads.
Dillon locked in his slot as a contender in the NASCAR Championship when he drove his Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Deer Season XP Chevrolet into the winner circle at the Cook Out 400 in Richmond, Va., on Aug. 16. He led 107 of the 400 laps to claim his second consecutive victory at the track.
That qualified him in the 15th slot for the playoffs. Only 16 drivers made the list. In the four-round format that began afterward—in which drivers are eliminated until only four remain—Dillon and others fell out of the title hunt. They will, however, still be on the track vying for top spot in Martinsville.
Dillon’s No. 3 car has mythical status among NASCAR fans. The number was burnished into legend while piloted by hard-charging Dale Earnhardt, a fan favorite for decades. This the Winchester and Bass Pro logos, along with different ammunition paint schemes, have been riding along all year.
This weekend’s race determines the four drivers who remain qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship. The winner will be the top finisher among them at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 2.
Winchester is a leading small-caliber ammunition brand for hunting, recreational shooting and law enforcement. The 159-year-old company is the largest supplier to the U.S. military.
