Ty Dillon Is Enjoying Precious Family Time And His New Role Of Being A Father

by January 24, 2018 0 comments

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Ty Dillon drives into the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season with a new role at home following the birth of his first daughter, Oakley, who arrived the day after the racing season ended last November.

At the NASCAR Media Tour in Charlotte, Dillon, driver of the Germain Racing No. 13 Geico Chevrolet, spoke about the life changes that have come for he and his wife, Haley, with the birth of his daughter.

Dillon said, “As a father, just seeing my little girl when she’s crying at 1 o’clock in the morning and 3 o’clock in the morning and you’re sitting there holding her and trying to get her to go back to sleep, and just looking as what life starts as gives you such a perspective on living and realizing what life is truly about. So I hope to take what I’ve learned from being her father for just two months and kind of adapt it to every aspect of my life and the appreciation for what I have and what I am and who I am.”

He expanded on how his daughter has changed his outlook when it comes to racing.

“Having my little girl in the off-season helped put some things in perspective in my life and I have been trying to change my approach on some things,” said Dillon. “I let the sport get me a little down, which sounds ridiculous in your rookie season because I never really struggled in any of my previous rookies seasons, whether it was trucks, Xfinity. I won races in my rookie season in both those series and was battling for championships all the way down to the end. Last year that wasn’t really the case. We had a couple of close calls to win a race. I feel relieved that at the end of my rookie season I really learned some things that are going to help me this year. Also, kind of changed my outlook. Everything is an opportunity.”

Life following the NASCAR schedule can be a difficult one. Dillon explained that having the support of his wife means everything to him.

“I need someone in my life like my wife to keep me grounded and to keep me thinking and to keep me moving forward,” Dillon said during his media availability on Wednesday. “Everybody is their own person and I really love having that relationship in my life. I have lots of goals and ambitions and things that I want to do. To have a person like her that allows to do that is really special. To have a partner in life to push you to do what you want to do, to me, means a lot.”

The stress of the long season, with additional work throughout the off-season, can weigh on a driver and their family. Dillon acknowledges that understanding the sport and the lifestyle that comes along with it is key.

“It’s a balance,” Dillon said. “She understands the sport and she understands how hungry right now I am to do things. She’s my biggest cheerleader.”

Dillon added, “She gets it. If she didn’t, it probably wouldn’t work. That’s the reason I love her so much. She understands what I’ve got to put into it and she’s pushing me to be the best I can be. I need that. Not everybody has that or needs that or wants that or has that person, but for me she’s my fuel. She gets me to doing things that I want to do and being who I want to be.”

Photo Credit: Hunter Thomas/TheFourthTurn.com

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