Austin Dillon open to running No. 3 in Sprint Cup Series

Austin Dillon has run the No. 3 in both Nationwide and the truck series (AP Photo)

Austin Dillon would have no problem carrying the iconic No. 3 into the Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing.

Last week's Nationwide Series race winner at Kentucky Speedway said Thursday at Daytona if given the opportunity to move up to NASCAR's top series he'd embrace the chance to run the number made famous by Dale Earnhardt.

“I'd be excited to run it,” Dillon said . “I still would love the approval of my grandfather and the guys. Seeing more fans each and every week come up to him is the best way to do it—the more people coming to him wanting to see it."

Dillon has run the number in both the Camping World Truck Series and currently in the Nationwide Series. As for added pressure because of the number's legacy in the sport Dillon doesn't welcomes the chance to push himself to be better.

“I enjoy running it where I'm at right now," he said. "It's going great. There comes a lot of pressure with that number, so moving up would just be more pressure. It pushes you harder. We'll see.”

Last weekend at Kentucky Dillon's grandfather and team owner Richard Childress left the door open to return the No. 3 to the Sprint Cup level but with some parameters.

"I look at the No. 3 as family. I drove it, I was fortunate. I didn't do near as good as some of these other drivers did," Childress said. "It's special because you have so many fans who want to see the No. 3 and then you have some who question running the No. 3.

"I wouldn't let anyone else other than an Earnhardt or a Dillon drive the No. 3 in Trucks. Once we get done with the Trucks with Ty and Austin, no one will drive the No. 3 in Trucks again unless it's one of their kids or an Earnhardt."