BRISTOL, Tenn. – For Ty Dillon, Friday’s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway marks a milestone in the third-generation driver’s NASCAR Xfinity Series career – his 100th start – but it also solidifies his belief he’s ready for a full-time Sprint Cup ride.

“I’m ready to make that step (into the Sprint Cup Series),” Dillon said. “I feel confident as a driver that I can go and compete inside the top 10, top 15 in the Sprint Cup Series if I get a full-time gig.”

While seeking the Xfinity Series championship for the third consecutive year, the 24-year-old Dillon has driven a limited schedule in the Sprint Cup Series with Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing.

In eight races this year, Dillon’s best finish has been 15th at Phoenix when he substituted for an injured Tony Stewart. He’s completed 99.7 percent of the laps he’s run and led four of them. Since making his Sprint Cup debut in 2014 at Atlanta he’s competed in 15 races, but has yet to secure a top-10 finish. Next season, however, hinges on sponsorship.

“I’ve had really good talks and there are a lot of positive things coming,” Dillon said. “I feel really comfortable with where my future is going as far as my goal of being in the Sprint Cup Series; also, being a part of the Xfinity Series, which is important to me, too. I want to continue to run races in the Xfinity Series no matter where I go or what I do.”

Even though Dillon is looking to the future he can’t forget to focus on the present. He’s still winless this season in the Xfinity Series, but appears to be headed for a berth in the circuit’s inaugural Chase. Dillon is third in the standings with only four races remaining before the title battle begins Sept. 24 at Kentucky. Before then, however, Dillon must face a road course, a 1.366-mile speedway, a short-track and a 1.5-mile speedway.

“Five out of the last six races we’ve been solid,” said Dillon, whose Xfinity team has faced 20 races in 21 weeks. “I think our momentum is headed the right way. You lead laps and run in the top two with 20 to 15 laps to go you’re going to get your shot eventually. We come to another short track we’re good at this week, so it’s been good. I’ll really be able to judge what we’re going to have for the Chase when we get to another mile-and-a-half because those are going to be really important. That’s where we feel we have to take the biggest step as an organization.”

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