Austin Dillon’s wife Whitney echoes Deion Sanders’ empowering words on not caring about others’ opinions
NASCAR driver Austin Dillon’s wife, Whitney Ward recently shared a powerful, inspiring speech by former American football and baseball player Deion Sanders on her Instagram. Sanders is known for his supreme confidence and unapologetic approach towards inspiring the prospects under his charge through his powerful speeches.
In an Instagram story she shared an old video of Sanders’ where he can be seen advising youngsters the importance of confidence and self-assurance without being burdened by others’ opinions.
Watch Ward's Instagram story below:
Advising the youngsters, here’s what Sanders said:
Look at me. What about me would make you think that I care about your opinion of me? Your opinion of me is not the opinion that I have of myself. You ain't make me, so you can't break me. You didn't build me, so you can't kill me. God established me, so you ain't nothing you can do to me.”
“I've been him. I’ve been a difference-maker and game changer I've been that guy so what will change not a darn thing but I don't care and I wish the world thought like that do not give a darn what opinions people have of you long as that opinion is not consistent of that of yourself you be you I'm not playing to make you feel good about me I already feel good about me I'm good”
“Looking forward to 2025”: Austin Dillon after the worst season of his career
The 2018 Daytona 500 winner has been running in NASCAR’s top-level series as a full-time driver since 2014 but couldn’t make his mark in the series. Dillon has plenty of experience, but results haven't gone his way as he has only won five races in his Cup career.
Despite a win at Richmond, Austin Dillon managed to score only one top-five and five top-10 finishes with an average finish of 22.5, the worst of his career so far. He ended the season in 32nd place in the Cup Series championship standings with 493 points, the lowest tally of his Cup Series tenure.
After the season-finale race at Phoenix Raceway, Austin Dillon spoke about his disappointing season and expressed optimism to bounce back in the 2025 Cup season.
“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season, but we worked through it as a team and pushed forward. Already looking forward to 2025,” Dillon said via NBC Sports.
Catch Austin Dillon in action at Daytona International Speedway in the season-opener Daytona 500 on Feb. 16, 2025.