#3 / #29 Team News Archive

(NOTE: some older links may not work)

    Ran the #29 from March 2001, after Dale Earnhardt died, until the start of the 2014 season, then back to #3

2017 News

    2017 Races [21+1] that Dow is scheduled to be the primary sponsor: Daytona - 2/26 Atlanta - 3/5, Quikrete Phoenix - 3/19, Dow Water and Energy Texas - 4/9, Dow Water and Energy Talladega - 5/7, Energy & Water / Intellifresh Charlotte, All-Star Race - 5/20 Charlotte - 5/28 (WON) Pocono - 6/11 Michigan - 6/18, Salutes Vets Sonoma - 6/25, Kilz Kentucky - 7/8 New Hampshire - 7/16 Indianapolis - 7/23, Molykote Smart Lubrication Watkins Glen - 8/6, STEM Michigan - 8/13, Automotive Magna Bristol - 8/19, Energy & Water Richmond - 9/9, Dowfrost Chicago - 9/17 the rest TBD 2017 Races [1] that Lucas Oil is scheduled to be the primary sponsor: Las Vegas - 3/12 2017 Races [1] that Okuma is scheduled to be the primary sponsor: Martinsville - 4/2 2017 Races [?6] that American Ethanol is scheduled to be the primary sponsor: Auto Club - 3/26 Kansas - 5/13 Daytona - 7/1, Salute America Pocono - 7/30 Darlington - 9/3, Earnhardt throwback TBA 2017 Races [3] that AAA Mid-Atlantic is scheduled to be the primary sponsor: Richmond - 4/30 Dover - 6/4 the other TBA 2017 Races [?] that New Era is scheduled to be the primary sponsor: Bristol - 4/23 Childress fires shots at men who attempted break-in: Authorities continue to search for three masked men who allegedly attempted to break into the home of Hall of Fame NASCAR driver and team owner Richard Childress. The incident happened at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday in the Reedy Creek community in Davidson County.(12-20-2017) UPDATE: Clothing recovered from the home of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress could lead law enforcement to finding out the identities of three armed men, who are being sought for the attempted home invasion robbery, according to Davidson County Sheriff David Grice.[More](12-22-2017) Richard Petty Motorsports switching from Ford to Chevrolet, aligning with Childress: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team Richard Petty Motorsports is closing in on announcing that it will switch manufacturers from Ford to Chevrolet starting in '18, according to sources.[More](12-7-2017) Andy Petree named VP of Competition at RCR; Eric Warren named Chief Technology Officer: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has named Andy Petree as its new Vice President of Competition, and Dr. Eric Warren as Chief Technology Officer, effective immediately. The organizational moves bolster RCR's competition department with more than 50 years of combined racing experience. Petree joins RCR on a full-time basis after he was brought on in an advisory role in October to conduct a comprehensive review of the team's competition area. Warren holds a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from North Carolina State University and has held numerous roles in stock car racing dating back to 1997 including competition director, chief aerodynamicist and technical director. [More](12-4-2017) Richard Childress Racing hires Andy Petree as Advisor NASCAR veteran Andy Petree will assist Richard Childress Racing in an advisory role in the competition area. Petree, who has held numerous roles in his 30-year stock car racing career, will be retained as an outside resource. Petree has experience as a championship-winning crew chief, driver, team owner and most recently, as an analyst for Fox Sports.(Richard Childress Racing)[Read More Here](10-25-2017) Friday Chicagoland Notebook Chase Elliott's playoff game plan: improvement and consistency In his final 10 races in the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Chase Elliott doesn't feel he can afford to look beyond his own efforts and his own team during his second run in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff. After all, Elliott qualified for the postseason on points. In a season where other drivers collected their first career victories-Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.-Elliott, surprisingly, is still seeking his first trophy at NASCAR's highest level. In recent outings, Elliott and his #24 team haven't performed to expectations. As a consequence, improved performance is a priority as the 10-race playoff begins. FEUD WITH PATRICK COULD COMPLICATE DILLON'S PLAYOFF RUN One of most widely-quoted clichés from mob movies is "Keep your friends close; but keep your enemies closer." In Austin Dillon's case, however, the driver of the #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet might want to stay as far away from Danica Patrick as possible. Repeated contact last Saturday at Richmond between Dillon's car and the Patrick's #10 Ford sparked a rivalry that has the potential to carry over into the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff. Dillon and Patrick were battling for position at Richmond. Dillon was aggressive in his attempts to pass the #10 Fusion. Patrick defended her position just as aggressively, and the cars touched several times before Dillon gained the spot. Patrick answered with a hard shot to Dillon's rear bumper, knocking Dillon's #3 up the track. Dillon responded with a nudge to Patrick's left rear quarter and sent her spinning. BUBBA WALLACE HOPES RPM RIDE MATERIALIZES FOR 2018 As far as Richard Petty Motorsports is concerned, there are two known quantities where the legendary race team is concerned. First, Aric Almirola will not be behind the wheel of the #43 RPM Ford next season. Second, sponsor Smithfield Foods has opted not to renew its support for RPM next year, choosing instead to shift its backing to Stewart-Haas Racing. What remains to be revealed is the identity of RPM's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver for 2018. Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr., who spent four races in the #43 Ford while Almirola was recovering from a crushed vertebra sustained during a wreck at Kansas in May, hopes he gets the nod. And Wallace acknowledged on Friday at Chicagoland Speedway that he and RPM are working toward that goal.(NASCAR Wire Service)[Read More Here](9-16-2017) Slugger Labbe joins Toyota Racing Development Veteran NASCAR crew chief Slugger Labbe has a new job. Labbe announced on The Morning Drive on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that he has joined Toyota Racing and Toyota Racing Development as Manager of Teams and Vehicles Support. Labbe's duties will be stretch across all forms of Toyota's racing involvement including NASCAR, NHRA drag racing, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, USAC, Rally Series and several other series.(NBC Sports)[Read More Here](9-14-2017) Transcript Austin Dillon Playoffs Austin Dillon met with members of the media at Playoff Media Day (Sept 13). Dillon comments about altercation on track with Danica Partick at RIR "She could have retaliated at Richmond"; and the playoffs.(Team Chevy)[Read Full Transcript here](9-14-2017) Richard Childress heads National Hunting and Fishing Day Richard Childress is best known as a NASCAR icon, but there is another side of him that doesn't always grab the spotlight or capture the roar of the crowd. He is an outdoors man, a hunter, angler, conservationist and Second Amendment advocate. Childress has been named honorary chairman of National Hunting and Fishing Day, Sept. 23. He is a good choice for pumping life into what has become a lackluster event in many areas, including ours. Between now and Sept. 23, anyone who pledges to take a friend, family member, co-worker or neighbor with them hunting or fishing or a sport shooting, their name will be entered in a contest. The prizes are a VIP Race Weekend Package for two and a weekend of fishing and outdoor fun at Big Cedar Lodge in the Ozark Mountains. The pledge can be found at www.nhfday.org.(Roanoke Times)[Read More Here](8-25-2017) Childress plans three teams in 2018: "Our entire RCR organization is 100 percent focused on getting all three of our Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series programs in the playoffs this year, and bringing another Cup championship to RCR in 2017. We will be announcing our plans for a third Cup team and our overall 2018 team lineup at a later date."[More](7-26-2017) Childress back to two car team? Richard Childress Racing is preparing for the possible departure of Paul Menard's at the end of the season [from the #27 team]. At least a dozen employees were laid off in the last week coming on the heels of the departure of RCR veteran crew chiefs Slugger Labbe and Gil Martin.(Motorsport) AND Richard Childress Racing has been considering its options for '18 should primary sponsor Menards leave after this season, according to sources, an indication that the home improvement chain is eyeing a move elsewhere. Menards is said to be eyeing a move from RCR to the Team Penske/Wood Brothers Racing.(Sports Business Journal)(7-14-2017) Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman to honor Dale Earnhardt at Darlington: Both race cars will be decked out in the blue and yellow colors of Earnhardt's famous Wrangler Chevy[More](7-5-2017) Austin Dillon to run special Dow scheme at Michigan: For the third consecutive year, Austin Dillon is set to pilot a very special Dow Chevrolet. In addition to a fresh paint scheme, more than 1,100 names of veterans will be featured on the #3 car this weekend during the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. The names are those of Dow employees, contractors, family members and Richard Childress Racing employees.[More](6-16-2017) Childress: This win ranks at the very top: In a rare first-person exclusive, legendary NASCAR Hall of Fame owner Richard Childress gives his thoughts on returning the #3 car to Victory Lane in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series following last Sunday's Coca-Cola 600. Where does Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 victory rank? "Well ... I look back, and it's right there at the top with Dale Earnhardt's Daytona 500 in 1998, and winning Indy, and winning our first race with Ricky Rudd. But it's really special when it's family, though. By that, it would be at the top of the board. I've had so many great wins here at Richard Childress Racing and so many special, meaningful wins, but to have your grandson [Austin Dillon] win in the #3, knowing the pressure he's carried inside him and on himself...(As told to Reid Spencer of the NASCAR Wire Service)[Read More Here](6-1-2017) Austin Dillon ringing the NYSE Closing Bell The New York Stock Exchange welcomes executives and guests of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) in celebration of the 58th running of the legendary Coca-Cola 600. To honor the occasion, Coca Cola 600 Winner, Austin Dillon, will ring The NYSE Closing Bell, alongside team owner Richard Childress. Festivities begin at 3:40pm/et, with the closing bell ringing at 4:00pm/et. A live stream of The Bell can be viewed here: nyse.com/bell (RCR)[Read More Here](5-30-2017) Race Recap: Austin Dillon puts the No. 3 Chevrolet back in Victory Lane on fuel-mileage gamble: Armed with a new crew chief and a gas tank that held just enough fuel to get him to the end of 600 miles with less than a second to spare, Austin Dillon won the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series of his career and put the vaunted #3 Chevrolet back in Victory Lane for the first time since 2000.[More](5-28-2017) Austin Dillon wins at Charlotte: #3-Austin Dillon won the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for his 1st career win. The race came down to fuel mileage with Dillon able to save enough to finish. #48-Johnson led with 2 laps to go before running out of gas. Dillon led only the final lap of the race. #18-Busch finished 2nd followed by #78-Truex, Jr., #20-Kenseth, #11-Hamlin, #41-Busch, #77-Jones, polesitter #4-Harvick, #31-Newman, and #88-Earnhardt, Jr. #78-Truex, Jr dominated most of the race, leading 233 laps on the night. He pitted with 32 laps remaining but could not get back to the lead before the race ended. He was passed by Busch on the final lap. There was a 1 hour, 40 minute red flag for rain on lap 143. #42-Larson finished 33rd, after an accident. He loses the points lead and is now 5 points behind Truex, Jr. There were 23 lead changes among 10 drivers and 9 cautions for 53 yellow flag laps. The average speed of the race was: 138.80mph. See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more at: Unofficial Race Results (pdf) Cumulative Report (pdf) Penalty Report (pdf) Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf) Richard Childress Racing makes crew chief change for Austin Dillon: Justin Alexander, who has served as the crew chief of the #2 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet for RCR and earned two wins last season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, will assume crew chief responsibilities for the #3 team in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with driver Austin Dillon. Randall Burnett, who previously served as a crew chief for RCR's technical partner JTG Daugherty Racing, will assume a new role as crew chief of the #2 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.[More](5-21-2017) Sammy Johns to serve as #3 crew chief at Richmond: Richard Childress Racing says Operations Director Sammy Johns will replace Slugger Labbe as the crew chief on the RCR #3 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet of Austin Dillon this weekend at Richmond. Labbe will remain at the RCR shop to work on cars for next weekend's race at Talladega Superspeedway.[More](4-28-2017) New Era to sponsor Austin Dillon at Bristol Austin Dillon has a new sponsor this weekend for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. New Era, which is known for its baseball hats and other apparel, will serve as the primary sponsor on the #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevy this weekend.(FoxSports) UPDATE: Welcome, New Era ... Since 1920, New Era has been hand-crafting the finest headwear in the world. Today, with apparel and accessories lines, the brand is a market leader rooted in sports and an influencer of street and lifestyle culture around the globe. With over 500 licenses in its portfolio, New Era is the brand of choice in the worlds of sport, fashion, music and entertainment. The Company is headquartered in Buffalo, N.Y., and its products are sold in more than 80 countries. For more information on New Era's global offices and partnerships, visit www.neweracap.com and social channels @neweracap.(RCR)[More](4-18-2017) Austin Dillon warned by NASCAR in meeting with Custer: #3-Austin Dillon indicated that a repeat offense of wrecking another car under caution would result in NASCAR suspending him. Dillon, after a meeting with NASCAR officials Friday at Auto Club Speedway a week following his running into Cole Custer under caution, said: "NASCAR did a really good job of sharing with me that if I make a mistake like that again that the penalties would be very harsh. ... I love to race and I don't want to be on the sideline, ever."[More](3-24-2017) Austin Dillon will face no further penalties for XFINITY race incident UPDATE Austin Dillon will not face additional penalties today for deliberately wrecking Cole Custer in Saturday's DC Solar 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Phoenix Raceway. NASCAR parked Dillon for the remainder of Saturday's race, but a NASCAR representative confirmed to FOXSports.com that Dillon will not face additional sanctions today.(FOXSports.com)[More](3-19-2017) UPDATE NASCAR plans to meet with Austin Dillon and Cole Custer this weekend at Auto Club Speedway after their incident in Saturday's Xfinity race at Phoenix Raceway. Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, said Monday on "The Morning Drive" that officials parked Dillon after his actions in the Xfinity race and met with Dillon, his crew chief and spotter.(NBC Sports)[More](3-20-2017) Austin Dillon racing a Dow World Water Day at Phoenix Austin Dillon is racing a Dow World Water Day scheme on the #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevy in the Camping World 500(k) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway in March. WorldWaterDay is about the Importance of Water for Everyone ... Whether it is fishing, boating, hunting or just being outside and enjoying the beauty of a mountain lake, a forest stream or an ocean view, Austin and the #3 team love the outdoors. Being able to share this precious natural resource with their families, friends and future generations is important to them. It is why they want to raise awareness of water's importance in all aspects of life through the United Nation's World Water Day. Austin is proud to drive the #3 Dow World Water Day Chevrolet and partner with Dow, whose Water & Process Solutions business specializes in sustainable liquid purification and separation technologies, and which plays a significant role in helping show the relationship and interaction between water, wastewater and sustainability.(RCR & Tucson News Now)[More](3-19-2017) Lucas Oil sponsoring Austin Dillon at Las Vegas: Lucas Oil, the official provider of premium motor oil for ECR Engines and Richard Childress Racing (RCR), will serve as primary sponsor for Austin Dillon and the #3 Chevy in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. Lucas Oil has powered RCR and ECR Engines to over 50 victories since the inception of the partnership in 2014.[More](3-7-2017) Austin Dillon visits Dow and hockey game: Officials for the Ontario Hockey League Saginaw Spirit and Dow Chemical's Michigan Division in Midland welcomed rising NASCAR driver #3-Austin Dillon to the Dow Event Center Friday. Dillon dropped a ceremonial first puck prior to the Spirit game. He also spent time with workers from the Site Shared Services Pool or S-S-R-P at Michigan Division who package a wide variety of chemical products for delivery.(WSGW)(1-8-2017)
2016 News

  • 2016 Races [21+1] that Dow is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Daytona - 2/21
    Atlanta - 2/28
    Las Vegas - 3/6, Water & Energy / Intellifresh
    Phoenix - 3/13
    Martinsville - 4/3
    Texas - 4/9, Water & Energy / FlexsoLyt
    Talladega - 5/1, Water & Energy / Intellifresh
    Charlotte, Sprint Showdown - 5/20
    Pocono - 6/5, STEM
    Michigan - 6/12, Dow Salutes Veterans
    Sonoma - 6/26, Utility Trailers
    Kentucky - 7/9
    New Hampshire - 7/17, U.S. Olympics
    Indianapolis - 7/24, Agro Sciences / Mycogen Seeds
    Watkins Glen - 8/7
    Bristol - 8/20
    Richmond - 9/10, Glass AMerica
    Chicago - 9/18, Hefty Energybag
    Charlotte - 10/8, Kilz
    Kansas - 10/16
    Martinsville - 10/30, Molykote
    Homestead - 11/20

  • 2016 Races [3] that Cheerios is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Charlotte - 5/29, Lee's East Rowan Café
    Michigan - 8/28
    New Hampshire - 9/25, Pumpkin Spice Cheerios

  • 2016 Races [6] that American Ethanol is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Auto Club - 3/20
    Kansas - 5/7
    Pocono - 7/31
    Darlington - 9/4, throwback
    Talladega - 10/23, pink
    Phoenix - 11/13

  • 2016 Races [3] that AAA Mid-Atlantic is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Richmond - 4/24
    Dover - 5/15
    Dover - 10/2

  • 2016 Races [2] that Bass Pro Shops is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Bristol - 4/17
    Daytona - 7/2, NRA Museum

  • 2016 Races [1] that Realtree / Bad Boy is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Texas - 11/6

  • Richard Childress Racing Announces 2017 Team Lineup: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) will return with three full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series entries and five full-time NASCAR XFINITY Series teams for the 2017 season. It will be the first time in team history that RCR will field five full-time XFINITY Series entries, and the first time since 2011 the team has fielded eight full-time teams. #3-Austin Dillon, #27-Paul Menard and #31-Ryan Newman return to carry the banner for the RCR Cup Series program in 2017. Richard "Slugger" Labbe, Matt Borland and Luke Lambert have been assigned crew chief duties, respectively.
    With the addition of rookie driver Daniel Hemric, RCR will operate five entries out of its XFINITY Series stable. The #2 and #3 Chevys in the XFINITY Series will include multiple drivers. Austin Dillon and Paul Menard will be primary drivers for the #2 Chevy, with second-year crew chief Justin Alexander atop the pit box. Ty Dillon will remain with the #3 Chevy team and will partner with rookie crew chief Matt Swiderski, who has spent 10 years at RCR in its engineering department. Swiderski made his debut as crew chief last season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he led the #3 team to a second-place finish. Additional drivers for RCR's #2 and #3 teams will be named at a later date. Brandon Jones and Brendan Gaughan return with full-time driving duties of the #33 and #62 Chevys, respectively, and will compete for the XFINITY Series driver championship. Jones and veteran crew chief Nick Harrison will be paired together, while Gaughan returns with his long-time crew chief Shane Wilson for their 12th season together. In 2017, RCR will welcome back the storied #21 entry with Daniel Hemric behind the wheel. Hemric and two-time NASCAR championship winning crew chief Danny Stockman will work together as Hemric competes for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors and the XFINITY Series driver championship.(RCR)(12-21-2016)

  • Richard Childress Racing Adds New Operations Director: Sammy Johns has joined Richard Childress Racing (RCR) as the new operations director for the Welcome, North Carolina, racing organization. Johns will report directly to Dr. Eric Warren, director of competition for RCR. "I have known and worked closely with Sammy since 2001 in a variety of teams and roles," said Warren. "He is well rounded and understands the sport from multiple perspectives. He has the hands-on experience of a crew chief along with the understanding of what it takes to build a modern, technical racing organization capable of winning races in today's competitive environment."
    Johns will take on an integral role at RCR managing and coordinating the manufacturing and car assembly processes, along with overseeing the crew chiefs and general execution of the race teams. RCR's Technical Director, Mike Coughlan, will continue to focus the engineering department on improving the performance of the cars and the ability to create and use data for a competitive advantage. The Lakeland, Florida, native began his racing career at local short tracks before being named crew chief at Andy Petree Racing. From there, Johns shifted gears and joined Evernham Motorsports as director of competition. He remained a permanent fixture within the organization through 2009 when the company officially became Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM). Johns transitioned into a new role of vice president of operations with RPM and resumed his title until earlier this year.
    "I am grateful for the opportunity to join such an iconic sports organization in Richard Childress Racing," Johns said. "The level of engineering and technical expertise at RCR is second-to-none, and I look forward to contributing my knowledge and capabilities to helping this team succeed in 2017 and beyond."(RCR)(11-30-2016)

  • Harvick left hanging after reaching out to Dillon: #4-Kevin Harvick said he reached out to #3-Austin Dillon following last week's incident between the two Sprint Cup Series drivers at Texas Motor Speedway but got no response. Austin Dillon said he's here at Phoenix International Raceway this weekend to race, and preferred not to comment on what took place last weekend. "I reached out to him and he didn't reach back," Harvick, the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, said after qualifying Friday at PIR. "So it is what it is." The two competitors were racing for fifth place at Texas when contact from Harvick's #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy sent Dillon's car into the wall in Turn 4 and ended his night.(NASCAR.com)(11-13-2016)

  • Dillon fails to advance in Chase due to tiebreaker: Facing an overtime restart with two laps left in the Hellman's 500 on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, crew chief Slugger Labbe reminded driver #3-Austin Dillon of the relevant numbers. Dillon had to finish no more than five positions behind #11-Denny Hamlin to secure a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup's Round of 8-as long as Hamlin didn't win the race. Dillon had done everything right to that point. He had earned a bonus point by staying out for an extra circuit and leading Lap 117 under the second caution of the afternoon. He gained three spots after a restart on Lap 186 and was 11th when the green flag waved for the final time on Lap 191. On the final two laps, he worked his way forward to ninth before the checkered flag ended the race. Only one problem. Hamlin beat #41-Kurt Busch to the stripe by .006 seconds-approximately two feet-to finish third. The two drivers finished the Round of 12 tied for eighth with 3,078 points, but Hamlin won a tiebreaker for the final Chase spot because his third-place finish on Sunday was better than Dillon's best Round-of-12 finish of sixth last week at Kansas.(NASCAR Wire Service)(10-24-2016)

  • Pink Ethanol scheme for Dillon at Talladega:
    Real men drive pink, and #3-Austin Dillon is doing just that for a good cause this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway driving a #3 pink E15 American Ethanol Chevy. For every gallon purchased at participating retailers, Growth Energy will donate 2¢ towards the fight against breast cancer (RCR Facebook), see an image of the car on the #3 Team Schemes page (10-21-2016)

  • RCR's cars to run decals in Memory of Johnny Siler: All Richard Childress Racing entries will run decals in memory of long-time RCR fabricator Johnny Siler this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Siler passed away on September 24 following a battle with cancer. His 22-year career at RCR was more than a job, it was his passion and he truly loved it.(RCR)(10-7-2016)

  • Austin Dillon using first backup car of his career: #3-Austin Dillon met with members of the media at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and discussed his accident in the first practice session
    ON FIRST PRACTICE:
    Dillon: "It didn't go as planned. Just trying to find some extra speed and drove a little too hard I guess or I don't know what really happened. We just didn't have it together as good as we wanted to in that first practice. We've got a good back-up car and we will go try and qualify on the pole with it."
    ON GOING TO A BACK-UP CAR:
    Dillon: "This is my first back-up in three years in the Cup Series, so I really don't know how to answer that question. I've never had to go to a back-up. In Darlington I flat sided the car in practice, but we used that car. That is the only place I've really had damage and had to run a car with damage going into a race. Yeah, I've never had a back-up car that I've had to run in three years, so we will see how it goes right here. I will have a better answer afterwards."
    (Team Chevy)(9-24-2016)

  • Pumpkin Spice Cheerios on the #3: Made from real pumpkin puree and a delicious blend of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, Pumpkin Spice Cheerios has taken over store shelves and is now on Richard Childress Racing's #3 Chevrolet as well, as Austin Dillon will race the #3 Pumpkin Spice Cheerios Chevrolet this weekend in New Hampshire. Pumpkin Spice Cheerios is the latest General Mills Cereal free from artificial flavors and colors from artificial sources. This limited edition Cheerios flavor is also gluten free. In five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Dillon's best finish is eighth in July 2015.(Richard Childress Racing), see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(9-21-2016)

  • Dillon gets crew members from Newman as Chase begins: Richard Childress Racing made changes to the #3 pit crew for Austin Dillon this week. Jackman Adam Lewis and Rear Tire Carrier Brad Robison have transferred from the #31 team effective immediately. Lewis, originally from East New Market, Md., joined RCR at the end of 2011. Robison, a Groton, N.Y.-native, played football at SUNY Cortland as a defensive lineman prior to his career in NASCAR. Robison and Lewis join 15-year veteran Jason Pulver (Front Tire Changer), Front Tire Carrier Josh Shipplett, Rear Tire Changer Brian Bottlemy, and Fueler Tyler Rader on the #3 team which is led by crew chief Slugger Labbe.(Motorsport)(9-14-2016)

  • Congrats to #3-Austin Dillon and girlfriend Whitney Ward. Dillon announced their engagment in a Twitter post on Wednesday.(8-11-2016)

  • Austin Dillon throws out 1st pitch in Arizona: #3-Austin Dillon threw out the first pitch Tuesday evening before the Arizona Diamondbacks took on the Washington Nationals at Chase Field. Dillon participated in batting practice, swapped his racing helmet for a Diamondbacks jersey and threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Dillon made the stop in the desert to promote the Can-Am 500 weekend on Nov. 11-13 at Phoenix International Raceway. "Phoenix is an awesome city," said Dillon. "It's fun to catch a Diamondbacks game because I've never been to one. It's been fun to watch what these guys do for a living. Being out there on the field and experiencing what they experience is a lot different than what I do on the weekends." Prior to the game, Dillon chatted and took pictures with Diamondbacks players, in addition to meeting with fans at the ballpark. The much anticipated jersey and helmet swap took place just before the first pitch between Dillon and D-Backs catcher Tuffy Gosewisch.(PIR)(8-4-2016)

  • Childress close to finalizing 2017 plans UPDATES: Car owner Richard Childress anticipates he'll know his 2017 driver lineup within three weeks. While Childress told NBC Sports on Thursday that "we've still got a couple of months before we make any real decisions," he did say that "we'll kind of know in the next two or three weeks. We'll have a direction." The main question for the three-car organization is #31-Ryan Newman's status. He's in the final year of his contract, and Childress' grandson, Ty Dillon, appears set to move to Sprint Cup next season. The team also includes #27-Paul Menard, who is 23rd in the points. Childress said Menard's is expected to return to the team as sponsor next year. The final member of the team is #3-Austin Dillon, who is 13th in points and seeking to make the playoffs for the first time.
    Ty Dillon has driven eight Sprint Cup races this season. He drove three races for Tony Stewart early in the season and has run five races for Circle Sport - Leavine Family Racing. "I think he'll be in a Cup car next year," Childress said of Ty Dillon. "I'm pretty sure he'll be in a Cup car. We're working on some different programs. Hell, he may be with us, who knows? We're just working on a lot of different things. Right now it's just a lot of things are hanging. We're trying to put together what's going to be the best for everybody, not just for RCR, but for the drivers and the sponsors, we're trying to put together good programs."(NBC Sports)(7-22-2016)
    UPDATE Richard Childress Racing is expected to announce its 2017 Sprint Cup Series driver lineup in the coming weeks. Ryan Newman, in his third season as driver of the #31 RCR Chevrolet, isn't quite sure if he'll be a part of it. "We haven't talked about it in-depth yet, but we have talked about it," Newman, 13th in points, said Thursday at Kalahari Resort in Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania. "Hopefully, we'll get to sit down and talk about it soon." While Newman offers consistent, above-average production week in and week out, RCR may be faced with a tough decision as Childress' grandson, Ty Dillon, appears ready for a full-time Sprint Cup Series ride with no clear path to a spot for him. Still, the team owner told NASCAR.com earlier this year at Michigan International Speedway that he's planning on having the '16 XFINITY Series title hopeful in a Sprint Cup car full-time in 2017, while the exact organization and ride has yet to be finalized. Right now, Newman doesn't appear to be getting his ducks in order just yet on the off chance he finds himself ousted from his ride in favor of the younger Dillon. "I plan on (coming back)," he said. "If they'll have me back, I'll be there."(NASCAR.com)
    AND: The team is a question mark, the number is uncertain and the logistics are still behind closed doors. But one thing's for certain: If he has his way, Ty Dillon will be in a Sprint Cup Series ride next season. "I fully plan on being in the Sprint Cup Series next year full time," Dillon said Friday at Iowa Speedway. "We've got a lot of options on the table. A lot of chips still left to fall before we kind of get to that point, but hopefully we'll have something really close to getting done in a month or so." With #31 driver Ryan Newman's RCR contract up after this season, it looks to be seen whether or not Dillon will take his place as the driver of the team's third car or if organization will add a fourth car. The possibility of driving for a different team also looms. "Talks have progressed a lot further than they have in past years," Dillon said. "I had talks with other teams in the past couple years and had opportunities, but it's always been my dream to drive for RCR and be teammates with my brother. "But now it seems like the time's more and more important. We've got some things going with RCR but we're still slowly working on other options."(NASCAR.com)(7-30-2016)

  • Austin Dillon's #3 to feature Olympics scheme: The #3 Dow Race to Rio Chevy will feature Dow's partnership with Team USA in action during the race weekend in New Hampshire. In 2010, Dow became the Official Chemistry Company and a Worldwide Olympic Partner, following a 30 year history of involvement with the Olympic Games. Dow is helping the most iconic of global sporting events achieve higher levels of performance and sustainability. Follow @DowChemical and stay-tuned this August to learn more. (Richard Childress Racing), see images of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(7-13-2016)

  • NRA Museum featured on the #3 at Daytona: Bass Pro Shops, the primary sponsor of Richard Childress Racing's #3 Chevy driven by Austin Dillon in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will pay tribute to the National Rifle Association's members and the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum with a special paint scheme for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. The NRA National Sporting Arms Museum houses an important collection of more than a thousand firearms and other artifacts and dioramas that trace the evolution of hunting, conservation and freedom from the 1600s to modern day. The museum, which is located at Bass Pro Shops' flagship store in Springfield, Missouri, is open daily and admission is free (RCR), see an image of the scheme on the #3 Team Schemes page (6-29-2016)

  • Austin Dillon saluting veterans at Michigan: This weekend at Michigan International Speedway the #3 team will honor those from The Dow Chemical Company who have served in the U.S. military with 350 Dow employee names on the patriotic-themed #3 Dow Salutes Veterans Chevrolet. Every day, Dow is committed to building a vibrant, diverse and talented employee base. Veteran employees bring skills and virtues beyond their military job titles. The different perspectives of Dow employees including those of our veterans reflect the rich depth of experience and backgrounds that make Dow a world leader in science and technology. The Firekeepers Casino 400 on Sunday will mark Austin Dillon's 100th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start.(Richard Childress Racing), see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(6-8-2016)

  • Dillon to run Cheerios colors at Charlotte: Austin Dillon continues a long-standing Richard Childress Racing tradition this weekend by carrying General Mills' Cheerios brand on the #3 Chevy in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. General Mills has been an active sponsor in motorsports for more than 15 years. Both Dillon brothers made their Daytona 500 debut with General Mills, with Austin in the Honey Nut Cheerios Chevrolet in 2013 and Ty in the Cheerios Chevrolet in 2015. In 2016, Cheerios is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The cereal debuted as "Cheerioats" in 1941. Dillon and the #3 Cheerios team will participate in 600 Miles of Remembrance on Memorial Day Weekend. Dillon's name will be replaced on his race car windshield header with the name of a fallen military service member for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The #3 team will feature Navy SEAL Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer Mark "Badger" Carter, who was killed in action in Balad, Iraq on December 11, 2007. There is a Crossfit "Heroes" workout named after Badger that Dillon and several RCR team members have completed in Carter's honor.(RCR), see images of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(5-25-2016)

  • Lee's Café to be featured on the #3 at CMS: A logo from Lee's Café will be featured on a race car during a NASCAR race on May 29. Lee's East Rowan Café, at 203 W. Main St., Rockwell, NC, won a General Mills drawing to feature their logo on the upper quarter panel of the #3 race car driven by Austin Dillon during the Coca-Cola 600 race in Charlotte. The "Lee" of Lee's Café was Sarah Bickish's brother. Bickish said she got involved in the business to help her brother in 2012 and took over in 2013 when he passed away from cancer. Bickish greets many of her customers by name and prides herself on offering fresh, homemade food, like the hand-cut pork loin, charbroiled, flatiron Black Angus steak, potato salad and baked spaghetti. Bickish said Lee's Café usually wins something at the show every year. General Mills sponsored a drawing that offered a "VIP NASCAR Experience," with three prize packages available to the 350 restaurants at the show. When the final prizes were being announced, Bickish said Paul Hager, the restaurant's manager who was also at the show, said he realized the Café had not won anything all day. Lee's Café ended up winning the grand prize package. The value of the package is more than $210,000. Along with Lee Café's logo on both sides of the car, the package also includes pre-race passes, all-access passes, a meet and greet with Austin Dillon and the pit crew, pictures with Dillon and the car, VIP clubhouse seats, a 2-night hotel stay, a hospitality suite and a track tour. All transportation is provided and they will also receive food and beverage vouchers. The Lee Café's logo will be against a red background with the restaurant's name printed in white. The upper corners of the logo will each feature a black stallion.(Salisbury Post), see images of the car on the #3 Team Schemes page (5-20-2016)

  • Richard Childress Racing announces promotion, new staff: Richard Childress Racing has promoted Jeremy Burleson to the newly created position of Vice President, Partnership Marketing and Communications and has added Carl Anderson and Jay Pennell to the team. Burleson, a Locust, N.C., native joined RCR in 2008 as partnership marketing manager. Since that time, his role has grown to include overseeing a staff of 12 marketing and communications professionals as the Managing Director of Marketing/Communications. In addition to Burleson's enhanced role, RCR has enriched the front office staff with the addition of Carl Anderson to the Business Development team and Jay Pennell to the Communications team.
    Anderson joins RCR with an impressive academic background and sales experience. He previously served as a Corporate Sponsorship Account Executive at IMG College in Huntington, W.Va and also has group sales experience with the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team.
    Pennell joins RCR with significant experience and knowledge in the digital media and content arenas, which he will be utilizing to help produce and generate original content for RCR's digital space. His responsibilities also include management of the #33 XFINITY Series program with Brandon Jones. Pennell has been a writer for SB Nation, spent the past several years as the digital writer/editor for FOX Sports, and most recently was a freelance writer for NASCAR.com.(RCR)(5-17-2016)

  • RCR honoring Ricky Rudd with Darlington throwback schemes: In celebration of Darlington Raceway's "The Tradition Continues" throwback race weekend, Richard Childress Racing unveiled paint schemes today for its #3 and 31 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, to be raced in the Bojangles' Southern 500 on Sunday, September 4. Both paint schemes will pay tribute to RCR's first win as an organization, which came on June 5, 1983 at Riverside International Raceway. The cars will feature designs and stylized numbers resembling the #3 Piedmont Airlines Chevrolet that Ricky Rudd drove to Victory Lane at the now-defunct race track.
    The #3 Chevrolet SS, driven by Austin Dillon, will feature the same red, white and blue color scheme of Rudd's historic race car. American Ethanol will serve as primary sponsor.
    The #31 Chevrolet SS, driven by Ryan Newman, will feature throwback logos from primary sponsor Caterpillar and a similar stylized number to Rudd's victorious race car.
    Other RCR special paint schemes for the Darlington Raceway throwback weekend including the #27 Menards Chevrolet SS, will be unveiled at later dates. Rudd, who retired from racing in 2007, scored not only RCR's first victory that afternoon at the 2.62-mile road course, but also his first-career win. He held off the likes of Bill Elliott, Harry Gant, Kyle Petty, Darrell Waltrip and future RCR driver, Dale Earnhardt.(Richard Childress Racing), see images of the cars on the #3 team paint schemes and #31 team paints schemes pages.(5-11-2016

  • Changes to #3 & #31 pit crews: In the never ending search for team chemistry and performance, RCR has made changes to their #3 and #31 pit crews moving forward. The #31 will have a new front changer in the form of Chase Masterson. Masterson was pulled up from the #62 Xfinity team this week to replace longtime change Tim Sheets. Sheets is now changing on the fronts of the #13 Germain Racing Team. The #3 team also made changes this week. Rear carrier Justin Voss was moved up from the #62 Xfinity team while rear carrier Josh Shiplett was moved from the rear to the front.(Pit Talks)(5-3-2016)

  • Two Dillon's & Two Bass Pro Shop cars at Bristol: #3-Austin Dillon and his younger brother, #14-Ty, will both race Bass Pro-branded entries this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, marking the first time the brothers will sport the iconic Bass Pro Shops logo on the hood of their Sprint Cup Series Chevys in the same race during their careers. Austin's #3 Chevy features Ranger Boats for the first time of his racing career. Headquartered in Flippin, Ark., Ranger Boats is the nation's premier manufacturer of legendary fiberglass and aluminum fishing boats, which include series of bass, multi-species, fish 'n play, waterfowl utility and saltwater boats. Founded in 1968 by Forrest L. Wood, Ranger Boats continues its commitment to building the highest-quality, strongest-performing boats on the water.
    Ty Dillon, substitute driver of the #14 Chevy for injured Tony Stewart, will run a Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats scheme (PR), see an image of the scheme on the #14 Team Schemes page and #3 Team Schemes page (4-15-2016)

  • Pole sitters not faring well in 2016: Winning the pole for a Sprint Cup race isn't all that great, at least in 2016. After six races, the average finishing spot of pole-sitters is 14.8. Other than the first spot on the starting grid, the biggest perk of winning a pole is the first pit choice. But none of this season's five different pole-sitters - #24-Chase Elliott, #41-Kurt Busch, #18-Kyle Busch, #22-Joey Logano and #3-Austin Dillon - have translated that prime real estate into a race win. The last time a race was won from the pole? Matt Kenseth in last year's spring race at Michigan International Speedway. That was 20 races ago. In all, only four pole winners claimed wins last season. That included Dale Earnhardt Jr's pole for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, which was awarded on practice time when qualifying was rained out.(NBC Sports)(4-6-2016)

  • American Ethanol makes 2016 debut on the #3: #3-Austin Dillon will run the American Ethanol colors for the first time in the Auto Club 400. American Ethanol, a renewable source of cleaner burning energy from the bounty of America's farmers, helps create new green jobs and a renewed sense of pride for the American worker, while helping to achieve greater energy security for our country. Launched by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association, along with the support of other partners, American Ethanol is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15, and takes the NASCAR Green initiative to the next level (RCR), American Ethanol will also be the primary sponsor for five other races in 2016: Kansas in May, Pocono in Juy, Darlington in Sept (throwback), Talladega in October and Phoenix in November, see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(3-17-2016)

  • AAA Mid-Atlantic to sponsor Austin Dillon: AAA Mid-Atlantic announced it has partnered with Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the NASCAR XFINITY Series with drivers Austin Dillon and Brandon Jones. AAA will serve as a primary partner of Richard Childress Racing's #3 AAA Chevy driven by Austin Dillon in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for select races in 2016, beginning with the spring race weekend at Richmond in April. The organization will serve as a major associate partner on the #3 Chevrolet for the duration of the season. AAA will also have primary placement on the #33 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Brandon Jones in the XFINITY Series race at Kentucky Speedway on July 8. In addition to their partnership with RCR, AAA's initiatives in 2016 include title sponsorship of the AAA Track Takeover prior to the start of the Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway on Sunday, April 24 and title sponsorship of the AAA 400 Drive for Autism at the Dover International Speedway Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, May 15.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(3-6-2016)

  • RCR cars have parts impounded: Richard Childress Racing's three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars had trouble in pre-race inspection Sunday. After multiple trips through the line, NASCAR pulled the #3 of Austin Dillon, #27 of Paul Menard and #31 of Ryan Newman out of inspection and confiscated the braces in the right rear corners of their respective vehicles. According to NASCAR, the parts in question were optional braces (brackets) in the rear-wheel area of the cars. NASCAR officials had them removed and will take the parts back to the R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina. No penalties ... are expected ... according to NASCAR.(NASCAR.com)(2-29-2016)

  • Former RCR Team Pilot Killed in Crash: A pilot died Thursday night after his plane crashed in a wooded area in Union County, authorities said. Officials identified the pilot as Jim Cook, 68, of Lexington, NC. Cook reported engine problems before the plane went down. Investigators said he was the only person on board. Cook was a long time pilot for Richard Childress Racing. He retired from the race team and was working part-time for various corporate customers.(WSCO)(2-19-2016)

  • Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 28th class of inductees: The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) announced its 28th class of inductees at Daytona International Speedway, continuing a long-standing tradition of honoring legendary figures from a wide variety of racing disciplines.
    The seven-person class of 2016 inductees: Everett Brashear, Richard Childress, Gary Gabelich, Chip Ganassi, Dave McClelland, Sam Posey and Bob Sweikert. Collectively, the illustrious group represents motorcycles, stock cars, sports cars, land speed records, drag boat records, drag racing and open-wheel racing. They will be enshrined at the 28th Annual Induction Ceremony presented by Bridgestone on the evening of June 29 at Daytona International Speedway, the new home of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Friday's announcement was made in the Daytona International Speedway media center as part of the Rolex 24 At Daytona weekend, with domestic and international media in attendance. The MSHFA has previously inducted 223 motorsports luminaries; inductees are selected by a 200-person voting panel that includes past racing greats Mario Andretti, Craig Breedlove, Don Emde, Don Garlits and Richard Petty. Tickets for the 2016 Induction Ceremony can be purchased by calling 248.349.7223 or through the MSHFA website at www.mshf.com.(MSHFA)(1-30-2016)

  • Nexteer Automotive joins RCR: Nexteer Automotive joins Richard Childress Racing's family of companies in 2016 with a partnership that positions the global leader in intuitive motion control with the 47-year-old NASCAR organization in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Nexteer Automotive will serve as a primary partner on the #33 Chevy driven by Rookie of the Year contender Brandon Jones in the XFINITY Series for select races in 2016. Nexteer will serve as a major associate partner on the #33 Chevrolet for the remainder of the races. Nexteer will also have a presence in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as a major associate partner for select races with #95-Ty Dillon.(RCR)(1-22-2016)

2015 News

  • 2015 Races [24+1] that Dow is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Daytona - 2/22
    Atlanta - 3/1
    Las Vegas - 3/8
    Phoenix - 3/15
    Auto Club - 3/22
    Texas - 4/11
    Bristol - 4/19
    Kansas - 5/9
    Charlotte, Sprint Showdown - 5/15
    Dover - 5/31, Patriotic
    Pocono - 6/7, Patriotic
    Sonoma - 6/28, Utility
    Kentucky - 7/11, StyroFoam
    New Hampshire - 7/19
    Indianapolis - 7/26, Mycogen Seeds
    Watkins Glen - 8/9
    Michigan - 8/16
    Bristol - 8/22
    Richmond - 9/12
    Talladega - 10/25, WeatherTech
    Dover - 10/4
    October - 10/10, Great Stuff
    Martinsville - 11/1, Plastics Additives
    Texas - 11/8, Dow Packaging H-E-B
    Homestead - 11/22

  • 2015 Races [3] that Cheerios is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Martinsville - 3/29
    Charlotte - 5/24
    New Hampshire - 9/27

  • 2015 Races [6] that American Ethanol is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Richmond - 4/25
    Michigan - 6/14
    Pocono - 8/2
    Darlington - 9/6, red-and-white throwback
    Chicago - 9/20
    Kansas - 10/18

  • 2015 Races [2] that Bass Pro Shops is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Talladega - 5/3
    Daytona - 7/5, NRA Museum

  • 2015 Races [2] that Realtree / Bad Boy is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Phoenix - 11/15

  • New pit crew coach at RCR: Eric Wilson has stepped down as head coach of Richard Childress Racing's pit crews effective immediately. Wilson took over the coaching job 3 years ago when Matt Clark was released. Wilson's plans are unclear to us at this time but what is clear is that Ray Wright will be taking over. Wright has been the strength and conditioning coach for the last 7 years and will now transition to the coaching role. Ray was also the rear tire carrier for the #27 of Paul Menard. Taking his place over the wall will be Adam Mestenmacher. As far as the strength condition role goes, we are hearing that Tyler Radar will be taking over the void for the foreseeable future. Rader also fuels the #30 Cup car on Sundays.(PitTalks)(11-16-2015)

  • Dillon sponsored by Realtree / Bad Boy at PIR: Austin Dillon will race the #3 Realtree / Bad Boy Chevy in the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix. Realtree's presence on the #3 Chevy this weekend continues a friendship between the Dillon/Childress family and Realtree designer and president Bill Jordan that dates as far back as 1997 when the world's leading camouflage designer, marketer, and licensor first began sponsoring #3 Chevy's fielded by Childress and driven by Dale Earnhardt. Bad Boy pioneered the category of electrically powered 4x4 vehicles, ideal for hunting and outdoor recreation due to their silent, odorless operation and environmentally friendly, emissions-free drivetrains. Bad Boy vehicles are designed and manufactured by Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc.(RCR)(11-12-2015)

  • RCR names Gil Martin Competition Director for XFINITY teams: Richard Childress Racing has assigned industry veteran and longtime RCR crew chief Gil Martin as its Competition Director for the NASCAR XFINITY Series, effective immediately. "Gil has been in this role before with RCR and we are confident he will do as solid a job as he did before," said Dr. Eric Warren, Director of Competition for RCR. "Gil has a tradition of success with this team and his leadership role with our XFINITY Series program will make our four teams even stronger." Martin, formerly crew chief of the #3 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team and Director of Research & Development, has been with RCR since 2000. He is among a select group of crew chiefs that have won races in NASCAR's Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series. Martin guided the #2 XFINITY Series team with driver Clint Bowyer to the 2005 XFINITY Series driver championship.(Richard Childress Racing)(10-21-2015)

  • Dillon's jackman injured in XFINITY race: #3-Austin Dillon will be without his starting Jackman, Jason Hunt, for the next few weeks due to an injury suffered in Friday nights Xfinity race in Charlotte. During the first stop, Hunt jumped off the wall and injured his left calf. Talking to people close to the situation, Jason finished the stop but not the race. He did not pit Sunday in the Cup race and will likely miss the next few races before coming back. Filling in for Hunt will be Jackman Brian Gainey. Gainey has pitted for the RCR #33 this year and serves as the Cup back up.(Pit Talks)(10-15-2015)

  • Cheerios returns to the #3: Austin Dillon continues a long-standing Richard Childress Racing tradition this weekend by carrying General Mills' Cheerios brand on the #3 Chevy. General Mills has been an active sponsor in motorsports for more than 15 years, working with drivers including Austin and Ty Dillon, Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin and Johnny Benson. Both Dillon brothers made their Daytona 500 debut with General Mills, with Austin in the Honey Nut Cheerios Chevrolet in 2013 and Ty in the Cheerios Chevrolet in 2015. Cheerios has been a family favorite of the Dillon and Childress families for years. Its wholesome goodness is perfect for toddlers to adults and everyone in between. Made from whole grain oats, and without artificial flavors or colors, they're naturally low in fat and cholesterol free. These wholesome little "o's" have only one gram of sugar.(RCR)
    See images of the scheme on the #3 Team Schemes page.(9-23-2015)

  • RCR to complete one millionth lap in NASCAR: Richard Childress Racing will complete its one millionth lap in NASCAR competition this weekend during the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Bristol. RCR will log the milestone on lap 272 of Friday evening's XFINITY race. There have been 64 different drivers who have completed laps for RCR on the NASCAR circuit throughout the organization's 46-year history, including owner Richard Childress. Kevin Harvick holds the most completed laps (173,383) with the organization, which he achieved through all three major touring series. As of today, Paul Menard has completed the most laps (50,861) among the current RCR driver lineup. RCR is only the third NASCAR team to have accomplished this milestone. "Finishing one million laps is hard to believe," said Richard Childress, CEO and Chairman of RCR. "There have been a lot of good times, great wins and special memories through those million laps. This is a testament to how hard RCR and ECR Engines have worked to remain competitive through the years. "I want to thank everyone who has been a part of this milestone. We could not have done this without your help."
    Most Laps with RCR:
    Kevin Harvick: 173,383
    Dale Earnhardt: 163,750
    Jeff Burton: 108,273
    Richard Childress 49,663
    Active Drivers:
    Paul Menard: 50,861
    Austin Dillon: 40,155
    Ty Dillon: 18,436
    Brendan Gaughan: 17,318
    Ryan Newman: 16,505
    Brian Scott: 15,298
    Brandon Jones: 594
    (RCR)(8-20-2015)

  • Red-and-white throwback on the #3 at Darlington: In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Richard Childress circled NASCAR's tracks in a classic #3 red-and-white Chevy. More than 30 years later, the Chevy his grandson, Austin Dillon, drives will honor the historic paint scheme during the 2015 Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. For this race, the #3 American Ethanol Chevy will shed its usual green-and-black design for the red-and-white colors.(Lionel / RCR Facebook), see an image of the car on Jayski.com's #3 Team Schemes page.(7-30-2015)

  • Ty Dillon still unsure of 2016 plans: As Ty Dillon spent Friday preparing for Saturday's XFINITY race at IMS, the 23-year-old third-generation driver from Lewisville, North Carolina seemed just as uncertain as he did six or seven weeks ago about what exactly he'll be doing next year. "Nothing's really changed yet, no announcements yet, but we're still working and the plan is still to be in Cup full time," Dillon said. Whether that will be with RCR or not, though, remains to be seen, after Childress told FOXSports.com last month at Sonoma Raceway that other teams had expressed interest in his grandson. In the meantime, Dillon is focused on more immediate matters -- specifically, trying to close his points deficit on XFINITY Series championship leader Chris Buescher and second-place Chase Elliott. With the season about to enter its stretch run, Dillon believes it's go time if he wants to make a serious title bid -- even if there seems to be no big rush to nail down plans for 2016.(FoxSports)(7-27-2015)

  • MWR to Chevy? Ragan to return? What about Vickers? What in the world will Toyota Racing's Sprint Cup program look like next year? One persistent, hot rumor features a manufacturer swap of sorts, with Rob Kauffman, currently the principal owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, taking his racing interests and partnering with a Chevy team. Furniture Row Racing is currently eyeing the Toyota camp with an ardor that has progressed well beyond flirtation.
    Two potential partnerships mentioned for Kauffman are Chip Ganassi Racing and Richard Childress Racing. Ganassi absorbed Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Martin Truex Jr. into the fold back in 2009. RCR expressed interest in acquiring a minority partner after Chartwell Investments expressed a desire to sell its stake in the company in 2012. Kauffman did not offer a definitive reply when asked about a possible realignment.
    Furniture Row's Barney Visser has been more forthcoming. The Denver, Colorado-based team owner hopes to make a manufacturer decision in the next few weeks to accommodate a possible restructuring with Toyota for next year.
    Although FRR currently receives no financial support from Chevrolet, the team's move could open the door for Kauffman to enter into a technical alliance with RCR, with whom the #78 currently shares data. However, sources told Motorsport.com that Ganassi appears to be the frontrunner for Kauffman's capital at this time.
    Michael Waltrip Racing's driver lineup likely hinges on Aaron's continued support with the #55 team. Both Kauffman and Clint Bowyer, who is in the first year of a three-year contract, are high on driver David Ragan. Aaron's has been a sponsor of Michael Waltrip's since 2000 but has yet to renew with MWR. A decision on the company's involvement could come in the next six to eight weeks.
    Last week Brian Vickers expressed interest in returning to racing. Given the unpredictability of Vickers situation, Kauffman isn't sure whether they could accommodate the driver. "...The most important thing right now is his health. I haven't really had a conversation with him regarding coming back to racing and the like. It's a big medical issue that I haven't been involved with up until now.," Kauffman said. "He loves racing, so I'm sure he does (want to return), but I think it would be a challenge to try and figure something out--but I would never say never."(Motorsport)(7-23-2015)

  • Keselowski "embarassed" about hitting Dillon at Dayonta: #2-Brad Keselowski talks about his contact with #3-Austin Dillon at the end of the Daytona race:
    CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SAW THROUGH THE WHOLE ACCIDENT AT DAYTONA?
    Keselowski: "Kind of the sad part is I was honestly embarrassed that I hit Austin that long after the wreck. A bunch of people asked me questions about it, but there was just so much debris that even being as far behind as I was you couldn't slow down from 200 miles an hour. That was frustrating. I felt very, very lucky when I got out of my car and went to Austin and saw that he was OK. I think those are really the thoughts that stick out to me the most. It's just not a good deal."
    DID YOU SEE THE WHOLE INCIDENT?
    Keselowski:
    "Yeah, I had a little more than probably I wish I would have had. It was a spectacle for sure."
    YOU DON'T LIKE TALKING ABOUT IT, DO YOU?
    Keselowski: "It's easy to get caught up on last week and forget the task ahead that's this week. Whether it's good or bad I try not to do that. The reality is that's a restrictor plate race track. There are four of those races on the schedule and we're through three of them. I still want to go to Talladega and win, but I'm not spending a lot of time thinking about a restrictor plate race. I'm thinking about this race for the reason stated earlier. This is a really big race for seeing who is gonna have what it takes to win the championship over the next few months when we get to crunch time. I'm ready. I'm thinking about that. I haven't thought that much about Daytona."(Ford Racing)(7-10-2015)

  • Styrofoam Brand Insulation on the #3: There is no such thing as a Styrofoam cup. Styrofoam Brand Insulation is used in walls, roofs, and foundations for commercial and residential construction in more than 20 million buildings worldwide. Austin Dillon will drive the #3 Dow STYROFOAM Chevy for the first time at Kentucky Speedway on July 10. Dow enters its second season with RCR and driver Austin Dillon. Together, both teams embrace the power of science, technology and safety as RCR tests Dow products under the most strenuous conditions. Dow also drives innovation to help address many of the world's most challenging problems, bringing a broad range of sustainable products and solutions to customers in nearly 180 countries with more than 6,000 products manufactured across the globe.(RCR)see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(7-8-2015)

  • NASCAR will not penalize crew members that ran to Dillon's car: NASCAR officials plan to talk to pit crew members who rushed to aid #3-Austin Dillon after his last-lap crash but will not penalize them, Steve O'Donnell told NASCAR SiriusXM Radio on Tuesday. Pit crew members from the teams of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne and Casey Mears were among those who ran to Dillon's car, which landed upside down near the exit of pit road after crashing into the catch fence at Daytona International Speedway. O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, explained on "The Morning Drive" what officials want to discuss with the pit crew members. "Nobody is going to be penalized," O'Donnell said. "I think people may be commenting on it because we took some hard cards and the reason for that is we want to have a conversation with those folks. Listen, we all applaud everybody who wants to run to a scene and try to help out. That's something that I think that is really cool about our industry in terms of people caring about their fellow athletes. We just want to talk about the safety aspect of it. We've got to dispatch our safety equipment - those folks are experts - and to be able to get to Austin as quickly as possible, assess the scene, his belts, what may be going on, do we need to turn the car over, can he be moved from the vehicle or should he stay in. Any second that we can't do that because the car may be surrounded can be a challenge. That's just a conversation we want to have.(NBC Sports)(7-7-21015)

  • Officials to review #3 wreck: NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway officials will review the last-lap crash from early Monday morning where Austin Dillon's #3 car launched into the catch fence and left his fellow drivers amazed that neither Dillon nor race fans were seriously injured. "We'll work closely with NASCAR [with our review]," DIS president Joie Chitwood said. "We did this after the last incident [a 2013 Xfinity Series race]. We're going to learn from it and see what else we can do to be better. I think you saw some of the improvements at work today, so what we can learn from that tomorrow and the next days, we're going to incorporate moving forward." NASCAR chairman Brian France said Monday afternoon on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that the "work has already begun" at NASCAR's research and development center in North Carolina to see if anything can be done to keep the cars on the ground while also trying to have the closest, tightest racing possible. "An accident like last night, boy it sure takes your breath away," France said. "And it should. But that's auto racing. And we're working on better solutions all the time to make racing safer and better. ... We have an entire group of people that woke up this morning trying to figure out how we make this better [and] make sure the cars don't elevate." Dillon's car ripped a hole of an estimated 60 feet in the catch fence. It appeared that the fence acted properly by keeping the car out of the grandstands. In doing so, the fence shredded Dillon's car to pieces, and some debris flew into the grandstands. The car's engine landed in the tri-oval grass. Dillon suffered a bruised tailbone and a bruised forearm but no significant injuries. Five fans were treated for unspecified injuries, with one going to the hospital and being released later Monday morning.(ESPN)(7-6-2015)

  • Fans injured when #3 goes airborne, but OK: A huge crash as cars crossed the finish line early Monday morning in the Coke Zero 400 sent Austin Dillon's #3 car airborne and tore down part of the catch fence, injuring several fans, one of whom was briefly hospitalized. Dillon's torn car, with its engine already resting on another part of the racetrack, ended up on its roof and then was smashed into by Brad Keselowski's #2 car. One fan was sent to a local hospital in stable condition, then treated and released. Daytona president Joie Chitwood said 12 other people were assessed after the accident -- four were treated and released by track medics, and eight declined treatment. Officials with the track and NASCAR said they will evaluate the performance of the catch fence. NASCAR also has taken Dillon's car for a post-accident evaluation, a common procedure after a major accident. Chitwood said that the new Daytona grandstands cause people to take escalators up to the middle level and walk to the lower-level seats, which eliminates fans from trying to walk next to the fence during a race. He said the fence did its job.
    Crew members from various racing teams -- including Earnhardt's -- immediately ran out to the wreckage to check on Dillon's condition and gave a collective thumbs-up to let everybody know that he was OK. After a few moments, Dillon got out of his car and waved to the crowd. He later said he sustained a bruised tailbone and forearm. The wreck started after #11-Denny Hamlin and #4-Kevin Harvick made contact as they crossed the finish line behind race winner #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., who seemed speechless as he crossed the finish line. Hamlin said the wreck started when Harvick gave him a push, a common maneuver at Daytona, and lifted his rear wheels off the ground. "Just snagged him and turned him as he was in the middle of the track," Harvick said. "I hate that all happened, but just at the end of the race, it becomes pretty aggressive."(ESPN.com/AP)(7-6-2015)

  • Austin Dillon comments on the wreck at Daytona: #3-Austin Dillon was involved in severe multi-car accident on final lap of the Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series Race at Daytona International Speedway, finishing 7th:
    Q) I DON'T THINK I HAVE SEEN MORE HAPPY PEOPLE AFTER A CRASH, HOW ARE YOU?
    Dillon: "I am just going to be really sore. It got my tailbone pretty good and my arm. Should be fine, just go ice it up and get ready for Kentucky. But just thank the good Lord for taking care of me and for what NASCAR has done to make the sport this much safer. I just hope everybody in the stands is all right. That is the next biggest concern. Just praying for everybody and glad the good Lord looked out for me tonight."
    Q) WHAT HAPPENED?
    Dillon: "You know the 11 got turned by the 4 across the start/finish line and I thought the race was going to be over right there. We were almost there and I was just pushing the 24 and the next thing I knew was that I was looking at my roof for a long time. I thought it was all over when I was sliding there and the 2 came in and really got me. So it was a wicked ride but thank the good Lord above for taking care of me."
    Q) WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS AS YOU LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW YOU WERE SURROUNDED BY CREW MEMBERS TRYING TO HELP?
    Dillon: "I thought that was pretty awesome. As soon as I looked up and I don't know if it was Casey Mears pit crew member or Casey right at the door, but that made me feel really good and comfortable. The only thing I was worried about was that there was oil everywhere and I wanted to get away from the car and that was why I was scrambling to get out from under it. And then just wanted to waive to the fans and let them know I was all good."
    Q) THE CATCHFENCE. IT WILL BE A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION. IT KEPT YOU IN THE BALLPARK SO TO SPEAK, BUT DID IT DO ITS JOB?
    Dillon: "I don't know because I haven't even looked at the replay yet and I don't know when I am going to. But I just think the next thing is that we are going to have to make this racing even more safe. We are running 200 mph and pushing each other around out there and it's just bound to happen. No matter how safe we can make the sport, when you are going that amount of speed, things happen."
    Q) JEFF GORDON SAID THIS STYLE OF RACING IS MORE LIKE A VIDEO GAME, BUT IN REAL LIFE. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SAW THERE IN THE END?
    Dillon: "It definitely is a video game. With three to go you are just going to push somebody until the end of the race. It's wreckers or checkers. It's like Talladega Nights out there. So it takes a lot of confidence and just staying into the gas is tough. It is a tough sport and it's what racing is about and it is why NASCAR has been here for so long."(Team Chevy)(7-6-2015)

  • Double-Header in Store for Bayne & Dillon in Sonoma UPDATE: This weekend at Sonoma Raceway will mark a double-feature for Roush Fenway Racing driver #6-Trevor Bayne. In preparation of his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) start at the 1.990-mile road course, Bayne will be competing in the K&N Pro Series West race on Saturday afternoon behind the wheel of the #60 AdvoCare Ford Fusion for Bill McAnally Racing. "I'm excited to in both races this weekend at Sonoma," said Bayne. "I've never been there before so hopefully we can learn a lot on Saturday in the K&N race that can translate well to Sunday. We had a lot of success last time we ran double-duty earlier this season at Pocono and I think we can do that again this weekend." When Bayne takes the green flag on Saturday, it will be for his first career start in the K&N Pro Series West and his first start of any kind at Sonoma. Bayne previously made 15 starts in the K&N Pro Series East, including the full 2008 season, earning one win, six top-five finishes and nine top-10 finishes.(RFR)
    AND #3-Austin Dillon is scheduled to race in the K&N Pro Series West Race at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday. Dillon said: "I am actually. I'm running it with Mike Hillman. I went and sat in the seat this past week. It's really good to be able to practice getting through the corners and shifting, just getting to practice that type of racing helps a lot. It was a lot of help last year, so I think it'll do the same this year and we'll gain."(RCR)(6-26-2015)
    UPDATE: For almost the entirety of Saturday's Carneros 200 at Sonoma Raceway, Dalton Sargeant, a regular in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, looked primed to steal another one from his West series counterparts. Then, with four laps remaining, Dave Smith's Dodge slid off course. And the yellow flag flew. That proved to be Sargeant's undoing, as pole winner David Mayhew used a strong restart and eventual pass for the lead on the first lap of a green-white-checkered finish to capture his first victory of the season. It was his ninth victory in 92 career races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. Two Sprint Cup regulars, Austin Dillon and Trevor Bayne ran the race to gets laps at Sonoma Raceway, in preparation to Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race. Dillon started 6th and finished 6th. Bayne started 9th and finished 10th.(NASCAR.com Hometracks)(6-28-2015)

  • Slugger Labbe takes over as Dillon's crew chief: Richard Childress Racing has made a change in crew chiefs for its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series program, effective immediately. Veteran crew chief Richard "Slugger" Labbe will assume crew chief responsibilities for the #3 Dow/American Ethanol/Cheerios/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet SS team with Austin Dillon as the driver. Labbe's first race with the team will be the Sonoma Raceway road-course event on Sunday, June 28. Labbe's wins include the 2003 Daytona 500 and 2011 Brickyard 400 championship, as part of 433 Cup starts to his credit. Dillon, a two-time NASCAR champion, is currently 23rd in driver's points standings. Gil Martin will move into a leadership role within the RCR R&D Department, taking over Labbe's responsibilities.(Richard Childress Racing)(6-15-2015)

  • RCR adding to engineering department: When Martin Truex Jr. won at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, he didn't get to Victory Lane alone. Certainly, there was the unwavering investment of time and effort of his Furniture Row Racing team. But the engine and the chassis underneath Truex came from a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing. JTG Daugherty Racing, Germain Racing and Circle Sport Racing also enjoys similar relationship the Welcome, N.C.-based race shop which has increased technological investment considerably over last year. RCR's Competition Director Dr. Eric Warren wasn't kidding when he referred to RCR's engineering department as the United Nations. In 2015, RCR has bolstered its resources with talent from all over the globe but primarily Formula One.
    In January, Amro Karim, Miguel Botella, Travis Slagle, Richard Youden and Ben Siegle were added to RCR's engineering department. Karim most recently was a Vehicle Performance Engineer with Marussia F1 but also worked as a F1 Project Engineer for Wirth Research. Bottella was a Software Engineer at both Caterham F1 and HRT F1 Team. Younden was as an Electronics & Control Systems Engineer at Williams F1. Previously, he worked as an Applications Engineer at Racelogic, an Electronics Design Engineer at Hasford Sensors and a Systems Engineer at Honda Racing F1 and Stack Ltd. Slagle advanced from a Systems Engineer at Moog to Systems Development Lead prior to joining RCR. On June 1, Javier Marcos Padros, a performance engineer from Williams F1 and DIL Simulator Engineer Lawrence Hodge, who also worked as a Trackside Aerodynamicist with Scuderia Ferrari F1 and McLaren Racing, joined the fold.(Motorsport)(6-12-2015)

  • Robin Johnson named VP of Business Development for RCR: Richard Childress Racing has named Robin Johnson as its new Vice President of Business Development to oversee sponsorship sales and partnership expansion, effective immediately. Johnson brings more than 20 years of combined legal and business development leadership to the multi-championship NASCAR team. He most recently served as the General Counsel for the S.C. State Treasurer's Office. Prior to that position, the South Carolina native served in similar business development roles at Front Row Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing, where he helped build what was arguably one of the most respected sponsorship bases in professional sports during his tenure. Johnson is an honor graduate of The Citadel (class of 1986) earning his B.S. degree in business administration. He is also an honor graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and is licensed in South Carolina and New York. Robin is married to Emily Linder Johnson of Bennettsville, SC, and they have three children - Erin, Lachlan and Jake.(RCR)(5-27-2015)

  • Special scheme for Dillon at Dover: This weekend Austin Dillon will pilot this special patriotic #3 Team Chevy which honors over 350 The Dow Chemical Company veterans at Dover International Speedway.(RCR Facebook Video) see an image of the car on the #3 Team Schemes page.(5-26-2015)

  • RCR implementing safety changes for its pit crews: Richard Childress Racing is requiring all its over-the-wall pit crew members to wear fire-protective head socks and is looking at potential changes to both helmets and eyewear after pit fires at Richmond International Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway, the team confirmed to NASCAR Talk. Two crew members from Brendan Gaughan's Xfinity team were injured in a pit fire April 24 at Richmond. A small fire broke out during one of Ryan Newman's pit stops in last weekend's Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. No one was injured. An RCR spokesperson emailed a statement to NASCAR Talk about the team's plans for its pit crews.
    "RCR has always preached safety with our crew members and after the Richmond pit road incident, we reviewed our internal policies and procedures to determine what further changes were warranted," team spokesperson Tim Packman wrote in an email. "From that, we were able to make necessary changes to help prevent that from happening again as we had a mechanical failure on one of the gas cans at Richmond, which led to the large amount of fuel being spilled. This was not related to the #31 incident at Talladega. As of right now, we are requiring all over-the-wall crew members to wear full head socks. We are also looking at potential changes to both helmets and eyewear, but those discussions are ongoing. Some of the crew members were already using full helmets this past weekend."
    NASCAR requires only the gas man wear a fire-protective head sock (along with uniform, shoes, full-face helmet, gloves, fueler apron and head sock or helmet skirt). NASCAR requires over-the-wall pit crew members to have a uniform, shoes and helmet. Gloves, a head sock or helmet skirt, underwear and socks are recommended.(NBC Sports)(5-7-2015)

  • American Ethanol making first appearance of 2015: The #3 Chevy team will sport the black and green colors of American Ethanol this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. American Ethanol, a renewable source of cleaner burning energy from the bounty of America's farmers, helps create new green jobs and a renewed sense of pride for the American worker, while helping to achieve greater energy security for our country. Launched by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association, along with the support of other partners, American Ethanol is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15, and takes the NASCAR Green initiative to the next level.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(4-22-2014)

  • Richard Childress voted in as NRA Second-Vice President: Richard Childress, CEO and Chairman of Richard Childress Racing, was elected as the Second-Vice President of the National Rifle Association during its annual meetings in Nashville, Tenn. this past weekend. Childress has already been a two-term member of the NRA Board of Directors and also serves as the Chairman of the Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Committee for the organization. He has held that position since 2010. His two-year term is effectively immediately. Childress served six years on the Board of Directors of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and remains as an Honorary Board Member. He is also currently on the Board of the Boone & Crockett Club and is a member of the newly-formed Blue Ribbon Panel for Wildlife Conservation.(Richard Childress Racing)(4-16-2015)

  • RCR heads back to Goodwood Festival of Speed: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has once again been invited to participate in the world's biggest and most diverse celebration of motorsports history - The annual Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, England. The four-day festival runs June 25 to 28 and features race cars from around the world, past and present. Vehicles of walks of motorsports participate in both demonstration and competition runs up the nine-turn, 1.16-mile hillclimb circuit. Since its inception in 1993, the festival has been held on the English estate of Lord Charles March, West Sussex, England, and RCR is providing a pair of stock cars to be driven at this year's hillclimb. Kerry Earnhardt will once again drive his father's 2000 #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo, which Dale drove at Atlanta Motor Speedway, narrowly beating Bobby Labonte to take the checkered flag that year.
    Bobby Labonte, the 2000 Sprint Cup Series Champion, will make his first appearance at the festival and pilot the #3 DOW Chevrolet for the hillclimb circuit competition. This Chevrolet is regularly driven in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series by two-time NASCAR Champion Austin Dillon. Both cars participating in the Goodwood festivities will be prepared by and cared for at the festival by Danny Lawrence, an award-winning engine builder and long-time employee of RCR and ECR Engines. In 2014, Lawrence was honored at the closing ceremonies by Lord March himself for his continuous support of the festival and for playing an integral role with NASCAR's participation year after year at the Festival of Speed.(RCR)(4-4-2015)

  • RCR Partners with Hitachi Power Tools as Preferred Power Tool Supplier: Richard Childress Racing has entered into a partnership with Hitachi Koki USA, Ltd (d.b.a. Hitachi Power Tools) to become the preferred Power Tool Supplier of RCR. Hitachi Power Tools, based in Braselton, GA, is a premier manufacturer of professional grade power tools and accessories for residential, commercial construction, tradesmen and do-it-yourselfers. The partnership debuted during the recent Speedweeks activities at Daytona International Speedway.
    "In an industry driven by performance, it's important for RCR to align ourselves with companies and brands that are proven and can be integrated into our team's success," said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of RCR. "This partnership with Hitachi Power Tools aligns with our race teams as we rely heavily on the use of durable and advanced power tools both at our race shop and at the race track, and we can showcase Hitachi's extensive line of performance power tools."
    Hitachi is keenly focused on producing the most technologically advanced power tools on the market. Their commitment to technological excellence has resulted in making the Hitachi brand of power tools superior in the industry and a perfect fit for the demanding environment of NASCAR.
    "This is a really powerful partnership for Hitachi Power Tools," said Joe Leffler, Vice President Sales & Marketing for Hitachi Power Tools. "I am thrilled RCR has chosen to partner with Hitachi and it's a tremendous honor to provide all the power tools for RCR's race shops, the race track garages, and on pit road. RCR is built on performance, innovation and execution. Our Hitachi power tools will provide the RCR teams with all the technology, speed, precision, durability and power that is possible to execute their jobs successfully."(RCR)(3-8-2015)

  • RCR Partner Chartwell Seeks Equity Sale: Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, a premier sports enterprise focused primarily on NASCAR race teams, has advised its employees, drivers and key sponsors that RCR's minority partner, Chartwell Investments and RCR have hired Houlihan Lokey to assist in exploring strategic alternatives for the sale of its equity position in the company. Houlihan Lokey is serving as financial advisor to RCR. Questions regarding the process should be directed to Lee Ann Gliha (RCR).(2-26-2015)

  • RCR partners with Stetson: Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver #3-Austin Dillon will add an icon of everyday American lifestyle to their look with the addition of well-known hat maker Stetson to their wardrobe. Dillon, who is currently in his sophomore year of competition in the Sprint Cup Series driving for RCR, first began wearing cowboy hats as a child in his native North Carolina. He has also been seen wearing cowboy hats during family trips to his grandfather's vacation home in Montana, on hunting expeditions throughout the country and at various racetracks on the NASCAR circuit. Recently, Dillon has encouraged friends in the entertainment and professional sports industries to embrace the look by sending them their own cowboy hats to wear. Stetson has roots dating back to 1865 when John B. Stetson started his business with $100. Since then, Stetson has become the standard in hats, the essence of the spirit of the West and an icon of everyday American lifestyle. The Stetson hat factory in Garland, Texas is one of the largest in the country and produces a line of hats in hundreds of different styles and colors.(RCR)(2-19-2015)

  • Dillon brothers to run seven truck series races: Austin and Ty Dillon will compete collectively in seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races for GMS Racing. GMS Racing will field a full-time entry for #23-Spencer Gallagher and a 16-race program with RCR driver #33-Brandon Jones. The Dillon brothers will run the #33 Chevy for the other seven races of the 23 Truck Series schedule. Ty Dillon will make his debut with GMS Racing at Daytona in February, also running at Atlanta in March, Charlotte in May and in the Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway. At Daytona, Ty, will run three races at Daytona: Truck Series, XFINITY Series and Sprint Cup Series. Austin Dillon will run GMS Racing trick in the August races at Pocono and Michigan and at New Hampshire in September. Austin wants to join his brother on the starting grid at Eldora Speedway but hasn't finalized those plans yet. Ty Dillon also said that Rheem will sponsor the seven truck races.(Catchfence)(1-31-2015)

  • RCR Names Ahnna Parkhurst and Kate Dallenbach to Driver Development Program: Richard Childress Racing and Team Dillon Racing have named Kate Dallenbach as one of two female drivers in their development program for the 2015 season. Dallenbach, 17, is the daughter of Wally, Jr., NASCAR driver-turned-broadcaster, and Robin Dallenbach, a former driver herself with two starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Her grandfather, Wally Dallenbach, Sr., was a successful Indy car driver and Chief Steward. The student of Davidson Day High School will compete in dirt and asphalt races under the RCR banner driving cars built and maintained by Team Dillon Racing. Richard Childress Racing and Team Dillon Racing have named Ahnna Parkhurst as the other one of two female drivers in their development program for the 2015 season. Parkhurst, 14, is an Augusta, Ga. native and is entering her second season of competitive racing. The student at Riverside Middle School will compete in dirt Crate Late Models under the RCR banner driving cars built and maintained by Team Dillon Racing this year.(RCR)(1-29-2015)

  • Childress employee accused of stealing racing suits: An employee of Richard Childress Racing in Welcome is accused of taking a driver's suit and three crew member suits and selling them on eBay. Kenneth Lane Wilkes, 65, of 266 Glenn Link Road, was released from custody Friday under a $10,000 unsecured bond. He has been charged with a count of felony larceny by employee. Davidson County Sheriff David Grice said the driver's suit was valued at $3,000 and each crew member suit at $1,000. The suits were not marked with a particular driver or team, according to the sheriff's office. The sheriff explained he couldn't comment on whether Wilkes has been fired. It was unclear Monday in what capacity Wilkes was employed with Richard Childress Racing. A spokesman with Richard Childress Racing declined comment.(Lexington Dispatch)(1-14-2015)

  • RCR Sues former employee: Richard Childress Racing failed to prove that an engineer who became another team's crew chief stole trade secrets, the North Carolina Business Court ruled. Matthew McCall started working for RCR as a race engineer on the Camping World Truck Series team in 2010. Two years later, RCR promoted him to similar position working on the #31 Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. McCall's contract included provisions that, if he resigned, he could not work for a competitor in a similar capacity for 12 months. During the 2014 season, McCall said several times that he would like to work as a crew chief for a Sprint Cup team. When RCR offered McCall a crew-chief spot on the Nationwide Series, NASCAR's second-ranked circuit, he resigned at the end of the 2014 Sprint Cup season. Two days later, Chip Ganassi Racing hired McCall as the crew chief for Jamie McMurray's #1 Chevy on the Sprint Cup circuit.
    RCR sued McCall in Davidson County, N.C., in November for breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets. It moved on Dec. 3 for a temporary restraining order to keep McCall from working for Ganassi or another competitor. As quoted in the Dec. 19 ruling, RCR argued that the positions were similar because McCall "routinely performed the tasks of the crew chief (and complained about doing so)," and filled in for the crew chief when he was unavailable. (Parentheses in original.) The team also noted that McCall officially served as the crew chief during the 2013 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. McCall responded that he filled in as crew chief during for just one practice session and one testing session. During the Brickyard 400, the regular crew chief was suffering from an eye injury but made the critical decisions from a trailer, where he was watching the race, McCall added. The North Carolina Business Court denied RCR's request for a restraining order. "Plaintiff has not shown, at this time, a likelihood of success on its claim that by accepting a crew chief position with Ganassi, Defendant has become employed in a 'capacity identical or similar to that in which he participated while employed by (plaintiff) and therefore as breached the employment contract," Judge Louis Bledsoe III wrote. RCR also did not prove that McCall had or would disclose its trade secrets, the court found.(Court House News)(1-1-2015)

2014 News

  • 2014 Races [22] that Dow is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Daytona - 2/23
    Martinsville - 3/30
    Texas - 4/6, Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingles
    Darlington - 4/12
    Richmond - 4/26
    Kansas - 5/10
    Charlotte, All-Star Race - 5/17
    Pocono - 6/8
    Michigan - 6/15
    Sonoma - 6/22, Dow Powerhouse / Utility
    New Hampshire - 7/13
    Indianapolis - 7/27, Mycogen Seeds
    Watkins Glen - 8/10
    Bristol - 8/23, Great Stuff
    Atlanta - 8/31
    Chicago - 9/14
    Dover - 9/28
    Charlotte - 10/11
    Talladega - 10/19
    Martinsville - 10/26
    Texas - 11/2
    Homestead - 11/16, Sullair

  • 2014 Races [6] that Cheerios is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Las Vegas - 3/9
    Auto Club - 3/23
    Charlotte - 5/25
    Kentucky - 6/28, Protein
    New Hampshire - 9/21
    Phoenix - 11/9

  • 2014 Races [6] that American Ethanol is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Phoenix - 3/2
    Dover - 6/1
    Pocono - 8/3
    Michigan - 8/17
    Richmond - 9/6
    Kansas - 10/5

  • 2014 Races [6] that Bad Boy Buggies / Realtree is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Bristol - 3/16

  • 2014 Races [1] that Bass Pro Shops is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Talladega - 5/4
    Daytona - 7/5

  • Austin Dillon to run a majority of Xfinity season: Two-time NASCAR Champion #3-Austin Dillon will return to the NASCAR XFINITY Series with Rheem Manufacturing Company as primary sponsor on Richard Childress Racing's #33 Chevy for a majority of the 2015 season. Dillon, the 2013 XFINITY Series Champion, will drive the #33 Rheem Chevy under the RCR banner during the 2015 season while maintaining a full schedule in RCR's #3 Chevy SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He is a two-time XFINITY Series race winner, 10-time pole winner and holds the record for most consecutive poles in series history. Rheem Manufacturing Company has a long history of success with RCR having participated as a primary or associate sponsor since 2007 in various NASCAR series. Rheem has been the official heating, cooling and water heating provider to RCR for more than eight years and was the co-primary sponsor with Realtree of Ty Dillon's Sprint Cup Series debut this year at Atlanta Motor Speedway.(RCR)(11-25-2014)

  • RCR Adds Jason Golden to Business Development Team: Richard Childress Racing has hired Jason Golden to join their Business Development Department, effective immediately. Golden is a native of New Lebanon, Ohio and a graduate of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Industry/Sports Sciences and Masters in Sports Administration. He comes to RCR from IMG College where he was the Associate Regional Vice President, Midwest Region developing corporate partnerships for seven different schools and the Mid-American Conference. Prior to joining IMG College, a leading collegiate multimedia, marketing and licensing brand-management company, Golden held similar roles at Marshall University, ISP Sports at University of Nevada at Las Vegas, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NBA's Houston Rockets and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He will work with the Business Development team led by Rick Penn, Vice President of the department. "We are fortunate to have Jason join the Business Development team and are looking forward to putting him in a situation to continue his successful sales career," Penn said. "His leadership and experience will enhance our incredible team as we continue to add blue chip partners to the RCR family." Golden will be relocating from Columbus, OH to North Carolina with his wife, Jaime, and their two children. "I am honored and feel very privileged to join an iconic and first class organization in Richard Childress Racing," Golden said. "I also look forward to getting back into the world of NASCAR as the sport has always been a great passion of mine. My goals are to build meaningful partnerships with new corporations for RCR, while helping add incremental value for the organization's current partners." (RCR)(11-6-2014)

  • American Ethanol sponsoring Dillon at Kansas: Richard Childress Racing's #3 Chevy of Austin Dillon will sport the black and green colors of American Ethanol this weekend at Kansas Speedway. American Ethanol, a renewable source of cleaner burning energy from the bounty of America's farmers, helps create new green jobs and a renewed sense of pride for the American worker, while helping to achieve greater energy security for our country. American Ethanol is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15, and takes the NASCAR Green initiative to the next level. Since the program launch for the 2011 season, NASCAR drivers have run more than six million miles on renewable Sunoco Green E15 (RCR), see images of the car on the #3 Team Schemes page.(10-1-2014)

  • Dillon running American Ethanol scheme at RIR: The #3 Chevy of Austin Dillon, will sport the black and green colors of American Ethanol this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. American Ethanol, a renewable source of cleaner burning energy from the bounty of America's farmers, helps create new green jobs and a renewed sense of pride for the American worker, while helping to achieve greater energy security for our country. Launched by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association, along with the support of other partners, American Ethanol is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15, and takes the NASCAR Green initiative to the next level. Since the program launch for the 2011 season, NASCAR drivers have run more than 6 million miles on renewable Sunoco Green E15.(RCR), see images of the car on the #3 Team Schemes page.(9-4-2014)

  • Richard Childress Racing Celebrates 45 Years: Marking the organization's 45th Anniversary in NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing will celebrate the milestone throughout August and September with creative content and stories from the past 45 years. Fans will be able to follow the discussion and share their favorite RCR memories via social networks using hashtag #RCR45. It was on September 14, 1969 when Richard Childress entered the 44th race of the season at Talladega Superspeedway in the Talladega 500 making his first career Sprint Cup Series start. A race on NASCAR's center stage gave the 23-year-old driver the funding to establish RCR and racing as a full-time career. Childress made 285 starts behind the wheel before stepping aside from the driver's seat and assuming primary ownership role in RCR in 1981. Over the next 45 days, RCR will showcase photographs, personal stories and interviews from those who have been with the organization throughout the years. Starting Sunday August 17, @RCRracing and www.rcrracing.com will feature daily throwbacks showcasing moments that shaped the motorsports organization. The content will also highlight the evolution of the team and technology to today's drivers and those who call the shots each weekend at the track 45 years later. Fans will also be able to read stories from those who have been with the company from its inception, reliving multiple championships, wins and iconic races over the past 45 years.(RCR)(8-16-2014)

  • Testing at Atlanta UPDATE: Tuesday and Wednesday, Richard Childress Racing and Germain Racing will both test at Atlanta Motor Speedway.(NASCAR)(8-5-2014)
    UPDATE: All three of Richard Childress Racing's full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, along with a fourth car driven by Ty Dillon, completed a two-day test session on Aug. 5 & 6 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in preparation for the Oral-B USA 500 on Labor Day Weekend. Dillon will attempt to qualify and make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut on Labor Day Weekend. The testing was held in the late afternoon and evening which simulated racing conditions the teams are anticipating Labor Day Weekend. The drivers logged lots of laps over the course of the two day test with speeds increasing as more rubber was laid down on the track. #31-Ryan Newman posted one of the fastest laps on Aug. 6 at 189.086 miles per hour while Austin Dillon turned a fast lap of 187.805 mile per hour.(AMS)(8-8-2014)

  • Allmendinger, RPM to test at Watkins Glen UPDATE: "We tested at Watkins Glen International last year and it really helped and we are looking forward to testing again on Monday and Tuesday (July 28-29)," Allmendinger said. "We tested at Sonoma Raceway and it showed it helped. So, we're doing the same for Watkins Glen. We will run through a plan and have a good baseline. We know the track will not be the same when we go back, but we are looking to find a good balance to make sure when we get there, we have some good ideas to work through practice. It's pretty basic. Testing Watkins Glen is all about getting a good balance and good ideas for the car when we go back in a few weeks."(JTG Daugherty Racing), Richard Petty Motorsports will also be testing at the same time.(7-23-2014)
    UPDATE: Six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers are scheduled to test at Watkins Glen International on Monday and Tuesday in preparation for the Cheez-It 355 at The Glen. Scheduled to test are #9-Marcos Ambrose, #43-Aric Almirola, #47-AJ Allmendinger, #78-Martin Truex Jr., #3-Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon. Fans can watch for free at the Argetsinger Grandstand, located outside of Turn 2 on the road course. The grandstand is open from 10:00am to 5:00pm.(Elmiria Star Gazette)(7-27-2014)

  • Conley tests for RCR at Nashville: Vienna, W.Va. native Cale Conley was able to take 160 test laps in a Sprint Cup car for Richard Childress Racing at Nashville Superspeedway Friday.(News Sentinel)(7-27-2014)

  • Mycogen Seeds returns to the #3 at the Brickyard: Dillon's rookie year in the Sprint Cup Series is Dow's first year as a primary sponsor with RCR and the #3 Chevy. Together, both teams embrace the power of safety, science and technology as RCR tests Dow products under the most strenuous conditions. For the second consecutive year, Austin Dillon will be teaming up with agriculture company Mycogen Seeds for the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard. Mycogen Seeds is one of America's fastest-growing seed companies, offering leading genetics for farmers in corn, soybeans, silage corn, sunflowers and canola. A retail seed company of Dow AgroSciences LLC, Mycogen Seeds maintains a robust global research and development program to bring growers high-performance genetics with the latest trait technologies.(Richard Childress Racing), see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(7-23-2014)

  • Cup drivers competing in CWTS race at Eldora: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Michael Annett will compete in the second running of Eldora Speedway's Mudsummer Classic, a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on dirt, piloting the #14 TMC Transportation Chevy Silverado for NTS Motorsports. Last year the inaugural event drew a sellout crowd and record television ratings, sparking the imagination of a fan base eager for sliding, mud-slinging action. The Mudsummer Classic will air live on Wednesday night, July 23 on FOX Sports 1 at 9:00pm/et.(Rising Star Management), Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson are the other Cup drivers running. See the Eldora entry list and complete race and series information on Jayski's Camping World Truck Series page.(7-18-2014)

  • Sprint Cup teams form Race Team Alliance UPDATE: A group of nine multi-car teams participating in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) announced today they have formed a collaborative business association called the Race Team Alliance (RTA). The purpose of the organization is to create an open forum for the teams to explore areas of common interest and to work collaboratively on initiatives to help preserve, promote, and grow the sport of stock car racing. The organization intends to open up its membership to all full time NSCS teams in the very near future. In providing a vehicle for the teams to work together, the organization creates for the first time a single entity to engage with stakeholders on creative ways to market and experience the power of the sport's teams and drivers. As part of its focus, the RTA also plans to explore innovative ways to harness the combined purchasing power and scale of the teams' operations to drive efficiencies in costs. Rob Kauffman, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, has been elected the first chair of the RTA.
    "With the encouragement of NASCAR and the manufacturers, the teams have met in various forms and forums over the years to explore areas of common interest. This simply formalizes what was an informal group." said Kauffman. "The key word is 'Collaboration'. We all have vested interests in the success and popularity of stock car racing. By working together and speaking with a single voice, it should be a simpler and smoother process to work with current and potential groups involved with the sport. Whether it be looking for industry-wide travel partners or collaborating on technical issues - the idea is to work together to increase revenue, spend more efficiently, and deliver more value to our partners."
    The following teams are the executive members of the RTA: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Hendrick Motor Sports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Richard Petty Motor Sports, Roush Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske.(RTA)(7-7-2014)
    UPDATE: Statement from NASCAR: "We are aware of the alliance concept the team owners have announced, but have very few specifics on its structure or purpose. It is apparently still in development and we're still learning about the details so it would be inappropriate to comment right now. NASCAR's mission, as it has always been, is to create a fair playing field where anyone can come and compete. Our job is to support and strengthen all of the teams, large and small, across all of our series and we'll continue to do that. NASCAR is a unique community with hundreds of stakeholders. They all have a voice and always will."(NASCAR)(7-7-2014)

  • Career best finishes for drivers at Daytona Four drivers scored a career-best finish in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday:
    #43-Aric Almirola's win bested his 3rd place finish at Bristol in April;
    #3-Austin Dillon finished 5th. His previous best was 9th at Daytona in February;
    #95-Michael McDowell's 7th place finish topped his 9th place finish last year in the Daytona 500;
    #23-Alex Bowman finished 13th. His top finish had been 22nd at California in February.
    See more stats on active driver wins and drivers without a win on the Active Winners page.(7-7-2014)

  • MWR, RCR to test at New Hampshire UPDATE: Michael Waltrip Racing and Richard Childress Racing will be looking for the inside track on the Camping World RV Sales 301 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on July 13 when they visit New Hampshire Motor Speedway for a test and tune session on July 1 and 2. Defending July NHMS race winner #55-Brian Vickers, two-time NHMS winner #15-Clint Bowyer and four-time NHMS winner #66-Jeff Burton will all be logging laps for MWR on the 1.058-mile oval. The two-day session also marks the first time the famed #3 will race around the Magic Mile, as rookie RCR driver Austin Dillon will join teammates #27-Paul Menard and three-time NHMS winner #31-Ryan Newman at the testing. The grandstands will be open and free of charge to the public from 9:00am-5:00pm both days.(NHMS)(6-26-2014)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing driver Paul Menard crumpled the left side of his #27 Chevy in a wreck at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Wednesday and eventually needed a wrecker to haul his battered car off the track. Menard was one of five drivers taking part in a two-day test session at New Hampshire, along with RCR's Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman and Michael Waltrip Racing's Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers. He wasn't injured in the crash. Crew chief Slugger Labbe said Menard's left rear tire went down, causing the wreck. Wednesday's session was the final planned on-track time before drivers head to Daytona for this weekend's race.(NASCAR.com)(7-3-2014)

  • Galida promoted to president of RCR: Richard Childress Racing announced the promotion of Torrey Galida from Chief Operating Officer to President of their championship motorsports team. Galida, who has been the COO since 2011, becomes the first person other than team owner Richard Childress to carry the title of president for the corporation. Childress will retain his title of Chief Executive Officer and add that of Chairman to his role. Galida is a 20-year veteran of the automotive and motorsports industries. Before joining RCR, he served as General Manager for TRG Motorsports. He also spent time as President of Millsport Motorsports and CMO at Roush Fenway Racing. Prior to moving to North Carolina in 2004, Torrey spent 12 years with Ford Motor Company. He served in a number of senior-level marketing and strategy positions, including Vice President of Marketing for Ford of Canada, and Global Motorsports Marketing Manager for Ford Racing Technology.(RCR)(7-2-2014)

  • Five drivers to run K&N Pro Series West race: #42-Kyle Larson, #3-Austin Dillon, #7-Michael Annett, #51-Justin Allgaier and #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are entered in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Sonoma Raceway this weekend. They're seeking additional road course experience before Sunday's Sprint Cup race there.(Motor Racing Network)(6-18-2014)

  • Edwards reportedly declines Childress offer: at the end of FoxSports1 NASCAR Raceday, Bob Dilner reported that #99-Carl Edwards had spoken to Richard Childress Racing about a Sprint Cup Series ride in 2015 and gave them an answer of 'No' (FoxSports1), so last week Roger Penske said they were not interested in Edwards and there is still no comment from Joe Gibbs Racing about a rumored ride there in a fourth team. And Edwards current team owner, Jack Roush, didn't comment much about 2015 in a press conference held at MIS on Friday.(6-15-2014)

  • Special Dow scheme for Dillon at Bristol: Dow unveiled a special Great Stuff paint scheme for the #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevy of Austin Dillon on Wednesday at the Dow Diamond in Midland, MI home of the Great Lakes Loons. Dow's Great Stuff is an Insulating Foam Sealant that seals air leaks easily, inexpensively and permanently. The #3 Great Stuff Chevy is scheduled to run at Bristol in August. See images of the car/scheme on the #3 Team Schemes page.(6-12-2014)

  • Newman & Dillon test at VIR: #31-Ryan Newman and #3-Austin Dillon participated in an RCR team test at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va., on Wednesday (today). Last week, all three RCR Cup teams tested at Pocono Raceway in preparation for this weekend's event.(RCR)(6-4-2014)

  • American Ethanol returns to the #3: RCR's #3 Chevy team will sport the black and green colors of American Ethanol this weekend at Dover International Speedway. American Ethanol, a renewable source of cleaner burning energy from the bounty of America's farmers, helps create new green jobs and a renewed sense of pride for the American worker, while helping to achieve greater energy security for our country. Launched by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association, along with the support of other partners, American Ethanol is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15, and takes the NASCAR Green initiative to the next level.(RCR), seen an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(5-30-2014)

  • Bass Pro Shops on the #3 Talladega: Austin Dillon and his team will sport the colors of the nation's #1 outdoor retailer, Bass Pro Shops, on the #3 Chevrolet this weekend at Talladega. A longtime motorsports supporter, Bass Pro Shops' association with Dillon dates back to 2010 when the company partnered with RCR for Dillon's first foray into full-time NASCAR competition with sponsorship of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet in the Camping World Truck Series. The Bass Pro Shops/Dillon duo earned the Camping World Truck Series Championship in 2011 and Bass Pro Shops was also partners with Dillon and RCR in the Nationwide Series, where Dillon earned the 2012 title. Bass Pro Shops, which specializes in outdoor fun, operates 85 retail stores and Tracker Marine Centers across America and Canada that are visited by more than 116 million people every year. Bass Pro Shops stores, many of which feature restaurants, offer hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor gear while their catalogs and website serve shoppers throughout the world (RCR). See images of the scheme on the #3 Team Schemes page.(5-2-2014)

  • RCR Names Matt Shearer as Director, Business Development: Richard Childress Racing has named Matt Shearer as Director, Business Development for their 15-time championship organization, effective immediately. Shearer joins RCR from Churchill Downs, Inc. where he spent the past five years in their partnership development and sales departments. The graduate of the School of Management from Purdue University also has three years of sales experience in the National Football League working with the Oakland Raiders. He will work under the guidance of Rick Penn, Vice President of Business Development for RCR. "First and foremost, Matt is a great person and RCR is happy to have him join our team," Penn said. "He has experienced success at every step during his career and demonstrated he can adapt and create long-term, winning partnerships. We look forward to Matt's contributions in bringing new partners into the RCR family." This will be Shearer's first foray into motorsports, making the transition from one kind of horsepower to another."
    "Richard Childress Racing is one of the most well-known and highly respected organizations in motorsports and I am honored to be part of the team," Shearer said. "NASCAR is a powerful marketing and business development platform and RCR's focus on performance, its roster of blue-chip partners and a strong front office team make this a compelling opportunity. I look forward to getting started in my new role."(RCR)(4-22-2014)

  • Childress Testifies for Biofuels: The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing this week on advanced biofuels. Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow of Michigan says advanced biofuels are here now, and they are an important part of the energy title in the recently passed farm bill. One of the witnesses at the hearing was NASCAR team owner Richard Childress who talked about the many benefits of corn-based biofuels, such as the higher fuel performance he has seen in more than five million miles of racing since the E15 ethanol blend was introduced in the 2011 racing season. "When they decided to go with an ethanol-blend of fuel, in 2010, NASCAR started looking at what was the correct blend to use. After many tests, they came up with E15," Childress said, pointing out that his own racing team tested up to E30 blends, which he believes would be even better. "Nothing but positive results came out of our tests. Engines ran cooler, ethanol makes more octane so it makes more horsepower, less carbon buildup, better emissions, and our parts when we tore the engines down looked much better."(Domestic Fuel)(4-12-2014)

  • Larson & Dillon discuss practice incidents: from a Team Chevy transcript after both rookies #3-Austin Dillon & #42-Kyle Larson hit the Darlington Raceway wall and gained a Darlington Stripe. Larson's car was damage so bad that the team pulled out the backup car. Comments from both drivers:
    AUSTIN DILLON, #3 DOW CHEVROLET SS - HIT THE WALL DURING THE FIRST PRACTICE SESSION AND EARNED HIS FIRST NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES DARLINGTON STRIPE:
    Dillon: "Well, Kyle (Larson) came over and asked, 'where did you hit'? I said off Turn 2. He said, me too. I said did you try you try to come off the wall and make it turn? He said exact same thing. So we are just learning, I guess. You get really tight. I felt good into (Turn) 1, and then through the middle, I get tight late around the corner, it just carries speed. Just hit the wall, but I learned a lot right there. Hopefully it doesn't happen again."
    KYLE LARSON, #42 TARGET CHEVROLET SS - HIT THE WALL DURING THE FIRST PRACTICE SESSION, WILL GO TO A BACK-UP CAR; IT LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO A BACK-UP:
    Larson: "Yeah I mean we (Austin Dillon) were talking and it sounded like the exact same thing that we were describing. Difference is I have to get a back-up out. Our back-up they said is just as good as our primary so we had a really good run before we I hit the wall. Just learning, I'm mostly ever in the wall in (Turns) 3 and 4 and never hit off (Turn) 2. I killed the wall in (Turn) 2. We will get back out here soon and I'm sure be fine."(Team Chevy)(4-12-2014)

  • Dillon gets primary sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops for two races: The nation's No. 1 outdoor retail leader, Bass Pro Shops, will join Richard Childress Racing in commemorating Austin Dillon's rookie season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with primary sponsorship of the #3 Chevrolet SS at Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway. "All of us at Bass Pro Shops are excited about continuing our friendship and business relationship with our long-time friend Richard Childress and sponsoring Austin Dillon during his rookie season in the Sprint Cup Series," said Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. The #3 car is where we got our start so it's great to see it back in action."
    A longtime motorsports supporter, Bass Pro Shops' association with Dillon dates back to 2010, when the company partnered with RCR for Dillon's first foray into fulltime NASCAR competition with sponsorship of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Bass Pro Shops/Dillon duo earned the Camping World Truck Series Championship in 2011 and Bass Pro Shops was also partners with Dillon and RCR in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
    "Johnny Morris and everyone at Bass Pro Shops have been alongside me for a majority of my racing accomplishments," said Dillon. "I have photos of a giant Bass Pro Shops logo on the hood of my first Bandolero car when I was just starting out racing. They've been featured on my dirt late model and Bass Pro Shops was the primary sponsor of my truck when we won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship. I have countless memories of growing up hunting and fishing with Johnny and his son, John Paul. They are true friends so it means so much that they can be a part of my rookie season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, especially at tracks like Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway that have so much history with RCR."
    Bass Pro Shops first began its association with RCR and its #3 Sprint Cup Series car in 1998 with an associate sponsorship of the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo made famous by seven-time Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt Sr.
    Bass Pro Shops also serves as a major associate sponsor throughout the 2014 season, joining Dow, Cheerios, Realtree Outdoors, American Ethanol and the University of Northwestern Ohio as RCR supporters associated with the #3 Sprint Cup Series entry this season. The outdoor retailer currently sponsors Dillon's younger brother, Ty Dillon, in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.(RCR), see images of the car on the #3 Team Schemes page.(4-8-2014)

  • Dillon to standby for Dillon at Texas UPDATE: Rookie of the Year contender, #3-Austin Dillon, is feeling a little under the weather. His brother, Nationwide Rookie of the Year candidate and past Texas race winner in the Camping World Truck Series, Ty Dillon, ran a few laps in the #3 DOW Chevy during Happy Happy practice at Texas in case Austin needs relief during the race Sunday or qualifying Saturday afternoon.(FS1 Practice Coverage)(4-5-2014)
    UPDATE: While the weather at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday morning was cloudy, Sprint Cup rookie Austin Dillon was definitely under the weather. Apparently having flu-like symptoms, Dillon took to the track for 28 practice laps - recording a best of just 186.220 mph (at 28.998 seconds), far off the pace of the fastest of the pack - and brought the car back into the garage. But Dillon would get a second burst of energy late in the session, climbing back into his No. 3 Richard Childress Chevrolet and pumped out a much more respectable effort of 192.623 mph, good for 23rd on the speed charts. Younger brother Ty watched Austin's early practice runs from atop the team's hauler and then climbed into his brother's car, prepared to take some practice laps of his own. Ty went out and ran just four laps, with a top lap of 30.810 seconds, which was under 180 mph. Crew chief Gil Martin feels Austin Dillon will be able to race Sunday unless he has a relapse. And if Ty starts the race, Austin would not get any Sprint Cup points, which would hurt - especially since Austin is currently ninth in the standings heading into Sunday's race, 48 points behind series leader #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(NBC Sports)(4-6-2014)

  • Special DOW scheme for Dillon at Texas: Austin Dillon will be supporting #NASCARGreen by sporting a Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingle paint scheme this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingles are a revolutionary innovation in sustainability, protecting your home as a roof while generating electricity with energy from the sun. That's why NASCAR, which has the largest sustainability program in all of sports, is a great place with see Powerhouse. The shingles are also one of the most aesthetically attractive options in the solar industry. Dillon has been vocal about the #NASCARGreen initiative, and is encouraging fans to participate by planting a tree and taking energy conservation steps in their own homes. See how by visiting NASCAR.com/green (RCR), see an image of the scheme on the #3 Team Schemes page.(4-2-2014)

  • Austin Dillon still needs sponsorship for some races: Companies that want in on Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon bringing the iconic #3 back to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series still have a chance. While brands such as Dow, Cheerios and American Ethanol have stepped in to fund most of the season, there is still inventory available, RCR Chief Marketing Officer Ben Schlosser told Newsday on Friday. "We still have a few races open toward the back half of the year, but we don't go public with exactly how many races are left," said Schlosser. Schlosser added that RCR is talking to both current sponsors and "a few interested parties" outside the current sponsorship group to fill out the schedule. Unsold races in NASCAR don't necessarily equate to problems finding sponsorship. Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. currently has almost a third of his season unsold -- because car owner Rick Hendrick has made it clear he's not discounting the price to sponsor Junior.(Newsday)(3-17-2013)

  • Realtree and Bad Boy Buggies to sponsor Dillon: Realtree and Bad Boy Buggies are joining the effort to support Austin Dillon's rookie campaign in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series by announcing primary partnership of the #3 Chevy SS for the March 16 race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The partnership unites Realtree, the world's leading camouflage designer, marketer, and licensor with Bad Boy Buggies, inventor of the dual-motor, fully electric 4WD vehicle, a machine that combines unparalleled off-road ability with quiet, emissions-free operation- the ideal hunting vehicle. Bad Boy Buggies vehicles are designed and manufactured by E-Z-Go, a Textron Inc. company. The race will mark the first time that Bad Boy Buggies enjoys primary placement on a Sprint Cup Series car driven by Dillon. Realtree and Bad Boy Buggies will both serve as major associate sponsors throughout the 2014 season, joining Dow, Cheerios, American Ethanol and the University of Northwestern Ohio as RCR supporters associated with the #3 Sprint Cup Series entry this season.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(3-7-2014)

  • American Ethanol on the #3 at Phoenix: RCR's #3 Chevy team will sport the black and green colors of American Ethanol this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. American Ethanol, a renewable source of cleaner burning energy from the bounty of America's farmers, helps create new green jobs and a renewed sense of pride for the American worker, while helping to achieve greater energy security for our country. Launched by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association, along with the support of other partners, American Ethanol is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15, and takes the NASCAR Green initiative to the next level. Since the program launch for the 2011 season, NASCAR drivers have run more than 5 million miles on renewable Sunoco Green E15.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #3 team paint schemes page.(2-26-2014)

  • American Ethanol Enhances Partnership with RCR in 2014: American Ethanol is enhancing its partnership with Richard Childress Racing and driver Austin Dillon for the 2014 NASCAR season. Beginning with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on March 2, Dillon will race the #3 American Ethanol Chevrolet SS in select races during the 2014 season. "American Ethanol is extremely pleased to once again partner with Austin Dillon, Richard Childress and the entire RCR team to help promote a sustainable homegrown American fuel that is better for our environment, reduces our dependence on foreign oil and creates jobs right here in the U.S., while revitalizing rural economies across America and save consumers at the pump," said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. American Ethanol, launched by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association along with the support of other partners, is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15. Since the program launch for the 2011 season, NASCAR drivers have run more than 5 million miles on renewable Sunoco Green E15. American Ethanol will also serve as a major associate sponsor for Dillon's #3 Chevrolet for the full 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season joining Dow, Cheerios, Realtree Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops and the University of Northwestern Ohio. Dillon is an official spokesperson for American Ethanol.(RCR)(2-21-2014)

  • Martha Earnhardt comments about the return of the #3 UPDATE: Martha Earnhardt, mother of the late NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, in an exclusive interview with Steve Byrnes on today's edition of NASCAR RACE HUB on FOX Sports 1, talked about the return of the #3 to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. Richard Childress Racing, who owned the #3 that Earnhardt drove at the time of his tragic incident at Daytona International Speedway in February of 2001, is once again utilizing the #3 for Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year candidate Austin Dillon in 2014. Here is what Martha Earnhardt told FOX Sports 1: "I have mixed feelings because I was told that I would never see a number three on the race track after Dale died. I can understand it to a point. I know it was Richard's [Childress] number when he drove and this is his grandson, and I understand that. As long as they don't make it look like the number three. If they painted it a different color ... I can sort of deal with it, but I don't want to see the black number three just like Dale's. But that's not my decision."(FOX)(2-12-2014)
    UPDATE: Team owner Richard Childress talked to Dale Earnhardt's mother Friday and feels he has her support to have his grandson racing Earnhardt's famous #3 in the Sprint Cup Series. Childress is bringing back the #3 to Cup racing this year with grandson Austin Dillon behind the wheel. Dillon has raced the number throughout his NASCAR career but the Daytona 500 next week will be the first Cup race with the #3 on the track since Earnhardt died in the 2001 Daytona 500. Dillon will drive one car that is black, white and red when sponsored by Dow and another that is yellow and black when sponsored by Cheerio's. While the number is slanted in the #3 style that Earnhardt drove to six of his seven Cup titles, it will never be an all black car, Childress said Saturday. He said he talked to Martha Earnhardt on Friday, a couple of days after her comments on "RaceHub."
    "I understand her feelings," Childress said Saturday in the Cup garage. "We've talked. She doesn't have a problem with him running. What she said is (she) doesn't want it to look exactly like Dale's car, solid black.Her and I talked yesterday. Everything is great." Earnhardt's family has been generally supportive about the return of the #3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been a vocal proponent for the number coming back. He said Thursday he had not talked to his grandmother about her feelings. "We haven't talked about that," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I'm sure that's got to stir up a lot of emotions for a lot of different people. Some will be stronger than others, and that's just up to the individual."(SceneDaily)(2-16-2014)

  • Dillon wins Daytona 500 pole: #3-Austin Dillon won the pole for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway with a speed of 196.019mph. Dillon is the fifth rookie driver to win the Daytona 500 pole [Danica Patrick, Jimmie Johnson, Mike Skinner and Loy Allen] and the 4th driver to win the Daytona 500 pole running the #3 car [Buddy Baker-1969, Ricky Rudd-1983 and Dale Earnhardt-1996]. #78-Martin Truex Jr won the outside pole and will start 2nd next Sunday.
    See starting Lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on the Daytona 500 Starting Lineup /Qualifying page and the Budweiser Duel lineups on the 2014 Budweiser Duel 150's page.(2-16/20-2014)

  • Austin Dillon Makes Guest Appearance "Nashville": In an all-new episode of ABC's Nashville, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver #3-Austin Dillon guest stars when country superstar Luke Wheeler (Will Chase) surprises music legend Rayna James (Connie Britton) by showcasing James' brand on a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The episode entitled, "It's All Wrong, But It's All Right," premieres on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 10:00 pm/et. "It was definitely a fun experience spending the day on the set with the cast of Nashville," said Dillon, who will pilot the #3 Dow/Cheerios Chevrolet under the Richard Childress Racing banner this season. "I feel most comfortable in a race car but it's cool to have experiences like this where you can be on the set of a popular television show and meet new people. The director kept telling me to slow down because I was reading my lines too quickly. I guess I do everything fast." Dillon, along with other members of the cast, will Tweet live during the episode. For a behind-the-scenes look at Dillon's Nashville experience, please visit NASCAR.com.(RCR)(1-29-2014)

  • RCR and ECR Engines Form Partnership with Lucas Oil Products: Richard Childress Racing has entered into a long-term partnership with Lucas Oil Products, effective immediately. This marks a return to the NASCAR track and garage for the Indianapolis-based lubricants company. "Richard and I have a lot in common, as we both like long-term relationships and neither of us want to settle for anything but the best," said Forrest Lucas, founder and CEO of Lucas Oil. "Knowing that Richard wanted a long-term oil partner and consistent high-performance with research and development support for his engine program, I wanted to commit our resources in R&D and production. He committed his personnel to help with the development and we think we'll have the premier oil performance in the sport. Richard has a great staff from top to bottom and that's what we need. We look forward to being back in NASCAR and using this partnership to tell the 'Lucas story' and what our products stand for. We've already developed a strong relationship with RCR and ECR."
    RCR and ECR Engines will benefit from having a lubricants partner with strong roots in racing and one that understands the high-powered competition platform. In turn, the technology can transfer over to short-track racers and everyday consumers. "We're very proud to be associated with a company like Lucas Oil and represent their market-leading products," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "Forrest and his group have been great to work with and have developed some incredible products for us to compete, win races and contend for championships in NASCAR. All levels of racing have benefitted from the work and commitment Forrest has made to the racing community. We are looking forward to winning races with Lucas Oil inside our cars and promoting the Lucas brand on the outside of the cars."
    Lucas Oil becomes the official motor oil of ECR Engines and a technical partner to both RCR and ECR Engines. Their oil will run in RCR's #3 and #31 entrants in the Sprint Cup Series and in all of RCR's Nationwide Series entrants this year. "We have been testing their products diligently for quite some time now with strong results," said Richie Gilmore, COO of ECR Engines. "Everyone at Lucas Oil has gone above and beyond to make sure this partnership was going to work on both ends. They have durable, reliable products and we have had nothing but great results with everything we've tested."(RCR)(1-28-2014)

  • Childress: 2000 conversation with Earnhardt played role in decision to bring back the #3: Team owner Richard Childress' decision to run the #3 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with grandson Austin Dillon behind the wheel wasn't made lightly. And as Childress reiterated Tuesday during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, the decision wasn't made recently either. In fact, when Childress and seven-time Sprint Cup champion Dale Earnhardt discussed the prospect of Earnhardt's retirement in 2000, the future of the #3 Chevy was part of the conversation. "That decision was actually made 14 years ago, when Dale and I were talking about his retirement, what he wanted to do when he retired, how he wanted to help me with the 3 and the team to go out and put a driver in it that could go out and win championships and win races," Childress said. "It was not in the plans at all to put anybody in the car until the right person was there. Yeah, if Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. had wanted to do it, or Kelley Earnhardt, or Kerry or now Jeffrey, whoever-it would be an Earnhardt or one of my family who would get in that 3 car. But that decision was made 14 years ago, as me and him sat in an old car there in the rain one day, talking about his retirement." Earnhardt never got the chance to retire on his own terms. In February 2001, he lost his life in a last-lap crash in the Daytona 500, and the #3 has been absent from the Sprint Cup series since. Dillon has run the number in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, winning a championship in each, but its return to NASCAR's foremost series is an event of special significance - and of no small controversy in some quarters of "Earnhardt Nation." The debate aside, however, Childress already looks forward to the day the #3 makes its competitive return. "That decision to bring the 3 back - it's going to be really neat to see it out there that morning [at Daytona] when I walk out there," Childress said.(NASCAR Wire Service)(1-29-2014)

  • Dillon fastest in Sprint Cup testing at Daytona: Austin Dillon knows there will be pressure racing the #3 car made famous by the late Dale Earnhardt. Today, he just raised the stakes with his first test in that car at Daytona International Speedway. The Richard Childress Racing driver planted the historic #3 atop the speed charts on the first and only day of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series testing at the World Center of Racing. His 195.109 mph led all drivers in single-car runs during this tune-up for the 56th running of the Daytona 500.
    "I'm honored to be in the 3," said Dillon, who is driving a number that Dale Earnhardt drove to victory 24 times at Daytona. The defending NASCAR Nationwide Series will be a top contender for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in 2014. "This is special and walking into this [NASCAR Sprint] Cup garage this weekend is pretty cool. There are so many heroes in this garage for me, and just being in this garage is going to be pressure."
    A rainout Thursday raised the pressure on all drivers Friday, as teams made the most of a testing session that was reduced to a single 8-hour window. Two of the sport's biggest stars turned their first Daytona laps with new teams, including past Daytona 500 winners Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman. Harvick now drives the #4 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing, while Newman is behind the wheel of the #31 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.
    Forty-one drivers turned laps in Gen-6 Chevrolets, Fords and Toyotas, which are entering their second year of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. Those cars featured a new 4.5-inch spoiler, designed to add more rear downforce for stability. Results were positive. Thirty-three cars topped 190 mph and the new aero package performed well in traffic, which was tested in the draft during the final hour of testing.(NASCAR)
    The top 5 speeds:
    #3-Austin Dillon 195.109
    #33-Brian Scott 194.582
    #27-Matt Crafton 194.342
    #43-Aric Almirola 193.828
    #42-Kyle Larson 193.411
    See fastest speeds and laps run on the Preseason Thunder Speeds (pdf).(1-10-2014)

  • Congrats: Scott Brewer and Samantha Brewer welcomed their daughter Sloan Marie Brewer into the world on December 14, 2013. Scott works for Richard Childress Racing. Grandparents are Tim & Susan Brewer and Claude Queen & Ruth Queen.(12-31-2013)

  • CBS This Morning feature about the return of #3: Austin Dillon, Richard Childress, Danny "Chocolate" Myers and Mike Helton sat down with correspondent Manuel Bojorquez for a CBS This Morning feature regarding Dillon's move to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the historic #3 and Richard Childress Racing's #3 Dow/Cheerios Chevrolet program. The segment is aired Friday morning, Dec. 20 on CBS This Morning. See the story and video at CBS This Morning (3 minutes 19 seconds).(RCR)(12-20-2013)

  • Childress consulted with Earnhardt family before using #3: The late Dale Earnhardt's famed #3 will be back on track in the elite Sprint Cup Series next season with Austin Dillon using the number. The move has been long anticipated because car owner Richard Childress has allowed his grandson to use the #3 as he's moved through NASCAR's ranks. Childress said he's consulted with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelley, every time he's moved the #3 to a different level on the track and the Earnhardt family has been supportive. Earnhardt Jr. declined to use the #3 following his father's death, but has raced the number in the Nationwide Series. "I would be worried if I didn't think he'd respect it or not understand the legacy, but he does. I know he does. He appreciates it," Earnhardt Jr. said last week of Dillon using the #3.(Associated Press)(12-12-2013)

  • NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Drivers who have won in the #3:
    The #3 was run in 1134 Sprint Cup Series races with 97 wins, 367 top-fives, 605 top-ten races and 65 poles.
    Dale Earnhardt, 67 wins in #3, 76 wins overall (HOF)
    Junior Johnson, 9, 50 (HOF)
    Paul Goldsmith, 5, 9
    David Pearson, 3, 105 (HOF)
    Dick Rathman, 3, 13
    Buck Baker, 2, 46 (HOF)
    Ricky Rudd, 2, 23
    Buddy Baker, 2, 19
    Fireball Roberts, 1, 33
    Charlie Glotzbach, 1, 4
    Danny Letner, 1, 2
    Earl Balmer, 1, 1
    (HOF) - in the NASCAR Hall of Fame
    Stats compiled from Racing-reference.info.
    Also see an artcle at NASCAR.com: Dale Earnhardt far from only legend to drive #3.(12-12-2013)

  • Cheerios to Sponsor Austin Dillon in his move to Sprint Cup: General Mills Inc.announced its sponsorship of rising star Austin Dillon in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2014. Dillon, the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, will drive the #3 Cheerios Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in NASCAR's elite series. To celebrate the news, Cheerios launched "Cheer the 3" social media communities on Facebook and Twitter for fans to interact and receive unique content about Austin and the #3 race team throughout the 2014 season.
    "We are proud to support a proven champion in Austin Dillon, a driver who shares many of the same values as Cheerios," said Gregg Dorazio, manager of Shopper Marketing and Motorsports at General Mills. "We have been an active sponsor in NASCAR for many years now and this is an exciting opportunity to be part of a historical moment in the sport."
    Austin Dillon, grandson of car owner Richard Childress, will be competing in his first full season in NASCAR's premiere series in 2014, building on an already impressive racing career. He became the youngest champion in Truck series history when he won the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship at 21 years, six months and 22 days. The 23-year-old driver won the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship, becoming only the third driver in NASCAR history to win both the Nationwide and Camping World Truck championships. In addition to his championships, Dillon earned Rookie of the Year honors in both series.
    "I'm thrilled to take this next step in my career and think it's awesome to have the support of Cheerios, a cereal I've eaten since I was a kid," said Dillon. "After gaining experience in Truck and Nationwide Series competition, I'm ready to take this next step and drive the #3 Cheerios Chevrolet against the best drivers in the world." First entering NASCAR in 1997, General Mills has been an active sponsor of the sport for over 15 years working with elite drivers including Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin and Johnny Benson.(Cheerios Racing)
    See images of the #3 Cheerios Chevy, see my #3 Team Schemes page.(12-12-2013)

  • Childress announces the return of the #3, Austin Dillon to drive, schemes posted UPDATE 2: Richard Childress Racing has scheduled an announcement for their 2014 plans on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 11 at the RCR facilities in Welcome, NC. It is expected that they will announce Austin Dillon's move to Sprint Cup and the return of the #3 Chevy.(12-4-2013)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing has scheduled a press conference for noon Wednesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where NASCAR Sprint Cup testing will take place following two days of rain delays. According to multiple sources, Austin Dillon, grandson of team owner Richard Childress, will be named as the driver of one of the RCR Chevrolet SS Sprint Cup cars. And his car will carry the #3, the number Dillon used while competing in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck series, but one that has been absent from the Cup series since the death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001. A team spokesman contacted by FOXSports.com would confirm only that Wednesday's press conference was about the team's 2014 plans and would include at least one sponsor announcement. Rumored but unconfirmed sponsors for the #3 include Dow Chemical, which has a long history with RCR, General Mills and Jack Daniel's. Dillon, the reigning Nationwide champion and 2011 Truck series title winner, has already acknowledged he's moving up to the Sprint Cup Series in 2014.(FoxSports)
    AND folks can watch the press conference at nascar.com.
    UPDATE2 Austin Dillon, a champion in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, will compete full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2014 driving for Richard Childress Racing. Dillon joins Paul Menard, who will drive the #27 Menards Chevrolet with crew chief "Slugger" Labbe, and Ryan Newman, who will drive the #31 Caterpillar/Quicken Loans/Wix Filters Chevrolet with crew chief Luke Lambert, as full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers under the RCR banner in 2014. The Welcome, N.C., organization has invested significant resources in its competition and engineering departments to prepare for the 2014 season. Many of these changes were spearheaded by the additions of Dr. Eric Warren (director of competition) and Mark McCardle (director of racing operations) to the organization, along with the recent addition of Mike Coughlan (technical director).
    Dillon's program will be led by crew chief Gil Martin, a 13-year veteran of the organization who led Kevin Harvick to six chase berths. It also marks the highly anticipated return of the #3 to Sprint Cup Series competition. Dow (supposedly the primary for 16 races) and General Mills' Cheerios brand will be the primary brands featured on the #3 Chevrolet SS throughout the season.
    "My grandfather and everyone at RCR have done a great job of not pushing me too quickly into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series," said Dillon. "I feel like I've been able to spend adequate time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series preparing for this next step in my career. I am thrilled to be making this move with partners like Dow and Cheerios, along with some long-time partners who have supported me and RCR throughout my career. I am truly grateful and looking forward to this opportunity."
    The program between RCR and Dow is driven by several Dow businesses that are directly involved in R&D projects and strategic business and relationship opportunities unique to the NASCAR community. "We see this as a great opportunity to partner with a historic team like Richard Childress Racing that is synonymous with success, integrity and championships, and a championship driver in Austin Dillon," said Joe Harlan, executive vice president of Dow. "Austin's winning passion is representative of Dow. Our employees and customers were very supportive of our debut into our partnership with RCR during 2013 and they are looking forward to continued involvement with Austin next year. Dow's technology-focused, market-driven, customer-centric organization aligns perfectly with the performance-driven values of RCR and NASCAR. We look forward to being a part of Austin's rookie NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and continued success in NASCAR."
    General Mills is entering its 17th year in NASCAR and its sixth year with RCR. They began their association with Dillon last year when the Minneapolis, MN.-based company used its Honey Nut Cheerios brand to help Dillon make his inaugural Daytona 500 start. Today, Cheerios launched the @CheerThe3 communities on Facebook and Twitter so fans can access exclusive content and share their excitement around Austin and the #3 race team. "With Austin Dillon's success in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, we're proud to continue our support of Austin, a proven winner and passionate driver," said Gregg Dorazio, manager of shopper marketing and motorsports for General Mills. "He shares many of the same values as the Cheerios brand and has a bright future in the sport. We're excited to join him in this next step in his career. We're also proud to continue our partnership with RCR and continue our heritage in the sport."
    In addition to Dow and Cheerios, several long-time partners associated with RCR and Dillon will join him as he moves to full-time competition in the Sprint Cup Series including Realtree Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops, American Ethanol and the University of Northwestern Ohio.(RCR)
    See images of the #3 Dow and Cheerios Chevy, see my #3 Team Schemes page.(12-11-2013)

  • Dillon and the #3 to Cup?...announcement soon: The announcement is "pretty close," Austin Dillon said. Two years after winning a NASCAR Truck series title in a #3 Chevy fielded by his grandfather's NASCAR team, possibly still basking in the glow of a first Nationwide Series title he could clinch on Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the same number for the same organization, the 23-year-old under the ever-present cowboy hat is expected to steward the iconic number back into the Sprint Cup Series for the first time in 13 years.(ESPN)(11-16-2013)


    at Homestead-Miami Speedway, all of Richard Childress Racing cars are carrying a decal in memory of Horace Simpson, one of the original Flying Aces (RCR Twitter)

  • A Special Tribute for Harvick: In honor of his time at Richard Childress Racing, #29-Kevin Harvick will wear a special helmet for Sunday's race to recognize all of the accomplishments and milestones achieved during his time with the team. The helmet features images from several of his key wins and NNS championships, as well as other special moments from his career.(RCR)(11-13-2013)

  • Harvick wins at Phoenix: #29-Kevin Harvick won the AdvoCare 500(k) Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway for his 4th win of 2013, his 4th win at Phoenix and 23rd career win. Harvick led the most laps with 70 of 312.
    Pole sitter and points leader #48-Johnson finished 3rd with #20-Kenseth having a tough day and finishing 23rd, Johnson now leads the points 28 over Kenseth and 34 over Harvick with one race left.
    If #48-Johnson finishes 23rd or better at Homestead he will clinch his 6th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
    #5-Kahne finished 2nd followed by #48-Johnson, #88-Earnhardt Jr. #78-Busch, #42-Montoya. #18-Busch #56-Truex Jr., #22-Logano and #39-Newman.
    There were 23 lead changes among 13 drivers and 8 cautions for 49 yellow flag laps.
    The average speed was 105.733mph. NASCAR no longer announces the track attendance.
    See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Phoenix Race & Points Report (pdf)

  • RCR Announces hiring of Mike Coughlan as Technical Director: Richard Childress Racing has hired Mike Coughlan as the team's new Technical Director, effective immediately. Coughlan, a native of Surrey, England, brings to RCR more than two decades of motorsports experience, with a heavy concentration and success in Formula 1. During his 15 years in F1, Coughlan was a chief designer with teams such as Arrows, Benetton, Ferrari, McLaren and Williams; earning more than 20 victories. He has also served as a chief engineer and technical director with several teams. Coughlan also has prior NASCAR experience, having worked with Michael Waltrip Racing in late 2010 and early 2011 before returning to his F1 roots.
    The addition of Coughlan greatly adds depth to the RCR competition organization. That area will now be managed with two major approaches and perspectives: race operations and engineering. Mark McArdle, who joined RCR full-time in August 2013, will continue in his role as Director of Race Operations, with Coughlan now serving as Technical Director. Both will report to Dr. Eric Warren, RCR's Director of Competition. Their combined depth of experience and established leadership with championship winning teams, in multiple forms of racing, provides even more strength to RCR's culture of rapid performance development and efficient execution at the track.
    "I have known Mike Coughlan for many years and have a tremendous amount of respect for both his personal skills as an engineer and as a leader of people," Dr. Warren said. "He is a tremendous talent and has a rare combination of experience in leading teams and development programs in Formula 1, along with prior experience and exposure to NASCAR. To be successful in any form of racing, you have to push hard to find performance gains and his experience will strengthen RCR with regards to our competition."
    Coughlan is looking forward to applying his combined experience, success and knowledge with his new role. "This is a great opportunity for me to become involved with a team like Richard Childress Racing," Coughlan said. "This is one of the great teams in NASCAR and their commitment to winning is second-to-none. I feel with the increased technical focus of the Sprint Cup Series and the direction that the sport is moving, it makes a perfect fit for me. I look forward to helping Eric Warren, and the rest of the team, in bringing more success to the organization through the next few years."(RCR)(11-9-2013)

  • Harvick golf tournament a success: Kevin Harvick took a detour on his way to Phoenix International Raceway on Wednesday, stopping in his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif., to host the Fourth Annual Happy's Classic Golf Tournament Presented by Advanced Distribution and Blackhole Technologies. Proceeds from the tournament, held at Bakersfield Country Club, benefit the Kevin Harvick Foundation, dedicated to the support of programs that positively enrich the lives of children throughout the United States. As part of a continuing effort to support athletics at North High School, Harvick's alma mater in Bakersfield, the Kevin Harvick Foundation also surprised the school's golf teams with a donation of 21 sets of new golf clubs, golf bags, putters and team apparel. Additionally, the Foundation honored its newest student athlete with the presentation of the Kevin Harvick Athletic Scholarship to California State University-Bakersfield student athlete Coleman Hammond. Hammond, a member of the university's wrestling team, received a one-year, full scholarship toward his college education. The Kevin Harvick Athletic Scholarship exists to enable collegiate student athletes to pursue an undergraduate degree while participating in athletics. It was first awarded to a California State University-Bakersfield (CSU-B) student athlete in 2010 as part of Harvick's effort to give back to his hometown community with a 12-year commitment to CSU-B. The Kevin Harvick Foundation also established a similar initiative at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.(KHF)(11-8-2013)

  • Harvick rips Dillon brothers after truck race accident UPDATES: #29-Kevin Harvick unloaded on the Sprint Cup team he is leaving after a wreck with team owner Richard Childress' grandson, Ty Dillon, during Saturday's Camping World Truck Series race. Harvick, who was driving for another team in the Kroger 200, and Dillon were racing for second when their trucks collided and knocked both from contention. Harvick, who is leaving Richard Childress Racing after 13 seasons in Sprint Cup to join Stewart-Haas Racing, implied that nepotism and lineage were factors in his decision. Ty Dillon has raced in the Camping World Truck series the past two seasons and is moving into Nationwide next year to supplant his older brother, Austin, who is expected to move into Sprint Cup and effectively take over the ride being vacated by Harvick.
    "(Dillon) just dumped me," Harvick said about the crash. "Exactly the reason why I'm leaving RCR because you've got those kids coming up, and they've got no respect for what they do in this sport and they've had everything fed to them with a spoon."
    Dillon slammed Harvick several times during the ensuing yellow flag. Harvick's truck also stopped near Dillon's pit stall, where it was accosted by several members of Dillon's crew, one of whom appeared to hurl an orange hammer at it. MRN.com reported that Childress encouraged Dillon to hit Harvick's truck under yellow.
    Childress told MRN.com and the Sporting News that Harvick would race Sunday at Martinsville in the #29 ("We're still rolling.") but also said he was "very disappointed" in Harvick. "That's all I can say," Childress said. "I've got too much class to say what I want to say right now. When I say it, I will say it to his face."(USA Today)(10-27-2013)
    UPDATE: Kevin Harvick apologized for his comments about teammate Ty Dillon during Sunday's NASCAR RACEDAY on FOX Sports 1. Harvick spoke to hosts John Roberts, Kyle Petty and Larry McReynolds.
    What made you angry in yesterday's incident? "I think there was just a lot of emotion involved. I hate it for everybody at RCR. You go back and look at the things that happened, and sometimes you regret the things that you say for sure. Yesterday was definitely one of them. I hate it for my guys, and everybody working on the cars. Obviously, when those emotional situations come about; you say things that you really don't want to say. I just want to apologize to all of those guys, work hard today and try and do everything we can to win the race.
    Were these comments a result of the frustration and the pressure? "I think yesterday was just some frustration on how the race ended. You never want to be in a situation like were in, and obviously, the short-track racing and everything that happened, you try to do the right things, and yesterday I didn't do the right thing. We just have to do what we have to do today to put ourselves in a position to be as successful as we can."
    Have you had a conversation with Ty Dillon? "No. I think it's best for all of us to just cool down and have a sensible conversation about things that are going. I wish that's what I would have done yesterday. It's one of those situations that you don't want to be a part of, but I don't have anybody else to blame but myself." (Fox Sports PR)(10-27-2013)
    UPDATE 2: Richard Childress fiercely defended his two grandsons Sunday morning, a day after Childress driver Kevin Harvick called Ty Dillon "a punk-ass kid" after they wrecked at Martinsville Speedway. Harvick's job might be safe but the relationship with Childress, the owner of Richard Childress Racing, soured after he called Childress' grandsons Austin and Ty Dillon spoiled "punks" and "rich kids" following Saturday's race. "What happened on the track was one thing," Childress said, "but the comments afterwards is where I'm really upset. I'll never apologize for giving my grandsons an opportunity, just like the France family, the Earnhardt family, the Wood brothers. You go down the list of the people that have been given opportunities. All of them didn't make it. You've got to go out and earn what you've got, the opportunity in life to succeed. And these boys earned it." Childress, who talked with Harvick on Sunday morning, said he is committed to Harvick and the team sponsors for the final four races of the season. "We're going to give him everything humanly possible to win that championship," Childress said. "I'm committed to him for four more races, just like I committed to him the day that he said he was leaving. I shook his hand and committed I'd give him 100 percent, and I'm going to do it. But I'm not going to be backed into a corner."(Sporting News)(10-27-2013)

  • Richard Childress Racing promotes four: Richard Childress Racing has promoted four employees to management positions within its Communications and Partnership Marketing Departments. Jeremy Burleson, Lauren Hoffmann, Tim Packman and Jeff Patterson have been named to key roles and have already assumed their new duties with the team.
    Burleson has been the acting Managing Director, Partnership Marketing/Communications since October 2012 and will officially continue in that role. His duties will include the overall day-to-day operations of the two departments.
    Packman is an award-winning author, broadcaster, writer and communications veteran in the NASCAR industry and motorsports. He has been the acting Director, Corporate Communications for the organization since May. Packman's duties include the overall communications message for RCR, along with media inquiries and personal endeavors for Richard Childress, president and CEO.
    Patterson has been Senior Manager, Partnership Marketing and is now being promoted to Director, Partnership Marketing. He has prior experience at Retail Sports Marketing, the NHL with the New York Rangers, AHL's Bridgeport (Conn.) Sound Tigers and the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays.
    Hoffmann graduated from Elon University and earned a Master's Degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University. She has been promoted to Senior Manager, Partnership Marketing. Her past experiences includes working with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, Wasserman Media Group and the Professional Bull Riders, Inc.(RCR)(10-26-2013)

  • Harvick wins Kansas: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway for his 3rd win of 2013 and 22nd career win. Harvick led the most laps and won his 3rd career race from the pole.
    #78-Busch finished 2nd followed by #24-Gordon, #22-Logano, #99-Edwards, #48-Johnson, #27-Menard, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #9-Ambrose and #43-Almirola.
    #18-Busch who started from the rear of the field in a backup car, crashed on lap 200 and finished 34th. #39-Newman was caught up in a wreck earlier and finished 35th.
    There were 24 lead changes among 12 drivers and a record 15 cautions for a record 71 yellow flag laps.
    The average speed was 114.884mph. NASCAR no longer announces the track attendance.
    See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Kansas Race & Points Report (pdf).(10-6-2013)

  • Jimmy John's joins Stewart-Haas in 2014: Jimmy John's, maker of gourmet sandwiches with freaky fast delivery since 1983, will joinStewart-Haas Racing (SHR) beginning in 2014 as a primary sponsor of driver Kevin Harvick and the #4 Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Jimmy John's will be the primary sponsor of Harvick and the #4 team for 12 races, highlighted by the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For the remaining 26 races on the Sprint Cup schedule, Jimmy John's will serve as a major associate sponsor of the #4 Chevy. Jimmy John's will also be an associate sponsor of the #14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet of SHR driver/owner Tony Stewart, who will join Harvick in representing Jimmy John's. "We are fortunate to partner with Kevin for many more years in a very meaningful way," said Jimmy John Liautaud, CEO and founder, Jimmy John's. "On and off the track, Kevin and (wife) DeLana Harvick are winners in all they do. And Tony's reputation as a fierce competitor speaks for itself. Game on."
    From humble beginnings in Champaign, Ill., in 1983, Jimmy John's has grown to become a dominant entity in the quick-service restaurant industry. With more than 1,700 stores throughout the United States, Jimmy John's success is attributed to an innate desire to simply be the best. Their award-winning bread is baked fresh each day, and its meat and vegetables are sliced fresh daily. Its food contains no additives and no vegetable-based fillers. Augmenting the company's unmatched product is equally unmatched service, with every sandwich made fresh to order in less than 30 seconds.
    "I've known Jimmy since 2009 and I've personally seen how driven he is and how his work ethic is embraced by Jimmy John's franchisees," said Harvick, winner of 21 Sprint Cup races, including the 2007 Daytona 500 and 2003 Brickyard 400. "He wants to be the best, period. And he'll out-work everyone to be the best. That's the same mindset we have in racing. I'm proud to continue this partnership with Jimmy John's at Stewart-Haas Racing."
    "Jimmy's passion for quality products and service has made Jimmy John's what it is today," said Stewart, a three-time Sprint Cup champion. "He's a savvy marketer who has seen the benefit of a NASCAR team sponsorship. We're pleased to partner with Jimmy John's because combining quality with quickness is what Stewart-Haas Racing is all about."(SHR)(9-24-2013)

  • Image of Austin Dillon's #3 for next year? There are few things that get NASCAR fans fired up more than the idea of the #3 returning to the Sprint Cup Series. Made famous by Dale Earnhardt Sr., the #3 has not been run in the Sprint Cup Series since his untimely death in 2001. Although an official announcement has yet to happen, it is widely expected that Austin Dillon will make the transition to run the in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season in 2014. The grandson of team owner Richard Childress, it is likely Dillon will drive the #3 car. An image of a #3 Cheerios Chevy Sprint Cup Series car was making the rounds on social media Tuesday, but will this be Dillon's ride for 2014? According to team officials, the picture of the #3 car is a concept RCR was working through with Cheerios at the beginning of the season, and is not the car Dillon will run next season.(Fox Sports), see an image of the car on the 2014 #3 team paint scheme page.(9-18-2013)

  • RCR, Furniture Row to continue alliance: Richard Childress Racing and Furniture Row Racing have agreed to continue their successful technical alliance in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. The alliance includes technology sharing, engineering, research and development provided to FRR's #78 Chevy from RCR. The partnership, which started in 2010, also includes FRR utilizing the highly reliable and powerful engines of ECR Engines. This season, the # 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet driven by Kurt Busch qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship on the strength of one pole, seven top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. Busch has eight front row starts this season, which is the most he has earned in any year of his career.(RCR)(9-12-2013)

  • Ty Dillon to move to #3 NNS ride in 2014, Austin to move to Cup in 2014? UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing has partnered with D.G Yuengling & Son to be a primary sponsor on the #3 Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet with driver Ty Dillon during the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. As part of their 185th anniversary of brewing great lager, America's oldest operating brewery will be the primary sponsor on the RCR Chevrolet Camaro for eight races of the 2014 schedule. Yuengling Light Lager will be a key partner as Dillon moves full time to the Nationwide Series next season. Dillon is currently competing for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship and has one victory to his credit this season (RCR). Looks like Ty is replacing Austin Dillon in the #3 NNS Chevy. This move kind of strengthens the rumors that Austin Dillon supposedly move up to the Sprint Cup Series in 2014, driving a car for Richard Childress Racing. Rumors have Childress bring back the #3 with Austin Dillon driving, either replacing Kevin Harvick in the #29 and changing to the #3 or as a fourth Cup team in 2014.(8-19-2013)
    UPDATE: from a Roush Fenway Racing press release about AdvoCare sponsoring Trevor Bayne the #6 NNS ride in 2014: "AdvoCare served as the sponsor on the #3 car of Austin Dillon the past two seasons. With Dillon making the move to full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing in 2014, the organization began the process of diligently seeking out its best option moving forward."(8-21-2013)

  • Some Pit Crew Changes: Last week Pit Talks posted a list of all the changes on pit road since the beginning of the season. Since then there have been a few more major changes to Chase contending teams. Here are the changes known:
    #29-Rear Carrier Aaron Schields has been replaced by Ethan Marquette.
    #24-Rear Carrier Gene Cornwell is out with injury and is replaced by Jody Fortson.
    #99-Front Changer Corey Baldwin is changing places with Mike Lingerfelt on the #17.
    #56-Front Changer Eric Maycroft is replaced by Terry Spalding.
    All these changes are important because all of them are either in the Chase or on the bubble to make the chase. Changing teams this late in the season can prove to be very productive or simply slow the process down.(Pit Talks and see Jayski's 2013 Pit Crew Chart)(8-20-2013)

  • Rheem on the Hood of the #29 at MIS: The red Rheem logo will adorn the hood of the #29 RCR Chevy of Kevin Harvick this weekend at Michigan International Speedway for their sixth of seven appearances during the 2013 Sprint Cup Series season. Rheem will also be featured on Harvick's Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway in October.(RCR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(8-15-2013)

  • McaArdle joins Childress; Newman to the #29? Richard Childress Racing has named Mark McArdle as their Director of Racing Operations on a full-time basis, effective this weekend at Watkins Glen International. For the past four years, McArdle was with Furniture Row Racing, first as Director of Competition and this year holding the title of Executive Director of Competition. This season, his duties have included operating on a shared basis between RCR and Furniture Row Racing, which has had a technical alliance with RCR since 2010. McArdle will report to Dr. Eric Warren, Director of Competition for RCR, and still work closely with Furniture Row Racing, but from the RCR facility and not traveling to FRR's facilities in Colorado.(RCR)(8-11-2013)
    AND: The move comes at a time when RCR is looking to fill the ride vacated by #29-Kevin Harvick and hoping to retain its technical alliance with Furniture Row and is in exploratory discussions with JTG-Daugherty Racing to add the organization's # 47 team to the fold as well. Currently FRR is weighing its options with other manufacturers since its contract with Chevy runs out at the end of the year. Toyota has visited FRR in Denver but nothing has been formalized either way. FRR principals have put their driver selection on hold until after the manufacturer decision has been made, which should be over the next couple of weeks. As for RCR, sources say Ryan Newman has taken the lead in the search to find a driver to replace Harvick, who is leaving at the end of the season. A new twist to the story could be the addition of crew chief Matt Borland with Newman as a package deal for RCR.(Fox Sports)(8-11-2013)

  • Childress has partial funding for a fourth team: Team owner Richard Childress was asked about plans for next year during a media teleconference Monday:
    Q: At New Hampshire when we talked to you about the lineup and sponsorship, you said definitely Menard and Burton, question mark, possibly a fourth driver. A couple weeks down the road, after the Budweiser announcement, do you have an idea when you would like to nail things down and have an announcement ready for 2014 on the driver and sponsorship lineup?
    Childress: That's a good question. Right now we're finalizing some final things. We have sponsorship on a third and we actually have some sponsorship on a fourth. But having it all finalized and put together, it could be a couple of months down the road before we have everything ready to do some announcing on any of that.(NASCAR)(7-23-2013)

  • Who will be Harvick's crew chief at Stewart-Haas? Sources say that Budweiser signed off with [Stewart-Haas Racing] in the last month - after opting not to introduce a fourth different driver in seven seasons. Although [Stewart-Haas Racing] and Kevin Harvick declined to name a crew chief for the #4 team, [Michael Waltrip Racing's #55] Rodney Childers has been mentioned as the lead candidate.(Fox Sports)(7-14-2013)

  • Harvick discusses move to Stewart-Hass: From Kevin Harvick's Friday media availability:
    HOW EXCITED ARE YOU THAT BUDWEISER IS GOING TO FOLLOW YOU TO STEWART-HAAS RACING?
    "Obviously, it's nice to officially all the speculation about numbers and teams and as far as the sponsorship, obviously we've had three years with Budweiser and looking forward to moving forward with them as a sponsor. It's been an interesting process just from the fact that we really haven't been involved in much of anything on the sponsorship side of it just for the fact that when we did the deal with SHR we were knowing that we were having to move forward for a year here and we wanted to make sure that we did a good job with RCR so it's nice to be in a position to not have to go out and be a part of that whole process and be able to focus on racing a car and getting the performance and doing the things that we need to do at RCR. It's worked out well and those guys at SHR took full responsibility to have the car funded and that made my life a lot easier."
    WHY WAS THE MOVE MADE WITH BUDWEISER?
    "I signed a deal with Stewart Haas Racing and everybody was pretty sensitive to the fact that we still had another year. For those guys to take the responsibility and say, if we don't have the sponsorship then the car will be on the race track and will be funded. There's something to be said about having that guarantee of money behind the car and being able to be on the race track and for me kind of with the transition and wanting to do a good job this year and they were very sensitive to me wanting to be competitive on the race track.
    WERE YOU CONFIDENT THAT BUDWEISER WOULD GO WITH YOU?
    "Basically what happened was we decided that was what we wanted to do from a team standpoint. We went to the team at SHR, we worked out my contract and they basically guaranteed what the car would have on it on the race track and they basically took full responsibility to figure out what direction they wanted to go from a sponsorship standpoint and how to make it go around. It didn't have one dollar of sponsorship when I signed the contract."
    ARE YOUR OTHER SPONSORS COMING OVER? RHEEM, JIMMY JOHN'S?
    "Look I have no idea. That was the intriguing part about the SHR (Stewart-Haas Racing) piece of it was the car is going to be on the track and they said you go do your job and finish your year and race the cars as hard as you can and do a good job for Richard (Childress) and we will worry about the rest of it.
    DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA CREW CHIEF WISE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? WILL YOU HAVE INPUT INTO THAT?
    "I'm sure we will sit down and talk about crew chiefs and things because obviously those will have to happen before we get to December. We will talk about a direction and that will be probably the extent of the conversation moving forward. Everybody is sensitive to wanting to make sure that we do a good job this year at RCR and they do a good job in their current situation.(Chevy PR)(7-13-2013)

  • Newman will not return to Stewart-Haas UPDATE - Options for 2014: Tony Stewart was asked about the status of #39-Ryan Newman Friday morning after the announcement that Kevin Harvick was joining Stewart-Haas next season:
    WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WITH NOW HAVING THREE DRIVERS FOR NEXT YEAR HOW DOES THIS IMPACT RYAN NEWMAN, HIS PROGRAM, ARE YOU GUYS READY TO EXPAND TO A FOURTH TEAM?
    "No, we are not ready to expand to a fourth team. Unfortunately, this will be the last year that we have Ryan (Newman) with us. That's probably what has made this a bittersweet day. I'm bringing in another one of my friends to the organization, but also knowing that I'm losing a friend at the end of the year to the organization. The number one thing when Ryan and I spoke is that our friendship will not change. This was a business decision that was Gene's (Haas) as well as mine and it was a hard decision. There is a personal side and there is a business side. For Ryan and I we had to put the personal bit of it aside to work through the business part. I'll do everything I can to help Ryan in any way I can moving forward to try to help him in his effort to find another team next year. I'm behind him 100 percent. I believe in him 100 percent. I truly wish we were able to facilitate four teams at this time. We are just not able to do that. Down the road I'm sure if that becomes a possibility that he will most definitely will be on the list to fill the fourth seat again."(Chevy PR)(7-12-2013)
    UPDATE: From Ryan Newman's media availability Friday:
    IN YOUR MIND WHAT WOULD BE AN IDEAL SITUATION FOR YOU IN 2014?
    "I don't know. There are organizations out there that are capable of winning championships and capable of racing I guess into the Chase to give themselves and opportunity at a championship. It's obvious that there are some seats that are moving around and becoming available and potentially coming available. To me I first and foremost want to be wanted for my ability. Ability behind the wheel as well as what I can do for the sponsors. That is the most important part. There are a lot of things to be considered, but I was sincere when I said it I want to be someplace where I'm wanted. I want to be wanted for my abilities and the desires that we have as common goals to win a championship.
    DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMITMENTS FROM ANY OF YOUR CURRENT SPONSORS TO GO WITH YOU TO WHATEVER RACE TEAM YOU MAY END UP AT? DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE YOU WILL BE IN CUP NEXT YEAR?
    "I have no idea on any part of it. There are no answers that I have. Obviously, I have my own homework to do. I have no answers with respect to any of that at this point."(Chevy PR)
    AND: Nemwan has been looking for 2014 opportunities since signing a one-year extension with SHR last fall but said it was stressful to have "no idea" where he'd land. Though he wouldn't confirm whether he would bring sponsorship, SHR apparently isn't retaining Quicken Loans, the primary sponsor of Newman's #39 for 18 races this season, and there's been speculation they might follow the driver to another team. In January, Roger Penske said he had talked to the Detroit-based company about adding a third car with Newman to his team. Newman, though, said he wouldn't be interested in just any team that had an opportunity. An option for Newman could be RCR, which will need a new driver for its #29 Chevy after 13 consecutive seasons with Harvick. Team owner Richard Childress said the team had funding for three cars next season and possibly could add a fourth depending on sponsorship. "We've got most everything lined up," he said before practice Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. "Something can always fall through, but we feel very good about that."(USA Today)
    AND Ford's Jack Roush, who has a three-car operation that could easily expand back to four, said he was interested in talking with Newman about the situation. Roush said he would be interested in hiring Newman if there were sufficient sponsorship. Newman has some sponsorship himself. A plus for Roush is that Newman is an engineer like Roush. And depending on what Matt Borland, Newman's current crew chief, decides to do, that could also be a plus for Roush. Borland was also Newman's crew chief during his years with Roger Penske.(MikeMulhern.net)(7-13-2013)

  • Childress planning on at least 3 teams in 2014: Richard Childress Racing will have at least three Sprint Cup teams and possibly four in 2014. There has been speculation that RCR might shrink from three to two teams after losing Kevin Harvick and primary sponsor Budweiser to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. Team owner Richard Childress told ESPN.com on Friday that he will have a lineup of Jeff Burton, Paul Menard and "question mark." "We're going to have three race teams for sure," Childress said between practices at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. "Not 100 percent on a fourth." Asked if the third team would be fielded by grandson Austin Dillon, who has run six Cup races this season in anticipation of moving up from the Nationwide Series next year, Childress reiterated, "question mark." Childress recently said Ryan Newman, in his last year with SHR with Harvick filling out that three-driver lineup, is a candidate for the #29. He also has left open the possibility that Dillon, who drives the 3 made famous by Dale Earnhardt at RCR, could drive the #3 in Cup. Kurt Busch also has been mentioned as a potential candidate at RCR. Busch is ninth in points for Furniture Row Racing that has an alliance with RCR. Sources said RCR has a gentleman's agreement not to pursue Busch. Furniture Row general manager Joe Garone said negotiations to re-sign Busch are on hold as the single-car team attempts to make the Chase for the first time.(ESPN)(7-12-2013)

  • #4 for Harvick in 2014? UPDATE Budweiser moves to SHR with Harvick in 2014: Stewart-Haas Racing has applied for the trademark for the (4) Standard Character Mark or the #4. Supposedly to be used by Kevin Harvick when he moves over to Stewart-Hass Racing in 2014. You can see the trademark application / info at uspto.gov (serial #85911811)(4-30-2013)
    UPDATE: For more than 30 years Budweiser has sponsored some of NASCAR's top race car drivers. The King of Beers will continue its rich tradition in the sport by joining Kevin Harvick as he moves to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014 to drive the #4 Chevy SS in the Sprint Cup Series.
    "Over the last three years, Kevin has been an amazing ambassador for Budweiser, both on and off the track," said Blaise D'Sylva, vice president of media, sports and entertainment marketing, Anheuser-Busch. "We value that level of commitment, and we're proud to join him at Stewart-Haas Racing next season."
    Under the terms of the deal, Budweiser will serve as primary sponsor of the #4 Chevy for 20 races as well as the Budweiser Duel during Budweiser Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. Budweiser will serve as a major associate sponsor for the remaining races on the Sprint Cup Series schedule.
    With the move to Stewart-Haas Racing next year, Harvick will utilize the #4. The transition to the team comes as Harvick enters his 14th year in NASCAR's top series. Thus far, he has earned 21 Sprint Cup Series wins, 96 top-five and 198 top-10 finishes.(Budwesier PR)(7-12-2013)

  • Earnhardt Jr. talks about the #3 possibly returning to Sprint Cup in 2014: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.met with media at Daytona and discussed the #3 car, the Team Chevy transcript in part:
    Q) ALL THINGS SEEM TO INDICATE THAT THE NO. 3 CAR WILL RETURN IN CUP NEXT YEAR. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SEEN IT RUN IN OTHER SERIES. WHAT WILL IT MEAN TO SEE IT IN CUP NEXT YEAR AT THIS TRACK?
    Earnhardt Jr.: "I think it will be great. It was an iconic number for my father and it means a lot to a lot of his fans. This sport doesn't really retire numbers and all the numbers have history tied to them for several different reasons. The #3 is no different. I think that for Austin (Dillon) a kid like Austin in this regard any kid that wants to come up through the ranks and he drove the #3 in dirt racing and he drove the #3 in his Truck series and Nationwide series. He has earned the right to run that number as long as he wants. It could have been anybody, but it's Austin. It could have been any kid coming up through the ranks that had ran that number and that's his number. Maybe he's not even an Earnhardt fan maybe that is just his number. He wants to run it I think it's not really fair to deny somebody that opportunity. I'm okay with it. I know that might not be the way a lot of people feel or some people feel, but I'm sure it's the minority that feels that way. I think that a lot of people will be telling Austin positive things about it."(Team Chevy)(7-5-2013)

  • Special scheme for Harvick; Clydesdales on display at Daytona: Kevin Harvick's #29 Budweiser Chevy will don a special paint scheme this weekend at Daytona to reflect Budweiser's limited-edition red, white and blue packaging. The patriotic packaging represents a special initiative in which the brand will contribute a portion of all sales from May 5 - July 4 to help raise as much as $1.5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel killed or disabled while serving their country. Since 2010, Budweiser has raised more than $5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation and provided more than 1,000 educational scholarships to the families of soldiers killed or disabled in service. (Donation of 2 cents per case of Budweiser sold, May 5, 2013 to July 4, 2013, with a maximum donation of $1.5 million.)
    Budweiser's world famous Clydesdales will be on display in the DIS midway area throughout the Coke Zero 400 race weekend. For nearly eight decades, the Budweiser Clydesdales have been an enduring symbol of Anheuser-Busch's heritage, tradition and commitment to quality. The hitch consists of eight horses, the famous red, white and gold beer wagon and two drivers seated next to the hitch's signature mascot Dalmatian. To qualify for one of the traveling hitches, a Budweiser Clydesdale must be a gelding at least four years of age, stand 72 inches at the shoulder when fully mature, weigh between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds, have a bay coat, four white legs, a white blaze, and black mane and tail.(RCR), see images of the car on the #29 Team Schemes page.(7-3-2013)

  • Richard Childress Racing Crew Member Fights Hunger in North Carolina: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) crew member Ray Wright is fighting to stop hunger in his home state of North Carolina. Wright, the RCR strength and conditioning coach and rear-tire carrier on the #27 Menards NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, has partnered with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC to create Pit Stops for Poverty, a charity dedicated to helping end hunger in the state. Pit Stops for Poverty earns donations through a variety of avenues, but the most unique way the non-profit group raises funds is through team pit stop challenges. Participating NASCAR Camping World Truck, Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams can earn monetary donations for positions gained on pit road and pit stops made under a designated amount of time. Several RCR drivers and crew chiefs are also helping in the fight to end hunger giving their teams extra incentive during pit stops.
    "It was shocking to learn how many people right here at home go to bed hungry at night," said Wright. "I started Pit Stops for Poverty to try and make a difference and I'm thrilled that so many of the RCR teams have agreed to participate. Every dollar and can of food donated will help to end this crisis in our state. I want to encourage everyone to help us fight hunger in North Carolina."
    An initiative started in April, Pit Stops for Poverty has already donated more than $6,000 to the cause. Approximately 1.8 million food insecure people live in the Tar Heel State, and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC serves more than 300,000 individuals in the 18 counties they assist. For every $1 donated seven nutritious meals are provided to hungry families in the area. The state of North Carolina ranks among the worst in the nation regarding the percentage of childhood hunger, with one in every four children being food insecure. Fans can also help Wright in his quest to defeat hunger by pledging to make donations each time their favorite RCR team makes a pit stop in the 11, 12 and 13 second range or for each position gained on pit road. To donate, visit www.pitstopsforpoverty.com. All donations go directly to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC a 501 (c) (3) charity and are tax deductible. Fans can also support the initiative by following @stops4poverty on Twitter.(RCR)(6-20-2013)

  • Newman wants to race for a team where he is wanted: #39-Ryan Newman's needs are simple."I just want to race some place where I'm wanted," Newman said. "Where people are happy I'm there." Newman received a one-year reprieve on his contract with Stewart-Haas Racing, where he is currently 18th in the standings. For most of the season, Newman has been outrunning his bossman Tony Stewart. While Newman's resume isn't as extensive as Stewart's, it's respectable with 16 Sprint Cup victories and six finishes of 10th or better in the standings. The 35-year-old South Bend, Ind., native ranks third among active drivers in pole positions with 49. Not surprisingly, team owner Richard Childress said last week that Newman tops his list of potential candidates for the #29 Chevy which is being vacated by Kevin Harvick at season's end. "There are only so many guys that don't have contracts for next year," Newman said. "At this point, I would entertain any possible opportunity. I don't think anyone in my position wouldn't do anything otherwise. "Of all the opportunities that there are out there, he's got one of the best opportunities - as far as the 29 being vacated. But I don't know what the family tree is going to look like over there."(FoxSports)(6-30-2013)

  • Richard Childress Racing to Participate in England's Goodwood Festival of Speed: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) will have a presence in England's Goodwood Festival of Speed for the fourth year by providing a pair of stock cars to be driven in this year's annual Hillclimb. Kerry Earnhardt will pilot the 2000 #3 GM Goodwrench Monte Carlo and Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III will drive the 2013 #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro in July's historic event. The Goodwood Festival of Speed, July 11-14, is one of the world's premier historic auto racing events. The festival has been held annually since 1993 on the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England. Race cars from the past and present participate in both demonstration and competition runs up the nine-turn, 1.16-mile Hillclimb circuit. The #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo the legendary Dale Earnhardt drove to victory in March 2000 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and tallied 10 top-five finishes that year, will be driven by his eldest son, Kerry Earnhardt.
    "I had the honor of attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2010 for RCR and drove the car that my dad won the 1995 Brickyard 400 with," Earnhardt said. "The fans 'over the pond' are so enthusiastic about NASCAR and to have the opportunity to attend such a prestigious event not once, but twice, is awesome. This time I will be driving RCR's 2000 #3 GM Goodwrench Monte Carlo that my dad won the spring Atlanta race in. Words can't express what I feel when I sit in dad's car, and I can't thank Richard (Childress) enough for asking me to participate again."
    Joie Chitwood III will be behind the wheel of the 2013 #3 Bass Pro Shops Camaro in this year's Festival of Speed. This Chevrolet is driven in regular NASCAR Nationwide Series competition by Childress' grandson Austin Dillon, the 2012 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year and 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion. "My dad, Joie Chitwood Jr., had the distinction of racing against Richard Childress back in the 1960s, so it's great to come full circle and drive one of his cars at Goodwood," Chitwood said. "It's a privilege to be behind the wheel of the #3 Chevrolet Camaro and part of this diverse celebration of motorsports." Both cars participating in Goodwood festivities were prepared by and will be cared for at the Festival of Speed by Danny Lawrence, former #3 team crew member. Lawrence is an award-winning engine builder and longtime member of the RCR management team.(RCR)(6-29-2013)

  • Childress could run the #3 in 2014: Richard Childress is still mulling whether to bring Dale Earnhardt's famous #3 back to Sprint Cup competition. Childress, who owns the rights to the car number that Earnhardt made famous, has said since last November that he believes that fans would accept a return of the slanted design that marked Earnhardt's car for six of his seven Cup championships. Speaking on SiriusXM's NASCAR channel Wednesday morning, Childress reiterated that only a member of his family or the Earnhardt family would race the number in Cup. Childress grandsons Austin and Ty Dillon have raced the number in the Truck and Nationwide series in recent years, and Austin Dillon could run a full-time Cup schedule in 2014. "We're definitely in the process of discussing that," Childress told the network Wednesday. "Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon did a great job representing it." He said he wouldn't want to run the #3 in Sprint Cup with just a partial schedule. The #3 has not been used in Cup since Earnhardt's death in 2001.(in part from the Sporting News)(6-26-2013)

  • Drivers, owners start looking to 2014: It was curious when [#78-Kurt] Busch slipped last Thursday after he was asked a silly question about who he would prefer to have dinner with when given a list of drivers. His focus turned to #39-Ryan Newman, his former Penske Racing teammate with whom he experienced a not-so-friendly feud on and off the track as the two free agents searched for rides last year. "Maybe Newman and I need to have a sit-down, because we're both out there charging hard and trying to get into the Chase, and we're looking for rides," said Busch, who almost immediately regretted the last few words. Busch, 34, signed a one-year deal with Furniture Row Racing last year. Although team owner Barney Visser attempted to extend the contract with Busch after he posted three consecutive top-10 finishes to close out the 2012 season, the driver believed it was best to hold off.
    And as Busch learned on Sunday - before he made the error of speeding down pit road twice, dropped to 38th and battled back to a fourth-place finish - FRR can produce cars capable of winning. That's a prospect not lost on his rival Newman, who has inquired about the possibility of a second team at FRR for 2014.
    Yes, Busch is accustomed to competing with high-profile teams but those coveted seats are few and far between. There have been talks with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Richard Childress Racing but the driver landscape remains in flux.
    On Sunday, Childress admitted that Newman, who will likely have the support of sponsor Quicken Loans, is topping his list of candidates for the #29 ride being vacated by Kevin Harvick. In the winner's post-race interview, Michael Waltrip acknowledged that Brian Vickers "is our guy." "We're trying to get all the pieces together so he can drive the #55 and race for the championship next year," Waltrip said.
    Furniture Row Racing has no issues with Busch testing the market - as long as it doesn't become a distraction for the team.(Fox Sports)(6-25-2013)

  • KHI branches out to professional athlete management: A perennial powerhouse in NASCAR in its 10 years of competition, Kevin Harvick, Inc. (KHI) has reached outside auto racing and into the world of professional athlete management, inking a deal to represent UFC fighter Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone. KHI, co-owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick and his wife, DeLana, is renowned in the motor sports world not only for its on-track success, but also for its efficacious and innovative sponsorship relationships. In its NASCAR operations, the company has demonstrated expertise in marketing through sponsor activation, sales and promotion, event management, advertising and public relations. More recently, KHI transferred its primary concentration to athletes and sponsors in and out of the auto racing industry, including Harvick, Cerrone, Jeff Burton (NASCAR) and Jason Gore (PGA). "One of KHI's strongest qualities always has been our ability to sell and maintain sponsorship in NASCAR despite the economic challenges," Kevin Harvick said. "With that solid foundation and the template we've created over the last 10 years, I think we are ready to take the next step to represent other athletes in other arenas. Donald is our first client in the UFC, and I'm excited about all the possibilities that lie ahead."(KHI)(6-24-2013)

  • Sad News - Gilford Hicks Martin Sr: #29-Kevin Harvick will be without his crew chief for practice at Pocono Raceway and possibly on race day Sunday as Gil Martin mourns the death of his father. Gilford Hicks Martin Sr. died Friday. He was 89. Gil Martin did not travel with the Richard Childress Racing team to Pocono, where events were being delayed by rain Friday with the weather expected to clear for track activity Saturday. It will not be determined until Sunday morning whether Martin will fly to Pocono with the race-day pit crew for the Sprint Cup race Sunday. If Martin does not travel to the track, car chief Chad Haney would call the race Sunday with the help of competition director Eric Warren.(Sporting News), Martin plans to be at Pocono for the race on Sunday.(6-8-2013)

  • Rheem returns to the #29: The red Rheem logo will adorn the hood of the #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevy this weekend at Pocono Raceway for their fourth of seven appearances during the 2013 Sprint Cup Series season. Rheem will also be featured on Harvick's Chevy at Sonoma in June, Michigan in August and Talladega in October (RCR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(6-6-2013)

  • Kevin Harvick wins the Coca Cola 600: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for his 2nd win of 2013, 2nd Coca Cola 600 and 21st career win.
    #5-Kahne finished 2nd followed by #78-Busch, #11-Hamlin, #22-Logano, #39-Newman, #14-Stewart, #15-Bowyer, #56-Truex Jr. and #9-Ambrose.
    Points leader #48-Johnson wrecked late in the race and finished 22nd, down 5 laps.
    On lap 126, a cable for Fox's overhead camera broke and fell on to the track, #18-Busch, who was 3rd at the time, caught the cable and it tore up the right front fender. The red flag was issued and cars were parked on pit road while crews cleaning up the cable. #9-Ambrose also had brake line tore off from the rope/cable and stuck in the grill and some damage to the roof. Busch got a phone/camera and took pictures of the damage as the crew was not allowed on pit road to look at the car. Once the cable/rope was removed, the cars took a lap and were brought to pit road for 15 minutes. Each team was allowed to check their cars for any damage the cable/rope may have caused. The team for #18-Busch, replaced a lot of the right fender. #55-Martin ran over the cable/rope and had some front splitter damage, then the rope went over the #9 Ford and wrapped aropund the left rear wheel area and broke a brake line. #42-Montoya had some slight damage and the team made repairs. #11-Hamlin had some damage to a roof flap. The red flag lasted 26 minutes.
    #18-Busch led 65 laps and was a strong contender until he lost an engine on lap 257 and finished 38th.
    On lap 326 #43-Almirola and #55-Martin made contact, sending the #55 and #43 into the frontstretch wall, collecting #24-Gordon, #47-Labonte, #13-Mears & #17-Stenhouse Jr., the red flag came out to clean up the track.
    There were 24 lead changes among 12 drivers and 11 cautions for 61 yellow flag laps and three red flags (camera cable & a big wreck).
    The average speed was 130.521mph. NASCAR no longer announces the track attendance.
    See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Charlotte Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Charlotte Penalty Report (pdf).
    See the Official Charlotte Race and Points Report.(5-27-2013)

  • Harvick Makes Special Appearance at Fort Bragg: America's most iconic beer paid tribute to America's heroes on Thursday, as Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Budweiser Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, made a special visit with military men and women stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. Folds of Honor Foundation founder Major Dan Rooney and Rocky Sickmann, director of military sales for Anheuser-Busch and retired U.S. Marines Sergeant, joined Harvick at Fort Bragg while he visited the Warrior Transition Battalion's (WTB) Soldier and Family Assistance Center. The Fort Bragg Warrior Transition Battalion provides command and control, primary care and case management for warriors who have suffered injury or illness while serving as a member of the U.S. Army. "I'm always at a loss for words for how to express my utmost gratitude to the men and women who serve our country," Harvick said. "I know the entire NASCAR community is behind me when I say I can't thank these individuals enough for their dedication and service. Freedom isn't free. It's because of them that we can enjoy even the simplest things in life." While at Fort Bragg Harvick presented the installation with the firesuit he wore while driving the #29 Budweiser Armed Forces Chevy to victory in the 2011 Coca-Cola 600. The firesuit was accepted by Major Jason Todd of the WTB on behalf of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) group. Harvick's visit to Fort Bragg was a part of Budweiser's "Red, White and Blue Summer" initiative, which benefits Folds of Honor Foundation. Since 2010, Anheuser-Busch has raised more than $5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation and provided more than 1,000 scholarships to the families of soldiers killed or disabled in service. From May 5 to July 4, 2013, with every purchase of Budweiser, the King of Beers will make a donation to the Folds of Honor Foundation up to $1.5 million*.(Bud Racing)(5-26-2013)

  • Folds of Honor scheme for Harvick: The #29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevy of Kevin Harvick will don a special patriotic paint scheme for Sunday's 600-mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway to reflect the special "Red, White and Blue Summer" packaging featured on the iconic Budweiser bottles and cans this summer. The packaging represents a special initiative in which the brand will contribute a portion of all sales from May 5 - July 4 to help raise as much as $1.5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation*, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel killed or disabled while serving their country. Since 2010, Budweiser has raised more than $5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation and provided more than 1,000 educational scholarships to the families of soldiers killed or disabled in service. (*Donation of 2 cents per case of Budweiser sold, May 5, 2013 to July 4, 2013, with a maximum donation of $1.5 million.)(RCR)(5-24-2013)

  • Harvick to visit Fort Bragg: #29-Kevin Harvick will join Folds of Honor Foundation founder Major Dan Rooney at Fort Bragg to make a special presentation to the base, tour the Warrior Transition Battalion and meet with soldiers on Thursday, May 23rd. The visit is a part of Budweiser's "red, white and blue summer" initiative, which benefits the Folds of Honor Foundation. Since 2010, Budweiser has raised more than $5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation and provided more than 1,000 educational scholarships to the families of soldiers killed or disabled in service. Harvick's No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet SS will feature a special patriotic paint scheme that reflects the King of Beers' limited-edition red, white and blue packaging as well as the Folds of Honor Foundation in the Memorial Day Weekend 600-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(Bud Racing)(5-20-2013)

  • Richard Childress Receives Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from UNOH: In a ceremony held at Sapona Ridge Country Club in Lexington, NC, legendary NASCAR team owner Richard Childress received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) on Wednesday, May 15. With more than 100 people in attendance, including his wife Judy, daughter Tina Dillon, son-in-law Mike Dillon, and grandsons Austin and Ty Dillon, the 14-time championship race team owner was bestowed the honor by Dr. Jeffrey Jarvis, president of UNOH. Dr. Jarvis presented the degree based on Childress' achievements in the high performance/motorsports industry, his commitment to assist in the school's goal of achieving educational excellence and his lifetime achievements in the field of auto racing.(RCR)(5-16-2013)

  • "A Racer's Life: Richard Childress" debuts Sunday: Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, will be featured in the next installment of SPEED TV's on-going series, "A Racer's Life: Richard Childress" this Sunday at 8:30pm/et. The hour-long show takes viewers for an in-depth and personal account of the driver-turned-championship-owner's life and career. He talks about how he got into racing, the glory years with Dale Earnhardt, and after, and the growth of Richard Childress Racing to where it is today. The interview was conducted in four different places with four different people. Austin Dillon, Childress' grandson and driver of RCR's #3 Advocare Chevy in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and former RCR driver, Ricky Rudd. A rare interview with Judy Childress, Richard's wife, adds even more of an in-depth and first-hand account of the 14-time championship team owner, family man, outdoorsman and businessman. In the program, Childress details his path to NASCAR greatness through key milestones, including his first visit to the track to his stint as an independent NASCAR racer; the difficult decision to hang up his helmet and put Earnhardt in his car; hiring Rudd; Earnhardt's return to RCR and his and Childress' triumphs and eternal bond; Childress' vision for the future of RCR; and his regrets over the years.(RCR)(5-11-2013)

  • Budweiser Launches New Racing App featuring Harvick: Budweiser is giving consumers a whole new look at what it's like to hit speeds of 190 mph in the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet SS with the interactive BUD 360° app. The King of Beers' innovative new app utilizes surround video technology to provide users with a 360-degree look inside Kevin Harvick's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride as the driver completes several laps at Charlotte Motor Speedway. While Harvick controls the wheel, the consumer controls the view, allowing them to experience the sensation of speed in never-before-seen angles. The resulting content is available for free in the Apple App Store for both iPhone and iPad users.(Budweiser Racing)(5-3-2013)

  • RCR receives Business Family of the Year Award from Wake Forest University: During a ceremony at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Thursday night, Richard Childress Racing received the Family Business of the Year Award, Large Business Category, from the school's Family Business Center. The award was based off the economic impact and contributions RCR has made in their community through the years. RCR was recognized for the race team's efforts, plus the Childress Winery, Sapona Ridge Country Club and Childress Institute of Pediatric Trauma. "It is an honor and privilege to accept this award on behalf of our entire Childress and Dillon family," said Judy Childress, wife of RCR's president and CEO Richard Childress. "Wake Forest University stands for leadership and progress for our future. Only in America can those dreams come true. Wake Forest is building our leaders for tomorrow, and generations to come through a four-year plan. We are doing the same thing at RCR, but we try to get it done in 500 laps." The ceremony was held at the Porter B. Byrum Welcome Center on the WFU campus.(RCR)(5-3-2013)

  • #4 for Harvick in 2014? Stewart-Haas Racing has applied for the trademark for the (4) Standard Character Mark or the #4. Supposedly to be used by Kevin Harvick when he moves over to Stewart-Hass Racing in 2014. You can see the trademark application / info at uspto.gov (do a search under Stewart-Haas). Other rumored numbers for Harvick at Stewart-Hass Racing: take the #29 with him from Richard Childress Racing with RCR using the #3 for Austin Dillon. Have heard some rumors the #8 could be in play.(4-30-2013)

  • Harvick wins at Richmond: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Toyota Owners 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway for his 1st win of 2013, 3rd win at Richmond and 20th career win. He easily took the lead after starting 7th on green white checker restart, behind several drivers on older tires. #15-Bowyer finished 2nd, followed by #22-Logano, #42-Montoya (who was leading the race until the final caution), #31-Burton, #99-Edwards, #20-Kenseth (who started from the pole and led the most laps on the night), #43-Almirola, #78-Busch, and #88-Earnhardt, Jr.
    There were 10 lead changes among 7 drivers and 11 cautions for 75 yellow flag laps. The average speed was 92.141mph.
    Starting this season, NASCAR doesn't release the track attendance.
    See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Richmond Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Richmond Penalty Report (pdf)
    See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf) and the owner points standings on the Owners Points Standings page (pdf).

  • Bell Helicopter sponsoring Harvick: Bell Helicopter will make its only scheduled appearance on the Richard Childress Racing #29 of Kevin Harvick Saturday night at Richmond. Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical-lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.(Richard Childress Racing), see an image of the car on the #29 team paint schemes page.(4-24-2013)



  • RCR Teams to Honor Memory of ECR Engines Co-Worker: Richard Childress Racing's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series teams will carry decals honoring the memory of an ECR Engines co-worker this week at Kansas Speedway. Joey Padgett, a valve train specialist at ECR Engines, passed away April 15 after suffering a heart attack. He was 57. Padgett had an extensive engine building career in NASCAR. He plied his craft with various companies including Ernie Elliott, Inc., Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, and Penske Racing before moving to ECR Engines in September 2012. He was also the owner/operator of Checkered Flag Fuels in Concord, N.C., where he was a lifelong resident. Memorials may be made to Cabarrus Pets Society, P.O. Box 5042, Concord, N.C. 28027. Online condolences may be left at wilkinsonfuneralhome.com. Wilkinson Funeral Home is serving the family.(RCR)(4-17-2013)

  • Bad Boy Buggies to sponsor Harvick at Kansas: #29-Kevin Harvick will carry the Bad Boy Buggies colors in the STP 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. Bad Boy Buggies is a leader in off-road utility vehicles for hunting and outdoor lifestyles. Bad Boy Buggies pioneered the category of electrically powered 4x4 vehicles, ideal for hunting and outdoor recreation due to their silent, odorless operation and environmentally friendly, emissions-free drivetrains. In 2010, the Bad Boy Buggies brand and product line were acquired by E-Z-GO, a business unit of Textron Inc.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #29 Team Schemes page.(4-17-2013)

  • RCR honors Warner Hodgon: Richard Childress Racing will honor former NASCAR track and team owner Warner Hodgon, who passed away March 20, with a memoriam decal [on thr RCR's Chevy's] at this weekend's NASCAR events at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. Hodgon was also president of Black Gold Oil Company, a RCR sponsor in the late-1970s when Richard Childress was both owner and driver of his #3 Chevy. "Warner was a great friend and partner who helped change the landscape of NASCAR team ownership in the late 1970s," said Childress. "I learned a lot about business from the advice he gave me over the years. He was there to help me with sponsorship from Black Gold when I really needed it. Warner was an entrepreneur with a great vision for where stock car racing could go and we stayed in touch long after his time in racing ended. He was a great friend and will be missed."(RCR)(3-22-2013)

  • Harvick to deliver tickets by Clydesdale: On Wednesday, Feb 20, #29-Kevin Harvick and wife DeLana will honor Ormond Beach, Fla., Marine veterans with a home delivery of Daytona 500 tickets via the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch. Jayson and Justin Ryter, 22-year-old twin brothers, both completed four years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps and recently returned home after being honorably discharged to pursue college degrees at Daytona State College. DIS fans can get a close look at the Budweiser Clydesdales, an enduring symbol of Anheuser-Busch's heritage, tradition and commitment to quality for nearly 80 years. The Budweiser Clydesdales will be stationed in the DIS midway for the remainder of Budweiser Speedweeks. In addition, the hitch, consisting of eight Clydesdales, the famous red, white and gold beer wagon, and two drivers seated next to the hitch's signature mascot Dalmation will take part in a pre-race parade lap prior to the Budweiser Duel on Thursday, Feb. 21 and the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 24.(RCR)(2-20-2013)

  • Austin Dillon hopes to wait for full Cup schedule to run #3: Austin Dillon has heard all the talk of him possibly racing Dale Earnhardt's famous #3 car in the Sprint Cup Series. And he's fine with that, although he would like it to be when he runs a full Cup season and not a partial schedule. There's pressure when running the stylized #3 made famous by the seven-time Cup champion, and Dillon doesn't want to wait a long time between races to feel he has to prove himself as worthy of the Richard Childress Racing number. Dillon has two career Cup starts [and plans to run the #33 at Daytona and the #51 at Las Vegas]. The #3 has not been used in Cup since Earnhardt's death in the 2001 Daytona 500. Childress said that 85% of fans want him to bring the #3 back to Cup, but he would only use it for a member of his family or the Earnhardt family. Childress has said he is heavily considering letting Dillon keep the #3 when he goes full-time Cup racing, which he hopes will be next year. Dillon has run the #3 for much of his racing career.(Sporting News)(2-9-2013)

  • Mark McArdle works for Furniture Row & RCR: Even before this season, Furniture Row Racing had a close relationship with Richard Childress Racing. Furniture Row gets its engines and chassis from RCR. The partnership was strengthened recently when Mark McArdle, managing director of competition at Furniture Row, took on a dual role as director of racing operations at RCR. With Furniture Row based in Denver, Colo., and RCR in Welcome, N.C.. The new opportunity for McArdle resulted from a standing offer by Furniture Row owner Barney Visser and general manager Joe Garone and hit critical mass when RCR hired Eric Warren as director of competition late in 2012. McArdle and Warren worked together at Evernham Motorsports. "Joe and Barney offered up my services to RCR if they could use me in any way to help that situation that they have there," McArdle told the NASCAR Wire Service. "Eric Warren and I had worked together for eight years at Evernham's. When he heard about that offer, he took us up on it and has asked me to operate as director of racing operations. The Cup teams, the Nationwide teams and the truck teams all report up through me. I report to Eric." With three Cup teams at RCR and one at Furniture Row, McArdle is spending more time in North Carolina as the organizations develop the Gen-6 car. "Right now, because of the intensity of the changeover process at RCR, we're doing kind of a two thirds/one third," McArdle said. "Two thirds of any given calendar month is being spent here in North Carolina, and about one third in Denver at this point. We hope that, as things become more stabilized and settled, that that will become more 50-50. Eventually the hope is to be able to train someone at RCR to step into that role."(NASCAR Wire Service)(1-24-2013)

  • Red Kap Joins RCR/ECR Engines: Richard Childress Racing has partnered with Red Kap, a division of VF Imagewear, Inc., as the official workwear outfitter for RCR and ECR Engines employees. Red Kap has been creating comfortable, durable workwear since starting out as a family business in 1923. Today they outfit 16 million Americans in a wide variety of industries.(RCR)(1-23-2013)

  • Harvick confirmed out of RCR after 2013: NASCAR team owner Richard Childress confirmed what driver Kevin Harvick would not since November 2012. Harvick will leave Childress, where he has been since his first Cup race in 2001, and drive for friend and team owner Tony Stewart at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. Childress, who spoke Monday night at NASCAR's Sprint Cup Media Tour, talked about knowing about Harvick's plans last year before the race at Phoenix International Raceway -- a race Harvick would win to snap a 44-race winless streak. "We had a meeting and he told me his plans and we discussed what we were going to do in '13," Childress said Monday. "He'll do well over there at Stewart-Haas, and RCR will keep going and moving forward. I think him and Tony will have a good relationship." Stewart, who spoke to the media earlier Monday about his three-car team that includes Ryan Newman and Danica Patrick, has hinted at adding a fourth car to the Stewart-Haas Racing stable. Harvick, meanwhile, told reporters he didn't have "anything to tell you for 2014." On Monday, Childress said he did not know whether sponsor Budweiser would leave RCR along with Harvick. "They haven't made any comments on what they're going to do," Childress said. Though Childress admitted he knew Harvick's plans before Phoenix, he said he was surprised when word leaked out because he didn't expect it to be released until after the postseason awards banquet. As for the future, Childress welcomes grandson Austin Dillon into the fold this season. Dillon is slated to race the Daytona 500, among a handful of other Cup races. Burton and Menard are signed through 2013.(in part from the USA Today)(1-22-2013)

  • Richard Childress Notes from the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour: The media was late getting to Richard Childress Racing in Lexington NC due to an accident on I-85, some notes:
    Richard Childress said #29-Kevin Harvick will do well at Stewart Haas Racing in 2014.
    Harvick didn't deny reports he will move to SHR in 2014 or offer up plans for 2014. Harvick is only talking about 2013 and making it his best season but said iy has been a good run (at RCR) and sometimes you need a change of pace. Childress said he knew Harvick wasn't returning in 2014 when story broke in Phoenix but it wasn't supposed to be let out before banquet.
    Richard Childress said he has no current plans to run the #3 in the Sprint Cup Series, at least for 2013. Childress said fan reaction has left him more open minded to using the #3 in the future.
    Richard Childress says he hired his first engineer in 1989 and now has around 30.
    Austin Dillon is named the spokesperson for COPD.(compiled from many Twitter feeds)(1-21-2013)

  • RCR Adds New Staff to Team Communications Programs: Richard Childress Racing has added two members to its communications staff. Andrea Cleveland has been named manager of communications in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the #27 Menards Chevy team and driver Paul Menard. Jeff O'Keefe has assumed a similar position with RCR's NASCAR Nationwide Series program with the #2 Shore Lodge Chevy team and driver Brian Scott. Cleveland begins her new responsibilities immediately while O'Keefe joined RCR's communications staff in December 2012.(RCR)(1-21-2013)

  • Richard Childress Signs on as Ambassador for TAG Heuer Eyewear: Richard Childress Racing president and CEO Richard Childress has signed a multi-year agreement with TAG Heuer Eyewear, joining grandsons Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon as ambassadors for the France-based eyewear company. The RCR team owner can be seen at race tracks across the country wearing TAG Heuer's L-Type Lightweight Alligator model glasses exclusively, in both clear and sunglasses. The Dillons both became TAG Heuer spokesmen in 2012 as part of a multi-year deal designed to bring exposure to the TAG Heuer brand and aid in retailer development. The Dillon brothers will continue to display the TAG Heuer eyewear logo on the visor of the racing helmet each wears during NASCAR competition, as well as in other forms of motorsport.(RCR), TAG Heuer is scheduled to sponsor Austin Dillon at Las Vegas in the #51 Phoenix Racing Chevy.(1-21-2013)

2013 News

  • 2013 Races [20+2] that Budweiser is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Daytona, Sprint Unlimited - 2/16
    Daytona 500 - 2/24
    Bristol - 3/17
    Martinsville - 4/7
    Talladega - 5/5
    Darlington - 5/11
    Charlotte, All-Star Race - 5/18, team with Rheem
    Charlotte - 5/26, Folds of Honor
    Michigan - 6/16
    Kentucky - 6/29
    Daytona - 7/6, Folds of Honor
    New Hampshire - 7/14
    Pocono - 8/4
    Watkins Glen - 8/11
    Richmond - 9/7
    Chicago - 9/15
    New Hampshire - 9/22
    Dover - 9/29
    Kansas - 10/6
    Texas - 11/3
    Phoenix - 11/10
    Homestead - 11/17

  • 2013 Races [6 + 1/2] that Rheem is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Las Vegas - 3/10
    Texas - 4/13
    Charlotte, All-Star - 5/18, team with Budweiser
    Pocono - 6/9
    Sonoma - 6/23
    Michigan - 8/18
    Talladega - 10/20

  • 2013 Races [8] that Jimmy John's is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Phoenix - 3/3
    Auto Club - 3/24
    Dover - 6/2
    Indianapolis - 7/28
    Bristol - 8/24
    Atlanta - 9/1
    Charlotte - 10/12
    Martinsville - 10/27

  • 2013 Races [1] that Bad Boy Bugies will be the sponsor:
     Kansas - 4/21

  • 2013 Races [1] that Bell Helicopters will be the sponsor:
     Richmond - 4/27

  • Childress consulted with Earnhardt family before using #3: The late Dale Earnhardt's famed #3 will be back on track in the elite Sprint Cup Series next season with Austin Dillon using the number. The move has been long anticipated because car owner Richard Childress has allowed his grandson to use the #3 as he's moved through NASCAR's ranks. Childress said he's consulted with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelley, every time he's moved the #3 to a different level on the track and the Earnhardt family has been supportive. Earnhardt Jr. declined to use the #3 following his father's death, but has raced the number in the Nationwide Series. "I would be worried if I didn't think he'd respect it or not understand the legacy, but he does. I know he does. He appreciates it," Earnhardt Jr. said last week of Dillon using the #3.(Associated Press)(12-12-2013)

  • NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Drivers who have won in the #3:
    The #3 was run in 1134 Sprint Cup Series races with 97 wins, 367 top-fives, 605 top-ten races and 65 poles.
    Dale Earnhardt, 67 wins in #3, 76 wins overall (HOF)
    Junior Johnson, 9, 50 (HOF)
    Paul Goldsmith, 5, 9
    David Pearson, 3, 105 (HOF)
    Dick Rathman, 3, 13
    Buck Baker, 2, 46 (HOF)
    Ricky Rudd, 2, 23
    Buddy Baker, 2, 19
    Fireball Roberts, 1, 33
    Charlie Glotzbach, 1, 4
    Danny Letner, 1, 2
    Earl Balmer, 1, 1
    (HOF) - in the NASCAR Hall of Fame
    Stats compiled from Racing-reference.info.
    Also see an artcle at NASCAR.com: Dale Earnhardt far from only legend to drive #3.(12-12-2013)

  • Cheerios to Sponsor Austin Dillon in his move to Sprint Cup: General Mills Inc.announced its sponsorship of rising star Austin Dillon in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2014. Dillon, the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, will drive the #3 Cheerios Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in NASCAR's elite series. To celebrate the news, Cheerios launched "Cheer the 3" social media communities on Facebook and Twitter for fans to interact and receive unique content about Austin and the #3 race team throughout the 2014 season.
    "We are proud to support a proven champion in Austin Dillon, a driver who shares many of the same values as Cheerios," said Gregg Dorazio, manager of Shopper Marketing and Motorsports at General Mills. "We have been an active sponsor in NASCAR for many years now and this is an exciting opportunity to be part of a historical moment in the sport."
    Austin Dillon, grandson of car owner Richard Childress, will be competing in his first full season in NASCAR's premiere series in 2014, building on an already impressive racing career. He became the youngest champion in Truck series history when he won the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship at 21 years, six months and 22 days. The 23-year-old driver won the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship, becoming only the third driver in NASCAR history to win both the Nationwide and Camping World Truck championships. In addition to his championships, Dillon earned Rookie of the Year honors in both series.
    "I'm thrilled to take this next step in my career and think it's awesome to have the support of Cheerios, a cereal I've eaten since I was a kid," said Dillon. "After gaining experience in Truck and Nationwide Series competition, I'm ready to take this next step and drive the #3 Cheerios Chevrolet against the best drivers in the world." First entering NASCAR in 1997, General Mills has been an active sponsor of the sport for over 15 years working with elite drivers including Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin and Johnny Benson.(Cheerios Racing)
    See images of the #3 Cheerios Chevy, see my #3 Team Schemes page.(12-12-2013)

  • Childress announces the return of the #3, Austin Dillon to drive, schemes posted UPDATE 2: Richard Childress Racing has scheduled an announcement for their 2014 plans on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 11 at the RCR facilities in Welcome, NC. It is expected that they will announce Austin Dillon's move to Sprint Cup and the return of the #3 Chevy.(12-4-2013)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing has scheduled a press conference for noon Wednesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where NASCAR Sprint Cup testing will take place following two days of rain delays. According to multiple sources, Austin Dillon, grandson of team owner Richard Childress, will be named as the driver of one of the RCR Chevrolet SS Sprint Cup cars. And his car will carry the #3, the number Dillon used while competing in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck series, but one that has been absent from the Cup series since the death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001. A team spokesman contacted by FOXSports.com would confirm only that Wednesday's press conference was about the team's 2014 plans and would include at least one sponsor announcement. Rumored but unconfirmed sponsors for the #3 include Dow Chemical, which has a long history with RCR, General Mills and Jack Daniel's. Dillon, the reigning Nationwide champion and 2011 Truck series title winner, has already acknowledged he's moving up to the Sprint Cup Series in 2014.(FoxSports)
    AND folks can watch the press conference at nascar.com.
    UPDATE2 Austin Dillon, a champion in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, will compete full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2014 driving for Richard Childress Racing. Dillon joins Paul Menard, who will drive the #27 Menards Chevrolet with crew chief "Slugger" Labbe, and Ryan Newman, who will drive the #31 Caterpillar/Quicken Loans/Wix Filters Chevrolet with crew chief Luke Lambert, as full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers under the RCR banner in 2014. The Welcome, N.C., organization has invested significant resources in its competition and engineering departments to prepare for the 2014 season. Many of these changes were spearheaded by the additions of Dr. Eric Warren (director of competition) and Mark McCardle (director of racing operations) to the organization, along with the recent addition of Mike Coughlan (technical director).
    Dillon's program will be led by crew chief Gil Martin, a 13-year veteran of the organization who led Kevin Harvick to six chase berths. It also marks the highly anticipated return of the #3 to Sprint Cup Series competition. Dow (supposedly the primary for 16 races) and General Mills' Cheerios brand will be the primary brands featured on the #3 Chevrolet SS throughout the season.
    "My grandfather and everyone at RCR have done a great job of not pushing me too quickly into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series," said Dillon. "I feel like I've been able to spend adequate time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series preparing for this next step in my career. I am thrilled to be making this move with partners like Dow and Cheerios, along with some long-time partners who have supported me and RCR throughout my career. I am truly grateful and looking forward to this opportunity."
    The program between RCR and Dow is driven by several Dow businesses that are directly involved in R&D projects and strategic business and relationship opportunities unique to the NASCAR community. "We see this as a great opportunity to partner with a historic team like Richard Childress Racing that is synonymous with success, integrity and championships, and a championship driver in Austin Dillon," said Joe Harlan, executive vice president of Dow. "Austin's winning passion is representative of Dow. Our employees and customers were very supportive of our debut into our partnership with RCR during 2013 and they are looking forward to continued involvement with Austin next year. Dow's technology-focused, market-driven, customer-centric organization aligns perfectly with the performance-driven values of RCR and NASCAR. We look forward to being a part of Austin's rookie NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and continued success in NASCAR."
    General Mills is entering its 17th year in NASCAR and its sixth year with RCR. They began their association with Dillon last year when the Minneapolis, MN.-based company used its Honey Nut Cheerios brand to help Dillon make his inaugural Daytona 500 start. Today, Cheerios launched the @CheerThe3 communities on Facebook and Twitter so fans can access exclusive content and share their excitement around Austin and the #3 race team. "With Austin Dillon's success in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, we're proud to continue our support of Austin, a proven winner and passionate driver," said Gregg Dorazio, manager of shopper marketing and motorsports for General Mills. "He shares many of the same values as the Cheerios brand and has a bright future in the sport. We're excited to join him in this next step in his career. We're also proud to continue our partnership with RCR and continue our heritage in the sport."
    In addition to Dow and Cheerios, several long-time partners associated with RCR and Dillon will join him as he moves to full-time competition in the Sprint Cup Series including Realtree Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops, American Ethanol and the University of Northwestern Ohio.(RCR)
    See images of the #3 Dow and Cheerios Chevy, see my #3 Team Schemes page.(12-11-2013)

  • Childress to announce 2014 plans: TODAY: Richard Childress Racing has scheduled an announcement for their 2014 plans on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 11 at the RCR facilites in Welcome, NC. It is expected that they will announce Austin Dillon's move to Sprint Cup and the return of the #3 Chevy.(12-4-2013)
    UPDATE: Due to rescheduled testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway, RCR will hold their announcement at the facility at 12:00pm/et. NASCAR.com will stream the announcement as it happens.(12-11-2013)

  • Harvick's home suffers damage from fire UPDATES: Kevin Harvick and his family escaped injury when a fire broke out in their Oak Ridge, N.C., home Wednesday morning. Both Kevin and his wife, DeLana, tweeted photos of the fire department at their house saying they were thankful for the response and that they were OK. The fire and fire alarm that went off woke up the Harvicks, his wife tweeted. Kevin Harvick Inc. later tweeted that the Harvicks were fine and suffered no major damage to their home.(Sporting News)(11-27-2013)
    UPDATE: Kevin Harvick, Inc, tweeted Wednesday, "Last night the local fire department was called to the Harvick's house where a fire started in the basement in the early morning hours. There was structural and smoke damage within the area. Kevin, DeLana and Keelan were not injured. Thank you all for the outpouring of concern."(11-28-2013)
    UPDATE 2: Kevin Harvick won't be able to live in his home for another four to six months because of a Nov. 27 fire at his North Carolina residence. Harvick told reporters Friday following the Sprint Cup Series Awards in Las Vegas that the fire started when the floor joist underneath the fireplace caught on fire between the downstairs ceiling and the upstairs floor. "We couldn't really find the fire but it was basically just sitting between the two floors getting bigger and bigger and bigger," Harvick said. "When we walked downstairs, there was probably three foot of smoke from top to bottom from one end of the house to the other. So we were very fortunate. ... We were very lucky with our home. The fire alarm pretty much saved our house." Initially, Harvick thought he would be back in his home by February. "The more we dig into it, the worse it gets," Harvick said. "They told us (Thursday) that we're four to six months (before returning)." The Harvicks have been living in their motorhome while looking for a place to stay.(Sporting News)(12-8-2013)

  • Dillon and the #3 to Cup?...announcement soon: The announcement is "pretty close," Austin Dillon said. Two years after winning a NASCAR Truck series title in a #3 Chevy fielded by his grandfather's NASCAR team, possibly still basking in the glow of a first Nationwide Series title he could clinch on Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the same number for the same organization, the 23-year-old under the ever-present cowboy hat is expected to steward the iconic number back into the Sprint Cup Series for the first time in 13 years.(ESPN)(11-16-2013)


    at Homestead-Miami Speedway, all of Richard Childress Racing cars are carrying a decal in memory of Horace Simpson, one of the original Flying Aces (RCR Twitter)

  • A Special Tribute for Harvick: In honor of his time at Richard Childress Racing, #29-Kevin Harvick will wear a special helmet for Sunday's race to recognize all of the accomplishments and milestones achieved during his time with the team. The helmet features images from several of his key wins and NNS championships, as well as other special moments from his career.(RCR)(11-13-2013)

  • Harvick wins at Phoenix: #29-Kevin Harvick won the AdvoCare 500(k) Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway for his 4th win of 2013, his 4th win at Phoenix and 23rd career win. Harvick led the most laps with 70 of 312.
    Pole sitter and points leader #48-Johnson finished 3rd with #20-Kenseth having a tough day and finishing 23rd, Johnson now leads the points 28 over Kenseth and 34 over Harvick with one race left.
    If #48-Johnson finishes 23rd or better at Homestead he will clinch his 6th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
    #5-Kahne finished 2nd followed by #48-Johnson, #88-Earnhardt Jr. #78-Busch, #42-Montoya. #18-Busch #56-Truex Jr., #22-Logano and #39-Newman.
    There were 23 lead changes among 13 drivers and 8 cautions for 49 yellow flag laps.
    The average speed was 105.733mph. NASCAR no longer announces the track attendance.
    See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Phoenix Race & Points Report (pdf)

  • RCR Announces hiring of Mike Coughlan as Technical Director: Richard Childress Racing has hired Mike Coughlan as the team's new Technical Director, effective immediately. Coughlan, a native of Surrey, England, brings to RCR more than two decades of motorsports experience, with a heavy concentration and success in Formula 1. During his 15 years in F1, Coughlan was a chief designer with teams such as Arrows, Benetton, Ferrari, McLaren and Williams; earning more than 20 victories. He has also served as a chief engineer and technical director with several teams. Coughlan also has prior NASCAR experience, having worked with Michael Waltrip Racing in late 2010 and early 2011 before returning to his F1 roots.
    The addition of Coughlan greatly adds depth to the RCR competition organization. That area will now be managed with two major approaches and perspectives: race operations and engineering. Mark McArdle, who joined RCR full-time in August 2013, will continue in his role as Director of Race Operations, with Coughlan now serving as Technical Director. Both will report to Dr. Eric Warren, RCR's Director of Competition. Their combined depth of experience and established leadership with championship winning teams, in multiple forms of racing, provides even more strength to RCR's culture of rapid performance development and efficient execution at the track.
    "I have known Mike Coughlan for many years and have a tremendous amount of respect for both his personal skills as an engineer and as a leader of people," Dr. Warren said. "He is a tremendous talent and has a rare combination of experience in leading teams and development programs in Formula 1, along with prior experience and exposure to NASCAR. To be successful in any form of racing, you have to push hard to find performance gains and his experience will strengthen RCR with regards to our competition."
    Coughlan is looking forward to applying his combined experience, success and knowledge with his new role. "This is a great opportunity for me to become involved with a team like Richard Childress Racing," Coughlan said. "This is one of the great teams in NASCAR and their commitment to winning is second-to-none. I feel with the increased technical focus of the Sprint Cup Series and the direction that the sport is moving, it makes a perfect fit for me. I look forward to helping Eric Warren, and the rest of the team, in bringing more success to the organization through the next few years."(RCR)(11-9-2013)

  • Harvick golf tournament a success: Kevin Harvick took a detour on his way to Phoenix International Raceway on Wednesday, stopping in his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif., to host the Fourth Annual Happy's Classic Golf Tournament Presented by Advanced Distribution and Blackhole Technologies. Proceeds from the tournament, held at Bakersfield Country Club, benefit the Kevin Harvick Foundation, dedicated to the support of programs that positively enrich the lives of children throughout the United States. As part of a continuing effort to support athletics at North High School, Harvick's alma mater in Bakersfield, the Kevin Harvick Foundation also surprised the school's golf teams with a donation of 21 sets of new golf clubs, golf bags, putters and team apparel. Additionally, the Foundation honored its newest student athlete with the presentation of the Kevin Harvick Athletic Scholarship to California State University-Bakersfield student athlete Coleman Hammond. Hammond, a member of the university's wrestling team, received a one-year, full scholarship toward his college education. The Kevin Harvick Athletic Scholarship exists to enable collegiate student athletes to pursue an undergraduate degree while participating in athletics. It was first awarded to a California State University-Bakersfield (CSU-B) student athlete in 2010 as part of Harvick's effort to give back to his hometown community with a 12-year commitment to CSU-B. The Kevin Harvick Foundation also established a similar initiative at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.(KHF)(11-8-2013)

  • Harvick rips Dillon brothers after truck race accident UPDATES: #29-Kevin Harvick unloaded on the Sprint Cup team he is leaving after a wreck with team owner Richard Childress' grandson, Ty Dillon, during Saturday's Camping World Truck Series race. Harvick, who was driving for another team in the Kroger 200, and Dillon were racing for second when their trucks collided and knocked both from contention. Harvick, who is leaving Richard Childress Racing after 13 seasons in Sprint Cup to join Stewart-Haas Racing, implied that nepotism and lineage were factors in his decision. Ty Dillon has raced in the Camping World Truck series the past two seasons and is moving into Nationwide next year to supplant his older brother, Austin, who is expected to move into Sprint Cup and effectively take over the ride being vacated by Harvick.
    "(Dillon) just dumped me," Harvick said about the crash. "Exactly the reason why I'm leaving RCR because you've got those kids coming up, and they've got no respect for what they do in this sport and they've had everything fed to them with a spoon."
    Dillon slammed Harvick several times during the ensuing yellow flag. Harvick's truck also stopped near Dillon's pit stall, where it was accosted by several members of Dillon's crew, one of whom appeared to hurl an orange hammer at it. MRN.com reported that Childress encouraged Dillon to hit Harvick's truck under yellow.
    Childress told MRN.com and the Sporting News that Harvick would race Sunday at Martinsville in the #29 ("We're still rolling.") but also said he was "very disappointed" in Harvick. "That's all I can say," Childress said. "I've got too much class to say what I want to say right now. When I say it, I will say it to his face."(USA Today)(10-27-2013)
    UPDATE: Kevin Harvick apologized for his comments about teammate Ty Dillon during Sunday's NASCAR RACEDAY on FOX Sports 1. Harvick spoke to hosts John Roberts, Kyle Petty and Larry McReynolds.
    What made you angry in yesterday's incident? "I think there was just a lot of emotion involved. I hate it for everybody at RCR. You go back and look at the things that happened, and sometimes you regret the things that you say for sure. Yesterday was definitely one of them. I hate it for my guys, and everybody working on the cars. Obviously, when those emotional situations come about; you say things that you really don't want to say. I just want to apologize to all of those guys, work hard today and try and do everything we can to win the race.
    Were these comments a result of the frustration and the pressure? "I think yesterday was just some frustration on how the race ended. You never want to be in a situation like were in, and obviously, the short-track racing and everything that happened, you try to do the right things, and yesterday I didn't do the right thing. We just have to do what we have to do today to put ourselves in a position to be as successful as we can."
    Have you had a conversation with Ty Dillon? "No. I think it's best for all of us to just cool down and have a sensible conversation about things that are going. I wish that's what I would have done yesterday. It's one of those situations that you don't want to be a part of, but I don't have anybody else to blame but myself." (Fox Sports PR)(10-27-2013)
    UPDATE 2: Richard Childress fiercely defended his two grandsons Sunday morning, a day after Childress driver Kevin Harvick called Ty Dillon "a punk-ass kid" after they wrecked at Martinsville Speedway. Harvick's job might be safe but the relationship with Childress, the owner of Richard Childress Racing, soured after he called Childress' grandsons Austin and Ty Dillon spoiled "punks" and "rich kids" following Saturday's race. "What happened on the track was one thing," Childress said, "but the comments afterwards is where I'm really upset. I'll never apologize for giving my grandsons an opportunity, just like the France family, the Earnhardt family, the Wood brothers. You go down the list of the people that have been given opportunities. All of them didn't make it. You've got to go out and earn what you've got, the opportunity in life to succeed. And these boys earned it." Childress, who talked with Harvick on Sunday morning, said he is committed to Harvick and the team sponsors for the final four races of the season. "We're going to give him everything humanly possible to win that championship," Childress said. "I'm committed to him for four more races, just like I committed to him the day that he said he was leaving. I shook his hand and committed I'd give him 100 percent, and I'm going to do it. But I'm not going to be backed into a corner."(Sporting News)(10-27-2013)

  • Richard Childress Racing promotes four: Richard Childress Racing has promoted four employees to management positions within its Communications and Partnership Marketing Departments. Jeremy Burleson, Lauren Hoffmann, Tim Packman and Jeff Patterson have been named to key roles and have already assumed their new duties with the team.
    Burleson has been the acting Managing Director, Partnership Marketing/Communications since October 2012 and will officially continue in that role. His duties will include the overall day-to-day operations of the two departments.
    Packman is an award-winning author, broadcaster, writer and communications veteran in the NASCAR industry and motorsports. He has been the acting Director, Corporate Communications for the organization since May. Packman's duties include the overall communications message for RCR, along with media inquiries and personal endeavors for Richard Childress, president and CEO.
    Patterson has been Senior Manager, Partnership Marketing and is now being promoted to Director, Partnership Marketing. He has prior experience at Retail Sports Marketing, the NHL with the New York Rangers, AHL's Bridgeport (Conn.) Sound Tigers and the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays.
    Hoffmann graduated from Elon University and earned a Master's Degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University. She has been promoted to Senior Manager, Partnership Marketing. Her past experiences includes working with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, Wasserman Media Group and the Professional Bull Riders, Inc.(RCR)(10-26-2013)

  • Harvick wins Kansas: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Hollywood Casino 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway for his 3rd win of 2013 and 22nd career win. Harvick led the most laps and won his 3rd career race from the pole.
    #78-Busch finished 2nd followed by #24-Gordon, #22-Logano, #99-Edwards, #48-Johnson, #27-Menard, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #9-Ambrose and #43-Almirola.
    #18-Busch who started from the rear of the field in a backup car, crashed on lap 200 and finished 34th. #39-Newman was caught up in a wreck earlier and finished 35th.
    There were 24 lead changes among 12 drivers and a record 15 cautions for a record 71 yellow flag laps.
    The average speed was 114.884mph. NASCAR no longer announces the track attendance.
    See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Kansas Race & Points Report (pdf).(10-6-2013)

  • Jimmy John's joins Stewart-Haas in 2014: Jimmy John's, maker of gourmet sandwiches with freaky fast delivery since 1983, will joinStewart-Haas Racing (SHR) beginning in 2014 as a primary sponsor of driver Kevin Harvick and the #4 Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Jimmy John's will be the primary sponsor of Harvick and the #4 team for 12 races, highlighted by the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For the remaining 26 races on the Sprint Cup schedule, Jimmy John's will serve as a major associate sponsor of the #4 Chevy. Jimmy John's will also be an associate sponsor of the #14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet of SHR driver/owner Tony Stewart, who will join Harvick in representing Jimmy John's. "We are fortunate to partner with Kevin for many more years in a very meaningful way," said Jimmy John Liautaud, CEO and founder, Jimmy John's. "On and off the track, Kevin and (wife) DeLana Harvick are winners in all they do. And Tony's reputation as a fierce competitor speaks for itself. Game on."
    From humble beginnings in Champaign, Ill., in 1983, Jimmy John's has grown to become a dominant entity in the quick-service restaurant industry. With more than 1,700 stores throughout the United States, Jimmy John's success is attributed to an innate desire to simply be the best. Their award-winning bread is baked fresh each day, and its meat and vegetables are sliced fresh daily. Its food contains no additives and no vegetable-based fillers. Augmenting the company's unmatched product is equally unmatched service, with every sandwich made fresh to order in less than 30 seconds.
    "I've known Jimmy since 2009 and I've personally seen how driven he is and how his work ethic is embraced by Jimmy John's franchisees," said Harvick, winner of 21 Sprint Cup races, including the 2007 Daytona 500 and 2003 Brickyard 400. "He wants to be the best, period. And he'll out-work everyone to be the best. That's the same mindset we have in racing. I'm proud to continue this partnership with Jimmy John's at Stewart-Haas Racing."
    "Jimmy's passion for quality products and service has made Jimmy John's what it is today," said Stewart, a three-time Sprint Cup champion. "He's a savvy marketer who has seen the benefit of a NASCAR team sponsorship. We're pleased to partner with Jimmy John's because combining quality with quickness is what Stewart-Haas Racing is all about."(SHR)(9-24-2013)

  • Image of Austin Dillon's #3 for next year? There are few things that get NASCAR fans fired up more than the idea of the #3 returning to the Sprint Cup Series. Made famous by Dale Earnhardt Sr., the #3 has not been run in the Sprint Cup Series since his untimely death in 2001. Although an official announcement has yet to happen, it is widely expected that Austin Dillon will make the transition to run the in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season in 2014. The grandson of team owner Richard Childress, it is likely Dillon will drive the #3 car. An image of a #3 Cheerios Chevy Sprint Cup Series car was making the rounds on social media Tuesday, but will this be Dillon's ride for 2014? According to team officials, the picture of the #3 car is a concept RCR was working through with Cheerios at the beginning of the season, and is not the car Dillon will run next season.(Fox Sports), see an image of the car on the 2014 #3 team paint scheme page.(9-18-2013)

  • RCR, Furniture Row to continue alliance: Richard Childress Racing and Furniture Row Racing have agreed to continue their successful technical alliance in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. The alliance includes technology sharing, engineering, research and development provided to FRR's #78 Chevy from RCR. The partnership, which started in 2010, also includes FRR utilizing the highly reliable and powerful engines of ECR Engines. This season, the # 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet driven by Kurt Busch qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship on the strength of one pole, seven top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. Busch has eight front row starts this season, which is the most he has earned in any year of his career.(RCR)(9-12-2013)

  • Ty Dillon to move to #3 NNS ride in 2014, Austin to move to Cup in 2014? UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing has partnered with D.G Yuengling & Son to be a primary sponsor on the #3 Yuengling Light Lager Chevrolet with driver Ty Dillon during the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. As part of their 185th anniversary of brewing great lager, America's oldest operating brewery will be the primary sponsor on the RCR Chevrolet Camaro for eight races of the 2014 schedule. Yuengling Light Lager will be a key partner as Dillon moves full time to the Nationwide Series next season. Dillon is currently competing for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship and has one victory to his credit this season (RCR). Looks like Ty is replacing Austin Dillon in the #3 NNS Chevy. This move kind of strengthens the rumors that Austin Dillon supposedly move up to the Sprint Cup Series in 2014, driving a car for Richard Childress Racing. Rumors have Childress bring back the #3 with Austin Dillon driving, either replacing Kevin Harvick in the #29 and changing to the #3 or as a fourth Cup team in 2014.(8-19-2013)
    UPDATE: from a Roush Fenway Racing press release about AdvoCare sponsoring Trevor Bayne the #6 NNS ride in 2014: "AdvoCare served as the sponsor on the #3 car of Austin Dillon the past two seasons. With Dillon making the move to full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing in 2014, the organization began the process of diligently seeking out its best option moving forward."(8-21-2013)

  • Some Pit Crew Changes: Last week Pit Talks posted a list of all the changes on pit road since the beginning of the season. Since then there have been a few more major changes to Chase contending teams. Here are the changes known:
    #29-Rear Carrier Aaron Schields has been replaced by Ethan Marquette.
    #24-Rear Carrier Gene Cornwell is out with injury and is replaced by Jody Fortson.
    #99-Front Changer Corey Baldwin is changing places with Mike Lingerfelt on the #17.
    #56-Front Changer Eric Maycroft is replaced by Terry Spalding.
    All these changes are important because all of them are either in the Chase or on the bubble to make the chase. Changing teams this late in the season can prove to be very productive or simply slow the process down.(Pit Talks and see Jayski's 2013 Pit Crew Chart)(8-20-2013)

  • Rheem on the Hood of the #29 at MIS: The red Rheem logo will adorn the hood of the #29 RCR Chevy of Kevin Harvick this weekend at Michigan International Speedway for their sixth of seven appearances during the 2013 Sprint Cup Series season. Rheem will also be featured on Harvick's Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway in October.(RCR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(8-15-2013)

  • McaArdle joins Childress; Newman to the #29? Richard Childress Racing has named Mark McArdle as their Director of Racing Operations on a full-time basis, effective this weekend at Watkins Glen International. For the past four years, McArdle was with Furniture Row Racing, first as Director of Competition and this year holding the title of Executive Director of Competition. This season, his duties have included operating on a shared basis between RCR and Furniture Row Racing, which has had a technical alliance with RCR since 2010. McArdle will report to Dr. Eric Warren, Director of Competition for RCR, and still work closely with Furniture Row Racing, but from the RCR facility and not traveling to FRR's facilities in Colorado.(RCR)(8-11-2013)
    AND: The move comes at a time when RCR is looking to fill the ride vacated by #29-Kevin Harvick and hoping to retain its technical alliance with Furniture Row and is in exploratory discussions with JTG-Daugherty Racing to add the organization's # 47 team to the fold as well. Currently FRR is weighing its options with other manufacturers since its contract with Chevy runs out at the end of the year. Toyota has visited FRR in Denver but nothing has been formalized either way. FRR principals have put their driver selection on hold until after the manufacturer decision has been made, which should be over the next couple of weeks. As for RCR, sources say Ryan Newman has taken the lead in the search to find a driver to replace Harvick, who is leaving at the end of the season. A new twist to the story could be the addition of crew chief Matt Borland with Newman as a package deal for RCR.(Fox Sports)(8-11-2013)

  • Childress has partial funding for a fourth team: Team owner Richard Childress was asked about plans for next year during a media teleconference Monday:
    Q: At New Hampshire when we talked to you about the lineup and sponsorship, you said definitely Menard and Burton, question mark, possibly a fourth driver. A couple weeks down the road, after the Budweiser announcement, do you have an idea when you would like to nail things down and have an announcement ready for 2014 on the driver and sponsorship lineup?
    Childress: That's a good question. Right now we're finalizing some final things. We have sponsorship on a third and we actually have some sponsorship on a fourth. But having it all finalized and put together, it could be a couple of months down the road before we have everything ready to do some announcing on any of that.(NASCAR)(7-23-2013)

  • Who will be Harvick's crew chief at Stewart-Haas? Sources say that Budweiser signed off with [Stewart-Haas Racing] in the last month - after opting not to introduce a fourth different driver in seven seasons. Although [Stewart-Haas Racing] and Kevin Harvick declined to name a crew chief for the #4 team, [Michael Waltrip Racing's #55] Rodney Childers has been mentioned as the lead candidate.(Fox Sports)(7-14-2013)

  • Harvick discusses move to Stewart-Hass: From Kevin Harvick's Friday media availability:
    HOW EXCITED ARE YOU THAT BUDWEISER IS GOING TO FOLLOW YOU TO STEWART-HAAS RACING?
    "Obviously, it's nice to officially all the speculation about numbers and teams and as far as the sponsorship, obviously we've had three years with Budweiser and looking forward to moving forward with them as a sponsor. It's been an interesting process just from the fact that we really haven't been involved in much of anything on the sponsorship side of it just for the fact that when we did the deal with SHR we were knowing that we were having to move forward for a year here and we wanted to make sure that we did a good job with RCR so it's nice to be in a position to not have to go out and be a part of that whole process and be able to focus on racing a car and getting the performance and doing the things that we need to do at RCR. It's worked out well and those guys at SHR took full responsibility to have the car funded and that made my life a lot easier."
    WHY WAS THE MOVE MADE WITH BUDWEISER?
    "I signed a deal with Stewart Haas Racing and everybody was pretty sensitive to the fact that we still had another year. For those guys to take the responsibility and say, if we don't have the sponsorship then the car will be on the race track and will be funded. There's something to be said about having that guarantee of money behind the car and being able to be on the race track and for me kind of with the transition and wanting to do a good job this year and they were very sensitive to me wanting to be competitive on the race track.
    WERE YOU CONFIDENT THAT BUDWEISER WOULD GO WITH YOU?
    "Basically what happened was we decided that was what we wanted to do from a team standpoint. We went to the team at SHR, we worked out my contract and they basically guaranteed what the car would have on it on the race track and they basically took full responsibility to figure out what direction they wanted to go from a sponsorship standpoint and how to make it go around. It didn't have one dollar of sponsorship when I signed the contract."
    ARE YOUR OTHER SPONSORS COMING OVER? RHEEM, JIMMY JOHN'S?
    "Look I have no idea. That was the intriguing part about the SHR (Stewart-Haas Racing) piece of it was the car is going to be on the track and they said you go do your job and finish your year and race the cars as hard as you can and do a good job for Richard (Childress) and we will worry about the rest of it.
    DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA CREW CHIEF WISE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? WILL YOU HAVE INPUT INTO THAT?
    "I'm sure we will sit down and talk about crew chiefs and things because obviously those will have to happen before we get to December. We will talk about a direction and that will be probably the extent of the conversation moving forward. Everybody is sensitive to wanting to make sure that we do a good job this year at RCR and they do a good job in their current situation.(Chevy PR)(7-13-2013)

  • Newman will not return to Stewart-Haas UPDATE - Options for 2014: Tony Stewart was asked about the status of #39-Ryan Newman Friday morning after the announcement that Kevin Harvick was joining Stewart-Haas next season:
    WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WITH NOW HAVING THREE DRIVERS FOR NEXT YEAR HOW DOES THIS IMPACT RYAN NEWMAN, HIS PROGRAM, ARE YOU GUYS READY TO EXPAND TO A FOURTH TEAM?
    "No, we are not ready to expand to a fourth team. Unfortunately, this will be the last year that we have Ryan (Newman) with us. That's probably what has made this a bittersweet day. I'm bringing in another one of my friends to the organization, but also knowing that I'm losing a friend at the end of the year to the organization. The number one thing when Ryan and I spoke is that our friendship will not change. This was a business decision that was Gene's (Haas) as well as mine and it was a hard decision. There is a personal side and there is a business side. For Ryan and I we had to put the personal bit of it aside to work through the business part. I'll do everything I can to help Ryan in any way I can moving forward to try to help him in his effort to find another team next year. I'm behind him 100 percent. I believe in him 100 percent. I truly wish we were able to facilitate four teams at this time. We are just not able to do that. Down the road I'm sure if that becomes a possibility that he will most definitely will be on the list to fill the fourth seat again."(Chevy PR)(7-12-2013)
    UPDATE: From Ryan Newman's media availability Friday:
    IN YOUR MIND WHAT WOULD BE AN IDEAL SITUATION FOR YOU IN 2014?
    "I don't know. There are organizations out there that are capable of winning championships and capable of racing I guess into the Chase to give themselves and opportunity at a championship. It's obvious that there are some seats that are moving around and becoming available and potentially coming available. To me I first and foremost want to be wanted for my ability. Ability behind the wheel as well as what I can do for the sponsors. That is the most important part. There are a lot of things to be considered, but I was sincere when I said it I want to be someplace where I'm wanted. I want to be wanted for my abilities and the desires that we have as common goals to win a championship.
    DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMITMENTS FROM ANY OF YOUR CURRENT SPONSORS TO GO WITH YOU TO WHATEVER RACE TEAM YOU MAY END UP AT? DO YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE YOU WILL BE IN CUP NEXT YEAR?
    "I have no idea on any part of it. There are no answers that I have. Obviously, I have my own homework to do. I have no answers with respect to any of that at this point."(Chevy PR)
    AND: Nemwan has been looking for 2014 opportunities since signing a one-year extension with SHR last fall but said it was stressful to have "no idea" where he'd land. Though he wouldn't confirm whether he would bring sponsorship, SHR apparently isn't retaining Quicken Loans, the primary sponsor of Newman's #39 for 18 races this season, and there's been speculation they might follow the driver to another team. In January, Roger Penske said he had talked to the Detroit-based company about adding a third car with Newman to his team. Newman, though, said he wouldn't be interested in just any team that had an opportunity. An option for Newman could be RCR, which will need a new driver for its #29 Chevy after 13 consecutive seasons with Harvick. Team owner Richard Childress said the team had funding for three cars next season and possibly could add a fourth depending on sponsorship. "We've got most everything lined up," he said before practice Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. "Something can always fall through, but we feel very good about that."(USA Today)
    AND Ford's Jack Roush, who has a three-car operation that could easily expand back to four, said he was interested in talking with Newman about the situation. Roush said he would be interested in hiring Newman if there were sufficient sponsorship. Newman has some sponsorship himself. A plus for Roush is that Newman is an engineer like Roush. And depending on what Matt Borland, Newman's current crew chief, decides to do, that could also be a plus for Roush. Borland was also Newman's crew chief during his years with Roger Penske.(MikeMulhern.net)(7-13-2013)

  • Childress planning on at least 3 teams in 2014: Richard Childress Racing will have at least three Sprint Cup teams and possibly four in 2014. There has been speculation that RCR might shrink from three to two teams after losing Kevin Harvick and primary sponsor Budweiser to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. Team owner Richard Childress told ESPN.com on Friday that he will have a lineup of Jeff Burton, Paul Menard and "question mark." "We're going to have three race teams for sure," Childress said between practices at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. "Not 100 percent on a fourth." Asked if the third team would be fielded by grandson Austin Dillon, who has run six Cup races this season in anticipation of moving up from the Nationwide Series next year, Childress reiterated, "question mark." Childress recently said Ryan Newman, in his last year with SHR with Harvick filling out that three-driver lineup, is a candidate for the #29. He also has left open the possibility that Dillon, who drives the 3 made famous by Dale Earnhardt at RCR, could drive the #3 in Cup. Kurt Busch also has been mentioned as a potential candidate at RCR. Busch is ninth in points for Furniture Row Racing that has an alliance with RCR. Sources said RCR has a gentleman's agreement not to pursue Busch. Furniture Row general manager Joe Garone said negotiations to re-sign Busch are on hold as the single-car team attempts to make the Chase for the first time.(ESPN)(7-12-2013)

  • #4 for Harvick in 2014? UPDATE Budweiser moves to SHR with Harvick in 2014: Stewart-Haas Racing has applied for the trademark for the (4) Standard Character Mark or the #4. Supposedly to be used by Kevin Harvick when he moves over to Stewart-Hass Racing in 2014. You can see the trademark application / info at uspto.gov (serial #85911811)(4-30-2013)
    UPDATE: For more than 30 years Budweiser has sponsored some of NASCAR's top race car drivers. The King of Beers will continue its rich tradition in the sport by joining Kevin Harvick as he moves to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014 to drive the #4 Chevy SS in the Sprint Cup Series.
    "Over the last three years, Kevin has been an amazing ambassador for Budweiser, both on and off the track," said Blaise D'Sylva, vice president of media, sports and entertainment marketing, Anheuser-Busch. "We value that level of commitment, and we're proud to join him at Stewart-Haas Racing next season."
    Under the terms of the deal, Budweiser will serve as primary sponsor of the #4 Chevy for 20 races as well as the Budweiser Duel during Budweiser Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. Budweiser will serve as a major associate sponsor for the remaining races on the Sprint Cup Series schedule.
    With the move to Stewart-Haas Racing next year, Harvick will utilize the #4. The transition to the team comes as Harvick enters his 14th year in NASCAR's top series. Thus far, he has earned 21 Sprint Cup Series wins, 96 top-five and 198 top-10 finishes.(Budwesier PR)(7-12-2013)

  • Earnhardt Jr. talks about the #3 possibly returning to Sprint Cup in 2014: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.met with media at Daytona and discussed the #3 car, the Team Chevy transcript in part:
    Q) ALL THINGS SEEM TO INDICATE THAT THE NO. 3 CAR WILL RETURN IN CUP NEXT YEAR. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SEEN IT RUN IN OTHER SERIES. WHAT WILL IT MEAN TO SEE IT IN CUP NEXT YEAR AT THIS TRACK?
    Earnhardt Jr.: "I think it will be great. It was an iconic number for my father and it means a lot to a lot of his fans. This sport doesn't really retire numbers and all the numbers have history tied to them for several different reasons. The #3 is no different. I think that for Austin (Dillon) a kid like Austin in this regard any kid that wants to come up through the ranks and he drove the #3 in dirt racing and he drove the #3 in his Truck series and Nationwide series. He has earned the right to run that number as long as he wants. It could have been anybody, but it's Austin. It could have been any kid coming up through the ranks that had ran that number and that's his number. Maybe he's not even an Earnhardt fan maybe that is just his number. He wants to run it I think it's not really fair to deny somebody that opportunity. I'm okay with it. I know that might not be the way a lot of people feel or some people feel, but I'm sure it's the minority that feels that way. I think that a lot of people will be telling Austin positive things about it."(Team Chevy)(7-5-2013)

  • Special scheme for Harvick; Clydesdales on display at Daytona: Kevin Harvick's #29 Budweiser Chevy will don a special paint scheme this weekend at Daytona to reflect Budweiser's limited-edition red, white and blue packaging. The patriotic packaging represents a special initiative in which the brand will contribute a portion of all sales from May 5 - July 4 to help raise as much as $1.5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel killed or disabled while serving their country. Since 2010, Budweiser has raised more than $5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation and provided more than 1,000 educational scholarships to the families of soldiers killed or disabled in service. (Donation of 2 cents per case of Budweiser sold, May 5, 2013 to July 4, 2013, with a maximum donation of $1.5 million.)
    Budweiser's world famous Clydesdales will be on display in the DIS midway area throughout the Coke Zero 400 race weekend. For nearly eight decades, the Budweiser Clydesdales have been an enduring symbol of Anheuser-Busch's heritage, tradition and commitment to quality. The hitch consists of eight horses, the famous red, white and gold beer wagon and two drivers seated next to the hitch's signature mascot Dalmatian. To qualify for one of the traveling hitches, a Budweiser Clydesdale must be a gelding at least four years of age, stand 72 inches at the shoulder when fully mature, weigh between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds, have a bay coat, four white legs, a white blaze, and black mane and tail.(RCR), see images of the car on the #29 Team Schemes page.(7-3-2013)

  • Richard Childress Racing Crew Member Fights Hunger in North Carolina: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) crew member Ray Wright is fighting to stop hunger in his home state of North Carolina. Wright, the RCR strength and conditioning coach and rear-tire carrier on the #27 Menards NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, has partnered with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC to create Pit Stops for Poverty, a charity dedicated to helping end hunger in the state. Pit Stops for Poverty earns donations through a variety of avenues, but the most unique way the non-profit group raises funds is through team pit stop challenges. Participating NASCAR Camping World Truck, Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams can earn monetary donations for positions gained on pit road and pit stops made under a designated amount of time. Several RCR drivers and crew chiefs are also helping in the fight to end hunger giving their teams extra incentive during pit stops.
    "It was shocking to learn how many people right here at home go to bed hungry at night," said Wright. "I started Pit Stops for Poverty to try and make a difference and I'm thrilled that so many of the RCR teams have agreed to participate. Every dollar and can of food donated will help to end this crisis in our state. I want to encourage everyone to help us fight hunger in North Carolina."
    An initiative started in April, Pit Stops for Poverty has already donated more than $6,000 to the cause. Approximately 1.8 million food insecure people live in the Tar Heel State, and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC serves more than 300,000 individuals in the 18 counties they assist. For every $1 donated seven nutritious meals are provided to hungry families in the area. The state of North Carolina ranks among the worst in the nation regarding the percentage of childhood hunger, with one in every four children being food insecure. Fans can also help Wright in his quest to defeat hunger by pledging to make donations each time their favorite RCR team makes a pit stop in the 11, 12 and 13 second range or for each position gained on pit road. To donate, visit www.pitstopsforpoverty.com. All donations go directly to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC a 501 (c) (3) charity and are tax deductible. Fans can also support the initiative by following @stops4poverty on Twitter.(RCR)(6-20-2013)

  • Newman wants to race for a team where he is wanted: #39-Ryan Newman's needs are simple."I just want to race some place where I'm wanted," Newman said. "Where people are happy I'm there." Newman received a one-year reprieve on his contract with Stewart-Haas Racing, where he is currently 18th in the standings. For most of the season, Newman has been outrunning his bossman Tony Stewart. While Newman's resume isn't as extensive as Stewart's, it's respectable with 16 Sprint Cup victories and six finishes of 10th or better in the standings. The 35-year-old South Bend, Ind., native ranks third among active drivers in pole positions with 49. Not surprisingly, team owner Richard Childress said last week that Newman tops his list of potential candidates for the #29 Chevy which is being vacated by Kevin Harvick at season's end. "There are only so many guys that don't have contracts for next year," Newman said. "At this point, I would entertain any possible opportunity. I don't think anyone in my position wouldn't do anything otherwise. "Of all the opportunities that there are out there, he's got one of the best opportunities - as far as the 29 being vacated. But I don't know what the family tree is going to look like over there."(FoxSports)(6-30-2013)

  • Richard Childress Racing to Participate in England's Goodwood Festival of Speed: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) will have a presence in England's Goodwood Festival of Speed for the fourth year by providing a pair of stock cars to be driven in this year's annual Hillclimb. Kerry Earnhardt will pilot the 2000 #3 GM Goodwrench Monte Carlo and Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III will drive the 2013 #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro in July's historic event. The Goodwood Festival of Speed, July 11-14, is one of the world's premier historic auto racing events. The festival has been held annually since 1993 on the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England. Race cars from the past and present participate in both demonstration and competition runs up the nine-turn, 1.16-mile Hillclimb circuit. The #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo the legendary Dale Earnhardt drove to victory in March 2000 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and tallied 10 top-five finishes that year, will be driven by his eldest son, Kerry Earnhardt.
    "I had the honor of attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2010 for RCR and drove the car that my dad won the 1995 Brickyard 400 with," Earnhardt said. "The fans 'over the pond' are so enthusiastic about NASCAR and to have the opportunity to attend such a prestigious event not once, but twice, is awesome. This time I will be driving RCR's 2000 #3 GM Goodwrench Monte Carlo that my dad won the spring Atlanta race in. Words can't express what I feel when I sit in dad's car, and I can't thank Richard (Childress) enough for asking me to participate again."
    Joie Chitwood III will be behind the wheel of the 2013 #3 Bass Pro Shops Camaro in this year's Festival of Speed. This Chevrolet is driven in regular NASCAR Nationwide Series competition by Childress' grandson Austin Dillon, the 2012 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year and 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion. "My dad, Joie Chitwood Jr., had the distinction of racing against Richard Childress back in the 1960s, so it's great to come full circle and drive one of his cars at Goodwood," Chitwood said. "It's a privilege to be behind the wheel of the #3 Chevrolet Camaro and part of this diverse celebration of motorsports." Both cars participating in Goodwood festivities were prepared by and will be cared for at the Festival of Speed by Danny Lawrence, former #3 team crew member. Lawrence is an award-winning engine builder and longtime member of the RCR management team.(RCR)(6-29-2013)

  • Childress could run the #3 in 2014: Richard Childress is still mulling whether to bring Dale Earnhardt's famous #3 back to Sprint Cup competition. Childress, who owns the rights to the car number that Earnhardt made famous, has said since last November that he believes that fans would accept a return of the slanted design that marked Earnhardt's car for six of his seven Cup championships. Speaking on SiriusXM's NASCAR channel Wednesday morning, Childress reiterated that only a member of his family or the Earnhardt family would race the number in Cup. Childress grandsons Austin and Ty Dillon have raced the number in the Truck and Nationwide series in recent years, and Austin Dillon could run a full-time Cup schedule in 2014. "We're definitely in the process of discussing that," Childress told the network Wednesday. "Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon did a great job representing it." He said he wouldn't want to run the #3 in Sprint Cup with just a partial schedule. The #3 has not been used in Cup since Earnhardt's death in 2001.(in part from the Sporting News)(6-26-2013)

  • Drivers, owners start looking to 2014: It was curious when [#78-Kurt] Busch slipped last Thursday after he was asked a silly question about who he would prefer to have dinner with when given a list of drivers. His focus turned to #39-Ryan Newman, his former Penske Racing teammate with whom he experienced a not-so-friendly feud on and off the track as the two free agents searched for rides last year. "Maybe Newman and I need to have a sit-down, because we're both out there charging hard and trying to get into the Chase, and we're looking for rides," said Busch, who almost immediately regretted the last few words. Busch, 34, signed a one-year deal with Furniture Row Racing last year. Although team owner Barney Visser attempted to extend the contract with Busch after he posted three consecutive top-10 finishes to close out the 2012 season, the driver believed it was best to hold off.
    And as Busch learned on Sunday - before he made the error of speeding down pit road twice, dropped to 38th and battled back to a fourth-place finish - FRR can produce cars capable of winning. That's a prospect not lost on his rival Newman, who has inquired about the possibility of a second team at FRR for 2014.
    Yes, Busch is accustomed to competing with high-profile teams but those coveted seats are few and far between. There have been talks with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and Richard Childress Racing but the driver landscape remains in flux.
    On Sunday, Childress admitted that Newman, who will likely have the support of sponsor Quicken Loans, is topping his list of candidates for the #29 ride being vacated by Kevin Harvick. In the winner's post-race interview, Michael Waltrip acknowledged that Brian Vickers "is our guy." "We're trying to get all the pieces together so he can drive the #55 and race for the championship next year," Waltrip said.
    Furniture Row Racing has no issues with Busch testing the market - as long as it doesn't become a distraction for the team.(Fox Sports)(6-25-2013)

  • KHI branches out to professional athlete management: A perennial powerhouse in NASCAR in its 10 years of competition, Kevin Harvick, Inc. (KHI) has reached outside auto racing and into the world of professional athlete management, inking a deal to represent UFC fighter Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone. KHI, co-owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick and his wife, DeLana, is renowned in the motor sports world not only for its on-track success, but also for its efficacious and innovative sponsorship relationships. In its NASCAR operations, the company has demonstrated expertise in marketing through sponsor activation, sales and promotion, event management, advertising and public relations. More recently, KHI transferred its primary concentration to athletes and sponsors in and out of the auto racing industry, including Harvick, Cerrone, Jeff Burton (NASCAR) and Jason Gore (PGA). "One of KHI's strongest qualities always has been our ability to sell and maintain sponsorship in NASCAR despite the economic challenges," Kevin Harvick said. "With that solid foundation and the template we've created over the last 10 years, I think we are ready to take the next step to represent other athletes in other arenas. Donald is our first client in the UFC, and I'm excited about all the possibilities that lie ahead."(KHI)(6-24-2013)

  • Sad News - Gilford Hicks Martin Sr: #29-Kevin Harvick will be without his crew chief for practice at Pocono Raceway and possibly on race day Sunday as Gil Martin mourns the death of his father. Gilford Hicks Martin Sr. died Friday. He was 89. Gil Martin did not travel with the Richard Childress Racing team to Pocono, where events were being delayed by rain Friday with the weather expected to clear for track activity Saturday. It will not be determined until Sunday morning whether Martin will fly to Pocono with the race-day pit crew for the Sprint Cup race Sunday. If Martin does not travel to the track, car chief Chad Haney would call the race Sunday with the help of competition director Eric Warren.(Sporting News), Martin plans to be at Pocono for the race on Sunday.(6-8-2013)

  • Rheem returns to the #29: The red Rheem logo will adorn the hood of the #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevy this weekend at Pocono Raceway for their fourth of seven appearances during the 2013 Sprint Cup Series season. Rheem will also be featured on Harvick's Chevy at Sonoma in June, Michigan in August and Talladega in October (RCR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(6-6-2013)

  • Kevin Harvick wins the Coca Cola 600: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Coca Cola 600 Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for his 2nd win of 2013, 2nd Coca Cola 600 and 21st career win.
    #5-Kahne finished 2nd followed by #78-Busch, #11-Hamlin, #22-Logano, #39-Newman, #14-Stewart, #15-Bowyer, #56-Truex Jr. and #9-Ambrose.
    Points leader #48-Johnson wrecked late in the race and finished 22nd, down 5 laps.
    On lap 126, a cable for Fox's overhead camera broke and fell on to the track, #18-Busch, who was 3rd at the time, caught the cable and it tore up the right front fender. The red flag was issued and cars were parked on pit road while crews cleaning up the cable. #9-Ambrose also had brake line tore off from the rope/cable and stuck in the grill and some damage to the roof. Busch got a phone/camera and took pictures of the damage as the crew was not allowed on pit road to look at the car. Once the cable/rope was removed, the cars took a lap and were brought to pit road for 15 minutes. Each team was allowed to check their cars for any damage the cable/rope may have caused. The team for #18-Busch, replaced a lot of the right fender. #55-Martin ran over the cable/rope and had some front splitter damage, then the rope went over the #9 Ford and wrapped aropund the left rear wheel area and broke a brake line. #42-Montoya had some slight damage and the team made repairs. #11-Hamlin had some damage to a roof flap. The red flag lasted 26 minutes.
    #18-Busch led 65 laps and was a strong contender until he lost an engine on lap 257 and finished 38th.
    On lap 326 #43-Almirola and #55-Martin made contact, sending the #55 and #43 into the frontstretch wall, collecting #24-Gordon, #47-Labonte, #13-Mears & #17-Stenhouse Jr., the red flag came out to clean up the track.
    There were 24 lead changes among 12 drivers and 11 cautions for 61 yellow flag laps and three red flags (camera cable & a big wreck).
    The average speed was 130.521mph. NASCAR no longer announces the track attendance.
    See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Charlotte Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Charlotte Penalty Report (pdf).
    See the Official Charlotte Race and Points Report.(5-27-2013)

  • Harvick Makes Special Appearance at Fort Bragg: America's most iconic beer paid tribute to America's heroes on Thursday, as Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Budweiser Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, made a special visit with military men and women stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. Folds of Honor Foundation founder Major Dan Rooney and Rocky Sickmann, director of military sales for Anheuser-Busch and retired U.S. Marines Sergeant, joined Harvick at Fort Bragg while he visited the Warrior Transition Battalion's (WTB) Soldier and Family Assistance Center. The Fort Bragg Warrior Transition Battalion provides command and control, primary care and case management for warriors who have suffered injury or illness while serving as a member of the U.S. Army. "I'm always at a loss for words for how to express my utmost gratitude to the men and women who serve our country," Harvick said. "I know the entire NASCAR community is behind me when I say I can't thank these individuals enough for their dedication and service. Freedom isn't free. It's because of them that we can enjoy even the simplest things in life." While at Fort Bragg Harvick presented the installation with the firesuit he wore while driving the #29 Budweiser Armed Forces Chevy to victory in the 2011 Coca-Cola 600. The firesuit was accepted by Major Jason Todd of the WTB on behalf of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) group. Harvick's visit to Fort Bragg was a part of Budweiser's "Red, White and Blue Summer" initiative, which benefits Folds of Honor Foundation. Since 2010, Anheuser-Busch has raised more than $5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation and provided more than 1,000 scholarships to the families of soldiers killed or disabled in service. From May 5 to July 4, 2013, with every purchase of Budweiser, the King of Beers will make a donation to the Folds of Honor Foundation up to $1.5 million*.(Bud Racing)(5-26-2013)

  • Folds of Honor scheme for Harvick: The #29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevy of Kevin Harvick will don a special patriotic paint scheme for Sunday's 600-mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway to reflect the special "Red, White and Blue Summer" packaging featured on the iconic Budweiser bottles and cans this summer. The packaging represents a special initiative in which the brand will contribute a portion of all sales from May 5 - July 4 to help raise as much as $1.5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation*, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel killed or disabled while serving their country. Since 2010, Budweiser has raised more than $5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation and provided more than 1,000 educational scholarships to the families of soldiers killed or disabled in service. (*Donation of 2 cents per case of Budweiser sold, May 5, 2013 to July 4, 2013, with a maximum donation of $1.5 million.)(RCR)(5-24-2013)

  • Harvick to visit Fort Bragg: #29-Kevin Harvick will join Folds of Honor Foundation founder Major Dan Rooney at Fort Bragg to make a special presentation to the base, tour the Warrior Transition Battalion and meet with soldiers on Thursday, May 23rd. The visit is a part of Budweiser's "red, white and blue summer" initiative, which benefits the Folds of Honor Foundation. Since 2010, Budweiser has raised more than $5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation and provided more than 1,000 educational scholarships to the families of soldiers killed or disabled in service. Harvick's No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet SS will feature a special patriotic paint scheme that reflects the King of Beers' limited-edition red, white and blue packaging as well as the Folds of Honor Foundation in the Memorial Day Weekend 600-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(Bud Racing)(5-20-2013)

  • Richard Childress Receives Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from UNOH: In a ceremony held at Sapona Ridge Country Club in Lexington, NC, legendary NASCAR team owner Richard Childress received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) on Wednesday, May 15. With more than 100 people in attendance, including his wife Judy, daughter Tina Dillon, son-in-law Mike Dillon, and grandsons Austin and Ty Dillon, the 14-time championship race team owner was bestowed the honor by Dr. Jeffrey Jarvis, president of UNOH. Dr. Jarvis presented the degree based on Childress' achievements in the high performance/motorsports industry, his commitment to assist in the school's goal of achieving educational excellence and his lifetime achievements in the field of auto racing.(RCR)(5-16-2013)

  • "A Racer's Life: Richard Childress" debuts Sunday: Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, will be featured in the next installment of SPEED TV's on-going series, "A Racer's Life: Richard Childress" this Sunday at 8:30pm/et. The hour-long show takes viewers for an in-depth and personal account of the driver-turned-championship-owner's life and career. He talks about how he got into racing, the glory years with Dale Earnhardt, and after, and the growth of Richard Childress Racing to where it is today. The interview was conducted in four different places with four different people. Austin Dillon, Childress' grandson and driver of RCR's #3 Advocare Chevy in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and former RCR driver, Ricky Rudd. A rare interview with Judy Childress, Richard's wife, adds even more of an in-depth and first-hand account of the 14-time championship team owner, family man, outdoorsman and businessman. In the program, Childress details his path to NASCAR greatness through key milestones, including his first visit to the track to his stint as an independent NASCAR racer; the difficult decision to hang up his helmet and put Earnhardt in his car; hiring Rudd; Earnhardt's return to RCR and his and Childress' triumphs and eternal bond; Childress' vision for the future of RCR; and his regrets over the years.(RCR)(5-11-2013)

  • RCR Fan Fest in October: Richard Childress Racing invites everyone to RCR Fan Fest at the RCR campus in Welcome, N.C., on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This FREE event will feature shop tours, vendor displays, autographs from RCR drivers and crew members, food and fun for all ages. For full info, go to rcrracing.com

  • Budweiser Launches New Racing App featuring Harvick: Budweiser is giving consumers a whole new look at what it's like to hit speeds of 190 mph in the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet SS with the interactive BUD 360° app. The King of Beers' innovative new app utilizes surround video technology to provide users with a 360-degree look inside Kevin Harvick's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride as the driver completes several laps at Charlotte Motor Speedway. While Harvick controls the wheel, the consumer controls the view, allowing them to experience the sensation of speed in never-before-seen angles. The resulting content is available for free in the Apple App Store for both iPhone and iPad users.(Budweiser Racing)(5-3-2013)

  • RCR receives Business Family of the Year Award from Wake Forest University: During a ceremony at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Thursday night, Richard Childress Racing received the Family Business of the Year Award, Large Business Category, from the school's Family Business Center. The award was based off the economic impact and contributions RCR has made in their community through the years. RCR was recognized for the race team's efforts, plus the Childress Winery, Sapona Ridge Country Club and Childress Institute of Pediatric Trauma. "It is an honor and privilege to accept this award on behalf of our entire Childress and Dillon family," said Judy Childress, wife of RCR's president and CEO Richard Childress. "Wake Forest University stands for leadership and progress for our future. Only in America can those dreams come true. Wake Forest is building our leaders for tomorrow, and generations to come through a four-year plan. We are doing the same thing at RCR, but we try to get it done in 500 laps." The ceremony was held at the Porter B. Byrum Welcome Center on the WFU campus.(RCR)(5-3-2013)

  • #4 for Harvick in 2014? Stewart-Haas Racing has applied for the trademark for the (4) Standard Character Mark or the #4. Supposedly to be used by Kevin Harvick when he moves over to Stewart-Hass Racing in 2014. You can see the trademark application / info at uspto.gov (do a search under Stewart-Haas). Other rumored numbers for Harvick at Stewart-Hass Racing: take the #29 with him from Richard Childress Racing with RCR using the #3 for Austin Dillon. Have heard some rumors the #8 could be in play.(4-30-2013)

  • Harvick wins at Richmond: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Toyota Owners 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway for his 1st win of 2013, 3rd win at Richmond and 20th career win. He easily took the lead after starting 7th on green white checker restart, behind several drivers on older tires. #15-Bowyer finished 2nd, followed by #22-Logano, #42-Montoya (who was leading the race until the final caution), #31-Burton, #99-Edwards, #20-Kenseth (who started from the pole and led the most laps on the night), #43-Almirola, #78-Busch, and #88-Earnhardt, Jr.
    There were 10 lead changes among 7 drivers and 11 cautions for 75 yellow flag laps. The average speed was 92.141mph.
    Starting this season, NASCAR doesn't release the track attendance.
    See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Richmond Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Richmond Penalty Report (pdf)
    See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf) and the owner points standings on the Owners Points Standings page (pdf).

  • Bell Helicopter sponsoring Harvick: Bell Helicopter will make its only scheduled appearance on the Richard Childress Racing #29 of Kevin Harvick Saturday night at Richmond. Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical-lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.(Richard Childress Racing), see an image of the car on the #29 team paint schemes page.(4-24-2013)



  • RCR Teams to Honor Memory of ECR Engines Co-Worker: Richard Childress Racing's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series teams will carry decals honoring the memory of an ECR Engines co-worker this week at Kansas Speedway. Joey Padgett, a valve train specialist at ECR Engines, passed away April 15 after suffering a heart attack. He was 57. Padgett had an extensive engine building career in NASCAR. He plied his craft with various companies including Ernie Elliott, Inc., Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, and Penske Racing before moving to ECR Engines in September 2012. He was also the owner/operator of Checkered Flag Fuels in Concord, N.C., where he was a lifelong resident. Memorials may be made to Cabarrus Pets Society, P.O. Box 5042, Concord, N.C. 28027. Online condolences may be left at wilkinsonfuneralhome.com. Wilkinson Funeral Home is serving the family.(RCR)(4-17-2013)

  • Bad Boy Buggies to sponsor Harvick at Kansas: #29-Kevin Harvick will carry the Bad Boy Buggies colors in the STP 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. Bad Boy Buggies is a leader in off-road utility vehicles for hunting and outdoor lifestyles. Bad Boy Buggies pioneered the category of electrically powered 4x4 vehicles, ideal for hunting and outdoor recreation due to their silent, odorless operation and environmentally friendly, emissions-free drivetrains. In 2010, the Bad Boy Buggies brand and product line were acquired by E-Z-GO, a business unit of Textron Inc.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #29 Team Schemes page.(4-17-2013)

  • RCR honors Warner Hodgon: Richard Childress Racing will honor former NASCAR track and team owner Warner Hodgon, who passed away March 20, with a memoriam decal [on thr RCR's Chevy's] at this weekend's NASCAR events at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA. Hodgon was also president of Black Gold Oil Company, a RCR sponsor in the late-1970s when Richard Childress was both owner and driver of his #3 Chevy. "Warner was a great friend and partner who helped change the landscape of NASCAR team ownership in the late 1970s," said Childress. "I learned a lot about business from the advice he gave me over the years. He was there to help me with sponsorship from Black Gold when I really needed it. Warner was an entrepreneur with a great vision for where stock car racing could go and we stayed in touch long after his time in racing ended. He was a great friend and will be missed."(RCR)(3-22-2013)

  • Harvick to deliver tickets by Clydesdale: On Wednesday, Feb 20, #29-Kevin Harvick and wife DeLana will honor Ormond Beach, Fla., Marine veterans with a home delivery of Daytona 500 tickets via the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch. Jayson and Justin Ryter, 22-year-old twin brothers, both completed four years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps and recently returned home after being honorably discharged to pursue college degrees at Daytona State College. DIS fans can get a close look at the Budweiser Clydesdales, an enduring symbol of Anheuser-Busch's heritage, tradition and commitment to quality for nearly 80 years. The Budweiser Clydesdales will be stationed in the DIS midway for the remainder of Budweiser Speedweeks. In addition, the hitch, consisting of eight Clydesdales, the famous red, white and gold beer wagon, and two drivers seated next to the hitch's signature mascot Dalmation will take part in a pre-race parade lap prior to the Budweiser Duel on Thursday, Feb. 21 and the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 24.(RCR)(2-20-2013)

  • Austin Dillon hopes to wait for full Cup schedule to run #3: Austin Dillon has heard all the talk of him possibly racing Dale Earnhardt's famous #3 car in the Sprint Cup Series. And he's fine with that, although he would like it to be when he runs a full Cup season and not a partial schedule. There's pressure when running the stylized #3 made famous by the seven-time Cup champion, and Dillon doesn't want to wait a long time between races to feel he has to prove himself as worthy of the Richard Childress Racing number. Dillon has two career Cup starts [and plans to run the #33 at Daytona and the #51 at Las Vegas]. The #3 has not been used in Cup since Earnhardt's death in the 2001 Daytona 500. Childress said that 85% of fans want him to bring the #3 back to Cup, but he would only use it for a member of his family or the Earnhardt family. Childress has said he is heavily considering letting Dillon keep the #3 when he goes full-time Cup racing, which he hopes will be next year. Dillon has run the #3 for much of his racing career.(Sporting News)(2-9-2013)

  • Mark McArdle works for Furniture Row & RCR: Even before this season, Furniture Row Racing had a close relationship with Richard Childress Racing. Furniture Row gets its engines and chassis from RCR. The partnership was strengthened recently when Mark McArdle, managing director of competition at Furniture Row, took on a dual role as director of racing operations at RCR. With Furniture Row based in Denver, Colo., and RCR in Welcome, N.C.. The new opportunity for McArdle resulted from a standing offer by Furniture Row owner Barney Visser and general manager Joe Garone and hit critical mass when RCR hired Eric Warren as director of competition late in 2012. McArdle and Warren worked together at Evernham Motorsports. "Joe and Barney offered up my services to RCR if they could use me in any way to help that situation that they have there," McArdle told the NASCAR Wire Service. "Eric Warren and I had worked together for eight years at Evernham's. When he heard about that offer, he took us up on it and has asked me to operate as director of racing operations. The Cup teams, the Nationwide teams and the truck teams all report up through me. I report to Eric." With three Cup teams at RCR and one at Furniture Row, McArdle is spending more time in North Carolina as the organizations develop the Gen-6 car. "Right now, because of the intensity of the changeover process at RCR, we're doing kind of a two thirds/one third," McArdle said. "Two thirds of any given calendar month is being spent here in North Carolina, and about one third in Denver at this point. We hope that, as things become more stabilized and settled, that that will become more 50-50. Eventually the hope is to be able to train someone at RCR to step into that role."(NASCAR Wire Service)(1-24-2013)

  • Red Kap Joins RCR/ECR Engines: Richard Childress Racing has partnered with Red Kap, a division of VF Imagewear, Inc., as the official workwear outfitter for RCR and ECR Engines employees. Red Kap has been creating comfortable, durable workwear since starting out as a family business in 1923. Today they outfit 16 million Americans in a wide variety of industries.(RCR)(1-23-2013)

  • Harvick confirmed out of RCR after 2013: NASCAR team owner Richard Childress confirmed what driver Kevin Harvick would not since November 2012. Harvick will leave Childress, where he has been since his first Cup race in 2001, and drive for friend and team owner Tony Stewart at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. Childress, who spoke Monday night at NASCAR's Sprint Cup Media Tour, talked about knowing about Harvick's plans last year before the race at Phoenix International Raceway -- a race Harvick would win to snap a 44-race winless streak. "We had a meeting and he told me his plans and we discussed what we were going to do in '13," Childress said Monday. "He'll do well over there at Stewart-Haas, and RCR will keep going and moving forward. I think him and Tony will have a good relationship." Stewart, who spoke to the media earlier Monday about his three-car team that includes Ryan Newman and Danica Patrick, has hinted at adding a fourth car to the Stewart-Haas Racing stable. Harvick, meanwhile, told reporters he didn't have "anything to tell you for 2014." On Monday, Childress said he did not know whether sponsor Budweiser would leave RCR along with Harvick. "They haven't made any comments on what they're going to do," Childress said. Though Childress admitted he knew Harvick's plans before Phoenix, he said he was surprised when word leaked out because he didn't expect it to be released until after the postseason awards banquet. As for the future, Childress welcomes grandson Austin Dillon into the fold this season. Dillon is slated to race the Daytona 500, among a handful of other Cup races. Burton and Menard are signed through 2013.(in part from the USA Today)(1-22-2013)

  • Richard Childress Notes from the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour: The media was late getting to Richard Childress Racing in Lexington NC due to an accident on I-85, some notes:
    Richard Childress said #29-Kevin Harvick will do well at Stewart Haas Racing in 2014.
    Harvick didn't deny reports he will move to SHR in 2014 or offer up plans for 2014. Harvick is only talking about 2013 and making it his best season but said iy has been a good run (at RCR) and sometimes you need a change of pace. Childress said he knew Harvick wasn't returning in 2014 when story broke in Phoenix but it wasn't supposed to be let out before banquet.
    Richard Childress said he has no current plans to run the #3 in the Sprint Cup Series, at least for 2013. Childress said fan reaction has left him more open minded to using the #3 in the future.
    Richard Childress says he hired his first engineer in 1989 and now has around 30.
    Austin Dillon is named the spokesperson for COPD.(compiled from many Twitter feeds)(1-21-2013)

  • RCR Adds New Staff to Team Communications Programs: Richard Childress Racing has added two members to its communications staff. Andrea Cleveland has been named manager of communications in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the #27 Menards Chevy team and driver Paul Menard. Jeff O'Keefe has assumed a similar position with RCR's NASCAR Nationwide Series program with the #2 Shore Lodge Chevy team and driver Brian Scott. Cleveland begins her new responsibilities immediately while O'Keefe joined RCR's communications staff in December 2012.(RCR)(1-21-2013)

  • Richard Childress Signs on as Ambassador for TAG Heuer Eyewear: Richard Childress Racing president and CEO Richard Childress has signed a multi-year agreement with TAG Heuer Eyewear, joining grandsons Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon as ambassadors for the France-based eyewear company. The RCR team owner can be seen at race tracks across the country wearing TAG Heuer's L-Type Lightweight Alligator model glasses exclusively, in both clear and sunglasses. The Dillons both became TAG Heuer spokesmen in 2012 as part of a multi-year deal designed to bring exposure to the TAG Heuer brand and aid in retailer development. The Dillon brothers will continue to display the TAG Heuer eyewear logo on the visor of the racing helmet each wears during NASCAR competition, as well as in other forms of motorsport.(RCR), TAG Heuer is scheduled to sponsor Austin Dillon at Las Vegas in the #51 Phoenix Racing Chevy.(1-21-2013)

  • 2013 silly season notes for #29-Kevin Harvick / Richard Childress Racing Looks like a lame duck season for driver Kevin Harvick. Reports have Harvick leaving RCR after the 2013 season and driving for Stewart Haas Racing in 2014. Only Richard Childress has addressed the situation and he expects Harvick to finish out the 2013 season in the #29 Chevy. SHR and Harvick have not made any comments. Supposedly Harvick will take sponsors Budweiser, Jimmy John's and Rheem with him to SHR. No word if/when Harvick leaves RCR, if he will get to take the #29 to SHR or have a new car number in 2014. Gil Martin took over as crew chief in an interim role mid season and all indications are Martin will be the crew chief in 2013. Eric Warren came aboard for RCR late in the 2012 season. See images of the new look Budweiser scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page. See more about other teams on my 2013 Team / Driver Silly Season Chart.(1-17-2013)

  • Dodge and RCR? What's it going to take to get Dodge Motorsports interested in NASCAR again? How about an organization such as Richard Childress Racing? One of the reasons cited for Dodge's departure from NASCAR at the end of the 2012 season was the inability to secure an organization equal to Penske Racing's stature. Although Dodge representatives flirted with Furniture Row Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports and Andretti Racing, nothing materialized from the meetings. However, what if Dodge could secure an organization that boasts six Cup titles, three Nationwide Series championships and two Truck titles? "I haven't talk to anybody," team owner Richard Childress said on Friday. "No one has approached me yet." Still, the rumor persists.(FoxSports)(1-11-2013)

2012 News

  • 2012 Races [20+2+1] that Budweiser is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Daytona, Bud Shootout - 2/19, red & white
    Daytona 500 - 2/26
    Las Vegas - 3/11
    Bristol - 3/18
    Martinsville - 4/1, Prohibition
    Texas - 4/14
    Richmond - 4/28
    Darlington - 5/12
    All-Star Race, Charlotte - 5/19, with Rheem
    Charlotte - 5/27, Folds of Honor
    Michigan - 6/17, Folds of Honor
    Kentucky - 6/30, Folds of Honor
    Daytona - 7/7, Folds of Honor
    Pocono - 8/5, Folds of Honor
    Watkins Glen - 8/12, Folds of Honor
    Richmond - 9/8
    Chicago - 9/16
    New Hampshire - 9/23
    Dover - 9/30
    Talladega - 10/7
    Kansas - 10/21
    Phoenix - 11/11
    Homestead - 11/18

  • 2012 Races [10 + 1] that Rheem is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Phoenix - 3/4
    Kansas - 4/22
    Talladega - 5/6
    Charlotte, All-Star - 5/19 with Budweiser
    Pocono - 6/10
    Sonoma - 6/24
    New Hampshire - 7/15
    Bristol - 8/25
    Atlanta - 9/2
    Martinsville - 10/28
    Texas - 11/4

  • 2012 Races [6] that Jimmy John's is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Auto Club Speedway - 3/25
    Richmond - 4/28
    Dover - 6/3
    Indianapolis - 7/29
    Michigan - 8/19
    Charlotte - 10/13

  • Papis helping train Dillon brothers: Max Papis, who gained fame in central Ohio when he raced for Bobby Rahal in CART, was hired to help Austin and Ty Dillon (grandsons of Richard Childress) last week at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course during a Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series test. "We work out together. I show them the strengths and weaknesses of what helped me to become who I am," Papis said of some of his duties. "We do a lot of analysis of how we talk, how we approach the business, the mental and physical aspect of the racing. When I show up to the races, 80% of the job is done. We are preparing ourselves really well before. I'm really proud to see the improvement both kids had. I got them at the beginning of the season, and they were really shy. I saw a lot of changes, and we are just in the beginning." Austin Dillon is on the fast track to stardom in the sport. The 22-year-old was third in the Nationwide standings this past season, picking up a pair of wins and three poles to go with 27 top 10s. A year ago he was the youngest champion in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series history. Ty Dillon, his younger brother, was the ARCA champ in 2011 and the Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year this past season. Last week in Lexington, Papis was coaching up the elder Dillon, showing him the finer points of road racing, something Dillon lacks in his background in stock cars. "To be able to get his opinion on it and use him as a teammate, it will be great," Dillon said of the tutoring sessions in the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro. "It will be just like having a Cup driver here talking to him before the race." After bouncing around sports car series and NASCAR since his departure from CART, Papis acknowledges his new role in the sport is unique. "In a sport so tough like this, some people may laugh at you, but at the end of the day, I think it's jealousy more than anything else," Papis said. "I'm sure 90 percent of the guys out there would love to have a shoulder to lean on."(in part from the Bucyrus Telegraph Forum)(12-31-2012)

  • Harvick presents car to winner of "Win Happy's Chevy": Christmas came early for one lucky winner when Kevin Harvick handed over the keys to a brand-new 2012 Chevy Camaro 2SS convertible as part of "Win Happy's Chevy," proceeds from which benefit the Kevin Harvick Foundation. Michael Gatz, from Elkhorn, Wis., won the Camaro valued at $48,280, and drove it home from the Kevin Harvick Foundation's North Carolina headquarters. Gatz had purchased the winning ticket in the second-annual raffle for which nearly 2,500 tickets were sold at $29 each. Proceeds from "Win Happy's Chevy" will be used to further the initiatives of the Kevin Harvick Foundation, whose mission is to enrich the lives of children across the country through programs such as Kevin's Krew, Chase Your Dreams Scholarships and the Kevin Harvick Athletic Scholarship Fund, among others.(Kevin Harvick Foundation)(12-24-2012)

  • Harvick still not confirming move to Stewart-Haas:Kevin Harvick won't confirm that he will drive for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014, but he did confirm last week in Las Vegas that he is preparing for his departure from Richard Childress Racing after next season. Harvick said he already has talked to Matt Kenseth about how to handle such a situation - Harvick is expected to run his final season for RCR next year, and all signs point to him driving for Tony Stewart beginning in 2014. Harvick has not denied reports that he will move to Stewart's team starting in 2014, and team owner Richard Childress has already acknowledged that Harvick will be moving on. "You look at a lot of situations that are around you that you can kind of take advice from people and things and just try to do the best that you can," Harvick said at the Sprint Cup Awards banquet in Las Vegas last week. Everybody wants to know what's going on or what's going to happen or how it is going to work and we want to tell everybody, ... but we're just not in a position.(Sporting News)(12-3-2012)

  • Childress comments on Harvick leaving after 2013: Team owner Richard Childress said next year in the Sprint Cup Series won't be easy with driver #29-Kevin Harvick moving to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. "Oh, yeah,'' Childress said on Thursday during the unveiling of the 2013 Chevrolet SS that will replace the Impala in the Sprint Cup Series. "People are not going to be buying a lot of 29 souvenirs for sure. It'll make a difficult year. It's there. We've got to live with it and move forward. Again, the timing wasn't great on the leak. But we're going to go race.'' ESPN's Marty Smith, citing sources, wrote three weeks ago that Harvick would leave RCR for SHR after his current contract expires in 2013. Neither Childress nor Harvick had publicly admitted the move will occur until Childress did on Thursday. Childress did not confirm whether sponsors Budweiser and Jimmy Johns would follow Harvick to SHR, but said he was good for sponsorship on the #29 beyond next season.(ESPN)(11-30-2012)

  • Budweiser and Jimmy Johns to follow Harvick to SHR? When #29-Kevin Harvick leaves Richard Childress Racing at the end of the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, he will take major sponsors Budweiser and Jimmy Johns along with him. Reports surfaced last week that Harvick will bolt RCR at the conclusion of his current contract to race full-time for Stewart Haas Racing in 2014. Multiple sources speaking on the condition of anonymity say that when the move comes, it will also include the sponsors that backed the #29 team in a combined 26 races this season; 20 for Budweiser and six for Jimmy John's.(Godfather Motorsports)(11-16-2012)

  • Harvick wins at Phoenix: #29-Kevin Harvick won the AdvoCare 500(k) Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway for his 1st win of year, 1st win in 44 races and 19th career win.
    #11-Hamlin finished 2nd followed by #18-Busch, #5-Kahne, #39-Newman, #2-Keselowski, #16-Biffle, #78-Busch, #27-Menard and #55-Martin (this order could change since there a big wreck at the end of the race).
    The race was pretty mellow until #48-Johnson, the points leader going into the Phoenix race, melted a tire bead from excessive brake heat and lost a front right tire and smacked the turn 4 wall hard on lap 234. Johnson ended up finishing 32nd and lost the points lead to #2-Keselowski, who now has a 20 point lead over Johnson going into the final race at Homestead and if Keselowski finishes 15th or better, there is nothing Johnson can do to overtake him.
    With a few laps to go, #24-Gordon was limping around with a tire going down. Gordon was black flagged by NASCAR to bring the car into the pits, but Gordon waited for #15-Bowyer, who had made contact a few laps earlier to cause the tire cut on the #24. Gordon spun out Bowyer, also collecting #20-Logano and #43-Almirola. #2-Keselowski went by the mess on the bottom of the track. When Gordon got out of his car, some of the crewmen from the #15 and #24 teams got in to a short brawl. THEN Bowyer got out of his car and ran to the #24 hauler to confront Gordon and the team. Calm was restored and both drivers and crew chiefs were called to the NASCAR hauler. There was an almost 15 minute red flag to clean up the track for the green-white-checkered finish.
    #29-Harvick was the leader at that point and his car owner, Richard Childress, protested to NASCAR that Harvick had taken the white flag before the yellow came out for the caution. But replays/video showed that the yellow was out before the Harvick took the white flag at the start/finish line.
    SO...on the green-white-checked run, Harvick came off turn 4 heading to the white flag when #10-Patrick spun around, NASCAR did not throw the yellow flag and let the cars race the final lap. Patrick was able to get the car to the bottom of the front stretch and was limping the car back, but fluid was on the track, both Harvick and the 2nd place car, #11-Hamlin slid a bit coming off turn 4, but recovered and Harvick won the race. A bunch of cars in the top 10 were not so lucky and spun in the fluid with #39-Newman, #78-Busch, #27-Menard and #55-Martin all getting collected in the mess. #2-Keselowski, was hit and had some damage to the side of the car, but was able to drive thru it and finish 6th.
    #18-Busch, the pole sitter, led the most laps but for the 8th time in a row when leading the most laps, failed to win the race.
    There were 8 cautions for 38 yellow flag laps, there was a 14 minute, 58 second red flag late in the race. There were 11 lead changes among 7 drivers. The average speed was 111.182mph.
    The estimated attendence was 87,000, up from 85,000 last November.
    See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Phoenix Race Results page (pdf) and the official race and points rundown on the Official Phoenix Race & Points Report.(11-11/12-2012)

  • Childress not talking about Harvick leaving: Richard Childress was visibly upset as he stood next to grandson Ty Dillon's black truck during Friday's qualifying at Phoenix International Raceway. It had nothing to do with Dillon's chances to win the Camping World Truck Series championship, trailing James Buescher by 15 points with two races remaining. It had everything to do with an ESPN.com report that Sprint Cup driver #29-Kevin Harvick has signed a multi-year deal to begin driving for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. "I've got a contract for 2013 and this is 2012," the owner of Richard Childress Racing said of his deal with Harvick. "I'm not talking to you about nothing [regarding that]. Too far out." Asked if Harvick had told him he will not drive for RCR beyond 2013, Childress barked, "You need to go talk to them people. Don't talk to me about it. If you want to talk to me about [the truck] championship, I'll talk about it. But don't talk to me about anything else." Harvick's departure will be huge, particularly if he takes primary sponsor Budweiser with him. Remember, RCR lost Chaser Clint Bowyer to Michael Waltrip Racing after last season due to lack of sponsorship and had to shrink from four to three teams. Some will say Harvick leaving only opens the door for Childress' other grandson, Nationwide Series driver Austin Dillon, to move to Cup in 2014. But plans already were in place for Dillon to make the move then, either in the fourth car that is vacant or as a replacement for Jeff Burton, whose contract expires after 2013. And by the way, while Dillon will make his Daytona 500 debut in the #33 next year, Childress left open the possibility the #3 Earnhardt drove remains a strong possibility for his grandson. "That's still on the table," Childress said. Sources close to the situation told me Childress was blindsided by the news, which explains his mood. Replacing Harvick has to now be his No. 1 goal in order to remain relevant in the series.(in part from ESPN)(11-10-2012)

  • Stewart comments on Harvick rumor: #14-Tony Stewart, met with members of the media at Phoenix International Raceway and discussed future plans for SHR, the transcript in part:
    Q) DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE TO THE STORY THAT KEVIN HARVICK WILL JOIN STEWART-HAAS RACING IN 2014?
    Tony Stewart: "Well, it's actually Dale, Jr. (SMILES BROADLY). And Marty Smith (ESPN Television personality and website reporter) is actually going to be in the fourth car. Yes, that's where we are at. (SMILES BROADLY) I will tell you this, when we have something to tell you guys, we'll tell you. I've always said that. You guys can throw darts, but when we have something to tell you that's different than what we've got going on, we'll obviously tell you."(Team Chevy)(11-9-2012)

  • Harvick to leave RCR after 2013 and head to SHR: For each of his 12 seasons in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Kevin Harvick has driven for Richard Childress Racing. That will change in 2014. Multiple NASCAR industry sources confirmed to ESPN.com Friday that Harvick has signed a multiyear agreement to drive for Stewart-Haas Racing beginning with the 2014 season. Harvick will remain at RCR in the #29 Chevy for the 2013 campaign, sources said. "I'm looking forward to finishing out this season on a strong note with RCR and continuing to build our program going into the 2013 season with the ultimate goal of winning a championship," Harvick told ESPN.com Friday at Phoenix International Raceway, when he was asked about his future. "Anything beyond that, once I know what my future plans are set, I'll let you know." Under Stewart-Haas' current plan, sources said, Harvick will drive a fourth SHR Chevrolet, teaming with #14-Tony Stewart, #39-Ryan Newman and #10-Danica Patrick to form a four-car stable. "Stewart-Haas Racing's driver lineup is all set for 2013, but if you're talking about 2014 and if Kevin Harvick is available, that's something the team would have to look at," SHR team spokesman Mike Arning said. "Any team in this garage would do the same. From the moment Stewart-Haas Racing was formed, becoming a four-car team is something it's been striving for. They have the infrastructure to accommodate a fourth team, and if everything aligns properly, it's something they'll do. So, if a driver the caliber of Kevin Harvick is available, it's something they would pursue."(ESPN)(11-9-2012)

  • RCR makes promotes Rick Penn: Richard Childress Racing has promoted Rick Penn to the newly created position of Vice President, Business Development. Penn joined RCR in 2009 as Director of Business Development and was promoted to Managing Director of Business Development in 2010. He has overseen the growth of the business development department, from one to four people. His responsibilities include developing long-term partnerships for all of RCR's teams and growing new revenue channels. Penn has been instrumental in establishing new partnerships with Budweiser, Growth Energy, AdvoCare, WESCO and Husky Liners. "Rick has done an outstanding job for RCR since he joined us in 2009," said Ben Schlosser, chief marketing officer for Richard Childress Racing. "He has assembled a terrific team for our business development efforts, implemented solid strategies to attract new partners to RCR and has helped drive B2B activities for many of our current partners. Rick has been instrumental in forging new relationships with companies like AdvoCare, Growth Energy, WESCO, Husky Liners and a few others which we have not yet announced."(RCR)(11-8-2012)

  • Harvick's car hit by parachuter before race: Now NASCAR teams will need to prepare for parachuters before races now. While sitting on pit road lined up more than two hours before the start of Sunday's AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick's car was hit while a parachuter attempted to land in the infield. The jumper landed on the infield without incident, but the same can't be said for Harvick's car, which took a direct blow on the driver's side from a sandbag attached to the parachuter to weigh down the Texas flag that he was carrying. The result was a large dent in the top of the 9 in Harvick's #29 right below the driver's side window. Harvick's team pulled his car off the grid and took it back to the garage to fix the damage for approximately 30 minutes after consulting with NASCAR.(Yahoo Sports)(11-4-2012)

  • Harvick's team to honor fallen soldier: The #29 Budweiser team will wear a special memorial bracelet in honor of fallen soldier, Army Specialist Chris Horton this weekend at Kansas Speedway. Horton, a sniper in the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Oklahoma National Guard, was killed during a tour of duty in Afghanistan on Sept. 9, 2011. His wife Jane shares his killed-in-action bracelet with others to remind people of her late husband and all of the soldiers who have lost their lives while serving our country. (RCR)(10-18-2012)

  • RCR hires Warren as Competition Director: Richard Childress Racing has hired Dr. Eric Warren as its new director of competition in hopes of righting the ship. Warren replaces Kent Day, who served in an interim role after Scott Miller left the company last September for Michael Waltrip Racing. Miller's loss has been felt dramatically at RCR, particularly at the Sprint Cup level. Warren, 43, has a PhD in Aerospace Engineering. The Mt. Airy, N.C.-native has been involved in the motorsports industry since 1997. Warren worked as the chief aerodynamicist at Penske-Kranefuss Racing. In 2002, he became the technical director at Evernham Motorsports and advanced to vice president of the organization, then accepted a similar role at MWR. After a short-lived attempt with the U.S. Formula 1 effort, Warren joined Richard Petty Motorsports in 2010 as technical director, overseeing all engineering.(Fox Sports)(10-16-2012)

  • Kevin Harvick Foundation awards full-ride scholarship: Harvick, a wrestling standout in high school, presented the Kevin Harvick Athletic Scholarship to Nick Heilmann, marking the first stage of the Kevin Harvick Foundation's three-year commitment for an annual, full scholarship to UNC for one need-based student athlete. "Athletics -- wrestling in particular -- were a huge part of my life for so long and helped strengthen me both physically and mentally," Harvick said. "Therefore, it is very important to DeLana (wife) and me to support a student athlete who really could use the financial help and do a little something to possibly change his life for the better. People who helped me along the way, whether in wrestling or racing, played a big role in molding the person I have become. We're hoping Nick benefits in a similar manner." The Kevin Harvick Athletic Scholarship is intended to enable collegiate student athletes to pursue their dreams of obtaining an undergraduate degree while participating in athletics. The University of North Carolina is the second college with whom the Kevin Harvick Foundation has partnered to provide scholarships to student athletes. The first was awarded in 2010 at California State University-Bakersfield, Harvick's hometown. Harvick wrestled at North High in Bakersfield, and donated money and raised funds in 2008 to refurbish the school's wrestling room after its condemnation. Upon his arrival at UNC on Monday, Harvick toured the wrestling team's facility and addressed the athletes. Following the scholarship presentation to Heilmann, Harvick served as an honorary coach for the 20 wrestling team members who battled in the "Rumble in the Pit" for starting positions on this year's squad.(Kevin Harvick Foundation)(10-16-2012)

  • Harvick doesn't expect crew chief changes next year at RCR: From #29-Kevin Harvick's media availability Friday at Talladega:
    HAVE YOU GUYS ALREADY DISCUSSED WHAT YOU WANT TO DO FOR 2013 AS FAR AS CREW CHIEFS GO? WILL GIL (MARTIN) CONTINUE ON AS YOUR CREW CHIEF NEXT SEASON?
    "As far as I know that situation is all settled for next year. I hadn't heard any different. As far as I'm concerned the team is set and going forward. We have a lot bigger issues to work on than crew chiefs. You can throw crew chiefs at it all day long but we need to work on things in house."
    CAN YOU GIVE US DETAILS ON WHAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON?
    "I don't have enough time."
    YOUR COMPETITION DIRECTOR IS THERE GOING TO BE A NEW COMPETITION DIRECTOR IS THAT WHERE THE START YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SYSTEM IS THAT WHERE IT STARTS UP THERE? IS THAT THE KEY PIECE RIGHT NOW?
    "I think that definitely would be the key piece to start at. I think Richard (Childress) would have a lot more answers on these things than I would. I know he has been working hard to fix a lot of things. A lot of it comes with that piece falling into place and structure. When you don't have that guy in there it just didn't pan out the way that we all thought it would pan out and mesh together and really have things run like they needed to. It just kind of became a little bit more disruptive than I think everybody had anticipated. Richard and those guys are working hard on putting back structure and pieces in places and trying to get everything where it needs to be. It's a big machine. When you get just from the small team that we had with the Trucks and the Nationwide when something goes sideways it definitely takes a while to get it back to where it needs to be. Sometimes it's hard to find the problem and when you are looking for people of that magnitude there is not a lot of them in the garage. I think it's just something to where the wheel is really big and sometimes when you get to the top of that wheel to the bottom it's hard to get it back going again. He's definitely working hard to make all of that happen."(Chevy PR)(10-6-2012)

  • Three pit crews make it to the track after flight delay: Pit crews for Richard Childress Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing and JTG Daugherty Racing were on a tight schedule for Sunday's Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Blame it on problems with a scheduled flight to bring them to the track. The crew members were scheduled to reach the track about 10:00am/et. However, mechanical issues at their Concord, N.C., departure point forced them to change planes, delaying their arrival for the race. They reached the track about 12:50pm/et with a rush job ahead. Team owner Richard Childress said Miami Air, whom he charters with for the race-day flights, was able to get another plane to carry the crews. The plane landed shortly before 12:00pm/et in Manchester, N.H., about 25 miles from the track. Vehicles carrying the crew members were expected to get a police escort to make it through the traffic. Reaching the track would be no easy assignment. Typically traffic would be heavy with a crowd of about 90,000 people expected at a track with only one main entrance on a road that is converted from two lanes to four lanes using the shoulder for the race.(Sporting News)(9-23-2012)

  • Be(er) Responsible:< As part of "Global Be(er) Responsible Day" on Friday, September 21, Anheuser-Busch and its sister companies around the world will promote the company's responsible drinking programs. In the United States, Anheuser-Busch employees will canvass street corners, place signs in their yards and visit restaurants, bars and grocery stores to spread the message and celebrate the company's 30 years of leadership in alcohol responsibility. Harvick's #29 Budweiser Chevy featured a special "Designate a Driver" paint scheme last weekend at Chicagoland Speedway and adults are encouraged to join Harvick and the #29 team in the Nation of Responsible drinkers by taking the pledge to "Designate a Driver and Enjoy the Great Times" at www.NationOfResponsibleDrinkers.com.(RCR)(9-21-2012)

  • "Designate a Driver" scheme for the #29: Kevin Harvick will drive a "Designate a Driver" paint scheme this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway in support of Anheuser-Busch's worldwide effort to promote the responsible enjoyment of the company's beers with "Global Be(er) Responsible Day." Friday, Sept. 21, will mark 30 years of Anheuser-Busch's leadership in alcohol responsibility. Anheuser-Busch employees will canvas street corners, place signs in their yards and visit restaurants, bars and grocery stores to spread the message. Adults are encouraged to join Harvick and the #29 Budweiser Designate a Driver team in the Nation of Responsible drinkers by taking the pledge a www.NationOfResponsibleDrinkers.com.(RCR)(9-12-2012)

  • RCR considering Kurt Busch: The owner of Richard Childress Racing has discussed putting 2004 Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch in a fourth car next season if sponsorship can be found. "I have talked to Kurt about running a full season with a fourth team if we had sponsorship,'' Childress told ESPN.com on Friday at Richmond International Raceway. "He's a very, very talented driver. I like Kurt. Kurt and I would get along. There's just not a sponsor out there today that can fill a complete car.'' Busch through a team public relations representative said he had nothing to add to Childress' comments. Childress said he should know his entire driver lineup by mid-October. He plans to field three Sprint Cup teams with drivers Kevin Harvick, Paul Menard and Jeff Burton, as well as three Nationwide teams. Childress' grandson Austin Dillon will drive one of the full-time Nationwide cars with grandson Ty Dillon driving 8-10 Nationwide races while running a full-time Truck Series schedule. "He and I would get along, and he would listen to me,'' Childress said of Busch. "One thing he needs is somebody, when he does do wrong, to discuss how to handle it.'' Busch has spent this season driving for underfunded and primarily unsponsored #51 Phoenix Racing. Phoenix Racing general manager Steve Barkdoll told ESPN.com recently that owner James Finch would welcome Busch back in 2013 if sponsorship was found.(ESPN)(9-8-2012)

  • Sadler out at RCR? going to JGR in 2013?: UPDATES: Richard Childress, owner of RCR, tells Claire B Lang on the SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Pre-Race Show that Elliott Sadler has not re-signed with the company[for 2013], Sadler currently leads the Nationwide Series points.(SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Rumors floating around have Sadler going to Joe Gibbs Racing to run full-time in the Nationwide Series and run a 4th JGR Sprint Cup Series car part-time in 2013.(9-2-2012)
    UPDATE: Appearing Monday night on SPEED's Race Hub, Elliott Sadler confirmed he would not be back with Richard Childress Racing in 2013. He said he had not been offered an opportunity to stay at Childress next season and that he does not yet have a deal with a team for next year.(9-4-2012)
    UPDATE 2: Sources close to the situation said Sadler is in negotiations with Joe Gibbs Racing for a full-time Nationwide and part-time Cup ride, and has one other option with another organization for next season. "Right now, I don't have anything with any team,'' Sadler said after the first practice for Friday night's Nationwide race at Richmond International Raceway. "We are working on some things and we are talking to some different teams, and hopefully some will come together.'' JGR has an opening after Joey Logano announced on Tuesday he would drive the #22 Sprint Cup car at Penske Racing next season. Logano was offered a full-time Nationwide and part-time Cup ride to stay at JGR in 2013. Sadler has made it clear it is his desire to return to Cup in some form.(ESPN)(9-7-2012)

  • Shane WIlson back at the track; #27 appeal on Wed: Former #27-Kevin Harvick crew chief Shane Wilson is already back in the Sprint Cup garage. Wilson, who was removed from Harvick's Richard Childress Racing team prior to last week's race at Bristol Motor Speedway, began working with the RCR team of #27-Paul Menard on Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. With Menard crew chief Slugger Labbe facing a six-week suspension for an illegal frame on Menard's car at Michigan, Wilson is preparing for the role as interim crew chief if Labbe's suspension is upheld on appeal. The outgoing Wilson didn't dwell much Friday on his split with Harvick, who had been critical of Wilson's changes to the car on the team's in-car radio. "I was glad it ended," Wilson said in an interview with Sporting News on Friday. "You could hear it (on the radio). I don't mean it in a smart-ass way, but I was relieved just to get it over with and move on to the next thing. It's hard to find a good job, and that was a good opportunity. If just a few things would have gone a little different, it would have been a lot better. You're upset a little bit but it's the way it goes in the business and you move on from it," Wilson said. "It is what it is. ... (Our communication) wasn't very good. When it gets like that, you're kind of relieved when it finally happens. You move on and do the next thing." Wilson, 43, will spend this weekend learning the routine of Menard's team. He said he'd run that team the way Labbe wants and try to make the transition as smooth as possible. The appeal could come as early as next week [Note: scheduled for Wednesday, September 5], and that could mean Wilson will have a job for six more weeks. He said there could be other opportunities for him as a crew chief at RCR next year. He is ready for another opportunity after the tough 2012. "It probably drives me more-when you fail sometimes or things don't work out as good as you want to, you learn stuff that you did wrong or what you would do different," said Wilson, who has 11 years of experience as a crew chief and worked with RCR's Clint Bowyer before joining Harvick. "It's all part of it. There's a lot of good crew chiefs in the business that had to move to a different driver. It takes a little hit on you for a while, but it will be fine. We were still eighth in points. It wasn't like it was a complete failure." Harvick has not yet addressed the crew chief change and has been unavailable for comment.(in part from the Sporting News)(8-31-2012)

  • Rheem on the #29 at Atlanta: Rheem will adorn the #29 Chevy of Kevin Harvick for the eighth of 10 scheduled races during the 2012 season this weekend at their home track, Atlanta Motor Speedway. Rheem is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta and U.S. operations in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Minnesota and North Carolina. Rheem is the official heating, cooling and water heating supplier to Richard Childress Racing (RCR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(8-31-2012)

  • Harvicks and their dog on TV: #29-Kevin Harvick and his wife DeLana, along with their Chihuahua, LO, will be featured in an episode [Daytona Dogs] of the "The Dog Whisperer." Host, Cesar Millan, joined the Harvicks at their motorcoach at Daytona International Speedway in February to help tame the half-pint pup. The NASCAR-related episode is scheduled to air on Saturday, September 1 on Nat Geo Wild at 8:00pm/et; please check local listings for further details.(RCR)(8-29-2012)

  • Rheem returns to the #29: Rheem will adorn the #29 Chevy for the seventh of 10 scheduled races during the 2012 season this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Rheem is in its 86th year of operation, the company manufactures a full-line of eco-friendly, technologically advanced residential and commercial heating and cooling systems. Rheem is the official heating, cooling and water heating supplier to Richard Childress Racing (RCR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(8-22-2012)

  • Wilson out as Harvick's crew chief: #29-Kevin Harvick will have a new NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief at Bristol this weekend. Gil Martin will return to the helm of Harvick's Richard Childress Racing team, replacing Shane Wilson. Wilson and Harvick have struggled this season as Harvick is winless and sits eighth in the standings. "We're just trying to turn things around to make sure we get in the Chase, then be competitive once we get into the Chase," Martin told FOXSports.com. "It's not a question of us knowing each other's history, we've worked together before. Wilson was named crew chief for Harvick following the 2011 season. He replaced Martin, who had been the driver's crew chief since 2009. Harvick and Wilson had previously worked together in the Nationwide Series in 2006, earning 10 wins, 24 top-five finishes and 31 top 10s en route to the title. They won that by a series-record 824-point margin.(Fox Sports)(8-20-2012)

  • No more Cup races for Dillon in 2012, plans 7 in 2013: Whether or not Austin Dillon runs the #3 in the Cup Series, he does have a clear path to arrive there full-time in 2014. "What we're looking for next year is running the full Nationwide Series again and having about seven Cup races is what we're hoping to get done. If we can put it all together, it's gonna be a great year," Dillon said during an appearance with Ty on behalf of Atlanta Motor Speedway Tuesday. "This year has been awesome - we had one Cup race [finished 24th at Michigan in June in the #33 Chevy] and the radio blew up. Hopefully we'll finish this year out with a championship, so next year is just a lot of fun." Dillon made his Sprint Cup debut in the #98 Chevy last year at Kansas Speedway, finishing 24th, but says he has no more planned races this season, but, "It might change day-to-day. My grandfather comes up with things."
    Ty Dillon plans to join the Nationwide Series ranks after Austin leaves for Cup, but what number will he run, if he makes his way to the Sprint Cup Series and his brother indeed drives the famous #3? "Right now, I'm running the '3' in the Truck Series and having a lot of fun with it - with all the fans and seeing how excited they get. Last year, in the ARCA Series, I won the championship with the '41'. That number is dear to me and is also that my grandfather started out racing at Bowman-Gray Stadium. That means a lot to me, too, as much as the '3' does. Since Austin has started out taking the number '3' and made it his own, eventually the '41' will be my number."(WSB Radio Race Blog)(8-11-2012)

  • Final race for #29 Red, White & Blue scheme: For the sixth and final time this season, the #29 Budweiser Chevy of Kevin Harvick will sport the patriotic colors of Budweiser's "Red, White and Blue Summer" packaging featured on bottles and cans of the King of Beers, found at various locations this summer. As we enter the final weekend of the 2012 London Olympics, the #29 Budweiser team will be keeping tabs on Dennis Bowsher, a member of the U.S. Army who will represent Team USA in the men's modern pentathlon competition on Saturday, August 11.. Bowsher helped teach the #29 Budweiser team the basics of fencing when the crew visited the U.S. Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs, Colo., in June.(RCR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(8-9-2012)

  • The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma is airing its first public service announcement to raise awareness about the No. 1 killer of children in America - serious injury. The PSA will run on select cable channels in Charter Communications' service areas throughout the U.S. July 23-August 19. More info at RCRRacing.com.(7-27-2012)

  • Congrats: Steve and Lauren Hoegler welcomed their first child, Mary Elizabeth "Ellie" into the world on July 23rd, weighing in at 7lbs and 3oz. Steve is an engineer for Richard Childress #29-Kevin Harvick and Lauren is the Coordinating Producer for Sprint Vision.(7-26-2012)

  • RCR Minority Partner Considering Selling Equity Position: Richard Childress Racing has advised its employees, drivers and key sponsors that Chartwell Investments is considering exiting its minority equity position in RCR. "Since 2003, I have had a minority partner at RCR in Chartwell Investments," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "Like any private equity business, Chartwell has a duty to its investors to return capital and maximize profits in a reasonable timeframe. With my support, they have determined that now is an appropriate time to exit their investment in RCR. Chartwell has been a great partner and I will always be appreciative of our partnership. We will remain good friends. We have informed the key people and sponsors of RCR about Chartwell's decision and assured them this will have no impact on the current affairs at RCR or our continued vision for strong performance on and off the track. We have advised them that if a new investor comes on board as RCR's new partner they will be strategically chosen to help RCR continue to grow. Our family of corporate partners has all been very appreciative of our letting them know and remain committed to moving forward. I love what I do and plan to be involved in NASCAR and in running RCR for many years to come."
    "RCR is one of the elite NASCAR organizations and we are honored to be a part of the RCR family and partners with racing icon Richard Childress for close to ten years," said Michael Shein, Managing Partner of Chartwell Investments. "During this period, RCR has continued to prosper, more than doubling the size of its business. We are equally optimistic about RCR's future performance both on and off the track, remaining confident in NASCAR's long-term potential. We have engaged The Raine Group to explore the potential sale of our interest in RCR in order to monetize our investment." The Raine Group is a global merchant bank focused exclusively on the digital, media & entertainment and sports & lifestyle sectors.(RCR)(7-16-2012)

  • It's a boy for Kevin and Delana Harvick: Kevin and DeLana Harvick welcomed son Keelan Paul Harvick (pronounced Keylan) Sunday, July 8th, 2012. Keelan weighed in at 6.8 lbs. and 19.5 inches. Throughout the pregnancy, the Harvicks had jokingly referred to their son as "Baby Otis" on Twitter and in public. "Waiting on Keelan was the longest nine months of my entire life," Kevin Harvick said. "But time literally stood still when I held our baby for the first time. I've accomplished a lot in my life that I'm proud of, but those moments don't hold a candle to becoming a father and seeing that little face looking up at you. DeLana and I are just amazed by how special and rewarding this is." Mother and baby are doing well.(Harvick PR)(7-8-2012)

  • Dillon to stand by for Harvick at Daytona: UPDATES: Austin Dillon will stand by as a possible relief driver for Kevin Harvick in Saturday night's Coke Zero 400. Harvick and his wife, DeLana Harvick, are expecting their first child, and there's a possibility the baby may be born Saturday, which also is DeLana Harvick's birthday. "Happy birthday @DeLanaHarvick could be an interesting one," Harvick posted on his Twitter account just before noon ET on Saturday. Dillon flew home to North Carolina after finishing fourth in Friday night's NASCAR Nationwide Series race, intending to race Late Models before heading for a Nationwide event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, according to sources close to the situation. But Dillon was returning to Daytona on Saturday in case his services were needed. Harvick said in his Thursday media availability at Daytona that he didn't have a back-up arranged, but apparently that changed as the weekend progressed.(NASCAR Wire Service)(7-7-2012)
    UPDATE: Delana Harvick tweeted Saturday afternoon, "Back in [North Carolina for] precautionary reasons, but all is well w/ ?#babyotis? & I! plan is 4 @KevinHarvick to race tonight, w/ @austindillon3 on standby ".(7-7-2012)
    UPDATE: NASCAR will not allow Austion Dillon to fill in for Harvick if needed. He tweeted, "Well scratch the back up driver I'm not eligible because I'm a Rookie oh well that stinks I've already ran two cup races". The reason given was that a rookie needs to have practiced the car prior to the race and he has not run a Cup car at Daytona. Richard Childress Racing has received approval for Kenny Wallace to serve as the standby driver.(7-7-2012)

  • Childress to hold second pit crew training combine: Following a successful first event in April, Richard Childress Racing announced the date for the second installment of the RCR Pit Crew Training Combine powered by AdvoCare. The session will be held on Thursday, July 12 from 1-5 p.m. Eastern Time at the organization's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series facility in Welcome, N.C. The event is open to: individuals with an experienced mechanical background, athletes with a serious passion for developing into full-time pit crew team members at the premier level, as well as individuals who participated in the inaugural combine. In addition a variety of rigorous agility and physically demanding workouts, participants' mechanical skills and knowledge will be assessed. This most recent announcement comes on the heels of a successful inaugural event where more than 100 participants put their physical and mental abilities to the test in a rigorous two-day training camp. Qualified competitors who are interested should arrive at the RCR Sprint Cup Series facility dressed and ready to work out, and check in at the front desk for instruction. There are no fees associated with the event and it is open to the public. Registration begins at 1 p.m. ET. For additional information see rcrracing.com.(RCR)(6-29-2012)

  • #29 returns to red, white, and blue: The patriotic red, white and blue Budweiser Folds of Honor paint scheme returns to Harvick's #29 Chevy this weekend at Kentucky Speedway. The special paint scheme reflects the "Red, White and Blue Summer" packaging featured on the iconic Budweiser bottles and cans as part of a summer initiative in which the brand will contribute a portion of all sales from May 20 - July 7 to help raise as much as $2.5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel killed or disabled while serving their country. The Folds of Honor logo will also be featured on the TV panel of the #29 Chevy.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #29 team paint schemes page)(6-27-2012)

  • Harvick has stand-by for Sonoma UPDATE: in case wife Delana has the baby this weekend, #29-Kevin Harvick and team have a plan in case he has to leave the track, from a Team Chevy transcript:
    Q) DO YOU HAVE A BACK-UP DRIVER THIS WEEK IN CASE YOU WERE TO HAVE TO GO HOME?
    Harvick: "We have some plans."
    Q) (DAVID) MAYHEW IS THAT...?
    Harvick: "Yeah, David (Mayhew) went and practiced the car during the week this week, but he is running another car this week so if we have an issue we will address it when we get to that point with him."
    Q) WILL YOU END UP HAVING ONE EACH WEEK UNTIL THE BREAK OR...?
    Harvick: "We don't plan to right now. It's just a long ways from home right now so we had to make an alternative plan."(Team Chevy)(6-22-2012)
    UPDATE: With his wife, DeLana, due to give birth to their first child in July, driver Kevin Harvick has made contingency plans to put someone else in his car if the need arises. David Mayhew practiced Harvick's #29 at Sonoma but he has his own car [#98 Ford] in Sunday's race. Harvick said the team will deal with the situation if he has to suddenly fly back to North Carolina. He doesn't plan to have a back-up driver at other events. "It's just a long way from home right now so we had to make an alternative plan," Harvick said.(Charlotte Observer)(6-24-2012)

  • Rheem back to sponsor the #29: Rheem will adorn the #29 Chevy of Kevin Harvick for the fifth of 10 scheduled races during the 2012 season this weekend at Sonoma. Watts Water Technologies will serve as Rheem's partner on the RCR entry for Sunday's race. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. is a world leader in the manufacture of innovative products to control the efficiency, safety and quality of water within residential, commercial and institutional applications (RCR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(6-20-2012)

  • Harvick testing in Colorado: Kevin Harvick and the #29 RCR team will brush up on their road course skills in a test session on June 19 and 20 at High Plains Raceway in Colorado. The team will utilize chassis No. 278 from the RCR stable, previously used during a test at Virginia International Raceway earlier this year and during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. While out in Colorado for the road-course test, and on behalf of RCR partner Budweiser, the #29 team is scheduled to visit the U.S. Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs. The facility serves as the flagship training center for the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Olympic Training Center programs. The team will have the opportunity to tour the complex, interact with Olympic athletes, visit the sports science center and get a lesson in fencing (RCR)(6-19-2012)

  • Childress may buy Bowman Gray Stadium: Winston-Salem State University's effort to buy Bowman Gray Stadium from the city was snuffed out Thursday when state lawmakers killed the university's request for permission to borrow $7.5 million to buy the stadium. The legislative move - sponsored by Sen. Don East, R-Surry, and pushed by Winston-Salem entrepreneur Harold Day - opens the door wider to another potential bidder: Richard Childress, the NASCAR icon from Winston-Salem who sold peanuts as a child at Bowman Gray and started his racing career there in the 1950s. Bill Patterson, an executive vice president at Richard Childress Racing, met with Martha Wheelock, an assistant city manager, recently to talk about costs related to the stadium, he said. Bowman Gray has sentimental value for Childress. It's a landmark stock-car racing stadium and more could be done with it, Patterson said, though he declined to provide further information about what else could be done. "We do have an interest in it," he said.(full story at the Winston Salem Journal)(6-15-2012)

  • Red, White and Blue #29 car returns to the track: The patriotic red, white and blue Budweiser Folds of Honor paint scheme returns to the #29 Chevrolet this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. The special paint scheme reflects the "Red, White and Blue Summer" packaging featured on the iconic Budweiser bottles and cans as part of a summer initiative in which the brand will contribute a portion of all sales from May 20 - July 7 to help raise as much as $2.5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation*, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel killed or disabled while serving their country. The Folds of Honor logo will also be featured on the TV panel of the #29 Chevrolet. In addition to Sunday's race, Harvick's Budweiser ride will feature the "Red, White and Blue Summer" paint scheme for Sprint Cup Series races at Kentucky (June 30), Daytona (July 7), Pocono (Aug. 5) and Watkins Glen (Aug. 12). On Tuesday Harvick traveled to Florida to help promote Daytona International Speedway's July race. The first stop of the day was MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., where the driver of the #29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet toured a KC-135, a long-range tanker aircraft, took part in a Q&A session with base personnel and participated in a media availability session with local TV and print media.(RCR), see images of the car on the #29 Team Schemes page.(6-14-20102)

  • Sad News - Tommy Earnhardt: RCR to run decals: Tommy Lee "Sy" Earnhardt, 63, of Concord, passed away on Saturday, June 2, 2012, at home. The family will receive friends at Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord on Tuesday, June 5, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The funeral service, officiated by the Rev. Richard Payne, will follow in the Hartsell Funeral Home chapel at 7 p.m. Burial will be Oakwood Cemetery on Wednesday, June 6, at 10 a.m. Tommy Lee "Sy" Earnhardt was born on Oct. 22, 1948, in Cabarrus County, to the late Martin Luther Earnhardt and Vernice Blackwelder Earnhardt. He was employed as an engine assembler for (ECR) Earnhardt Childress Racing and owner of Firehouse Racing Engines. His love was engines and he sometimes assembled them in motel rooms for well known drivers. "Sy" was also employed with Benfield Racing, Mike Curb Racing, Stavola Bros/Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough Motorsports, Panther Racing/Derrick Close and Vasenook, among others before being employed at ECR. He is survived by a sister, Marsha E. Johnson; nephew, R. Martin Moss; step-son, Ryan Earnhardt; and his companion and high school sweetheart, Linda B. Preston. Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord is serving the Earnhardt family.(6-5-2012)
    DECALS: All six Richard Childress Racing entries in this weekend's NASCAR races at Pocono Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway will carry decals honoring the memory of long-time RCR/ECR Engines employee Tommy Lee "Sy" Earnhardt. Earnhardt, 63, passed away June 2, 2012 at his home in North Carolina after a long illness. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord, c/o Tommy L. Earnhardt, P.O. Box 367, Concord, NC 28026; Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081; or the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, P.O. Box 571021, Winston-Salem, NC 27199.(RCR)(6-6-2012)

  • Red, White & Blue for the #29 in six races: The #29 Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevy of Kevin Harvick will don a special red, white and blue patriotic paint scheme for six races this summer starting with Sunday's 600-mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The paint scheme reflects the special "Red, White and Blue Summer" packaging featured on the iconic Budweiser bottles and cans as part of a summer initiative in which the brand will contribute a portion of all sales from May 20 - July 7 to help raise as much as $2.5 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation*, which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel killed or disabled while serving their country. The Folds of Honor logo will also be featured on the TV panel of the #29 Chevy. In addition to Sunday's race, Harvick's Budweiser ride will feature the "Red, White and Blue Summer" paint scheme for NSCS races at Michigan (June 17), Kentucky (June 30), Daytona (July 7), Pocono (Aug. 5) and Watkins Glen (Aug. 12). (*Maximum donation of $2.5 million includes $5,000 for every walk-off in select 2012 professional baseball games and a portion of sales for every case of Budweiser sold, 5/20-7/7.)(Budweiser/RCR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(5-23-2012)

  • Rheem & Bud team up for All-Star race on #29: Rheem will return for their fourth appearance of the 2012 season and join Budweiser as co-primary sponsors on Kevin Harvick's #29 RCR Chevy this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the All-Star race.(RCR)(5-18-2012)

  • Childress & Rudd inducted into NMPA Hall of Fame: NASCAR team owner Richard Childress and former NASCAR driver Ricky Rudd were inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame Tuesday night at a gala event in Concord, NC. "It's is a great honor for me to carry the banner for all of the talented people who have made RCR what it's become over the past 40-plus years," said Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "To go into the National Motorsports Press Association with Ricky Rudd is very special for me personally because of his important contributions to both RCR and the sport of NASCAR racing as a whole. I had a dream as a kid of winning races and championships but I never thought it would take me to the places it has in my life." The National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame is located on the grounds of Darlington Raceway. The inaugural class was inducted in 1965 which has become a Who's Who in the world of NASCAR. Childress and Rudd were the 79th and 80th inductees.(RCR)(5-17-2012)

  • 2012 Richard Childress Racing FAN DAY - May 25, 2012: Richard Childress Racing and Childress Vineyards will co-host a full day of activities for fans May 25 during the '12 FAN DAY celebration at the award-winning winery and the RCR Museum.
    Activities at each venue will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern Time with autograph sessions, show car and sponsor partner displays, guided museum and winery tours scheduled throughout the day. The RCR Museum will have a giant tent sale, with specific racing memorabilia sales to benefit the Armed Forces Foundation. Fans can participate in drawings, hide-and-tweet contests and Facebook trivia throughout the day for a chance to win prizes.
    There will be two free autograph sessions, with the first beginning at 11 a.m. at the RCR Museum, followed by one at 1 p.m. at Childress Vineyards, with Richard Childress, RCR drivers, and key RCR personnel. Tickets will be required for each session and will be distributed at the specific location beginning at 9 a.m. In addition to Richard Childress and Chocolate Myers, drivers currently scheduled to sign autographs include Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Austin Dillon, Elliott Sadler, Brendan Gaughan, Ty Dillon, and Joey Coulter.
    The full-day event will conclude at Childress Vineyards with a concert on the lawn by Curb Records recording artist Tim Dugger. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show are $20 per person and are available by calling 336-236-9463 or online at childressvineyards.ticketleap.com.
    Visit www.childressvineyards.com or www.rcrracing.com for more information on how to be a part of '12 FAN DAY.(RCR)(5-12-2012)

  • Childress to serve as grand marshal of Talladega ARCA race: Richard Childress will serve as the grand marshal of the May 4 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. The 14-time championship-winning team owner will be inducted the night before into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.(RCR)(5-3-2012)

  • Rheem returns to the #29 at Dega: After serving as primary sponsor on the #29 Chevy earlier this season in Phoenix and Kansas, Rheem will return for their third appearance of the 2012 season this weekend in Talladega. Rheem is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta and U.S. operations in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Minnesota and North Carolina. In its 86th year of operation, the company manufactures a full-line of eco-friendly, technologically advanced residential and commercial heating and cooling systems; tank, tankless, solar and hybrid heat pump water heaters; whole-home standby generators, controls, swimming pool and spa heaters; indoor air-purification products; and commercial boilers throughout North America and world markets.(RCR)(5-3-2012)

  • Drivers comment on Bristol changes: Bruton Smith's decision not to seek driver input on how to fix Bristol Motor Speedway didn't sit well with several competitors in the Sprint Cup Series. And not all drivers are convinced the decision by the Speedway Motorsports Inc., chairman to grind the top groove will return racing at the half-mile track in Tennessee to the bumping and grinding it was known for before the 2007 reconfiguration. "I think they're wasting their time,'' points leader #16-Greg Biffle said on Friday at Richmond International Raceway. #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. agreed. "I believe the racing will be the same,'' he said. "I know they probably didn't have a lot of time between now and (the August) race to do everything they wanted to do. Just grinding will take away a little groove, but once we lay a little rubber down it'll be just like it was, which I think is fine.'' Kevin Harvick definitely took issue with Smith's comment during Wednesday's news conference that "I do not consult race drivers when I am building a speedway.'' "They were all gung ho on wanting to meet at Texas,'' Harvick said. "The next thing you knew, nobody showed up, nobody called, nobody wanted to talk anymore. I guess maybe they were embarrassed that they just wound up grinding it.'' Harvick said he was told by Don Hawk, SMI's vice president of business affairs, that Smith wanted to discuss changes at Bristol with him at Texas. Hawk acknowledged that Smith wanted to meet with Harvick and his team owner, Richard Childress, and the meeting didn't happen. Hawk said he apologized to Harvick and Childress via text. He added that several other drivers were contacted via text for input on the project, and that some responded and some didn't. He said Smith talked to Brad Keselowski by phone.(ESPN)(4-28-2012)

  • Get Well Josh Jones: Josh Jones, an employee of Kevin Harvick was injured during a softball game Tuesday night. Kevin Harvick was asked about his condition Friday morning in Richmond:
    CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO JOSH (JONES) AND GIVE US AN UPDATE ON HOW HE IS DOING NOW?
    "He got hit in the head with a softball running to first base and fractured his skull, blacked his eye, and filled his ear up with blood so he can't hear out of his left ear. All that should get better. They were just being really cautious about the swelling of his brain, and just making sure he didn't get a blood clot. They've taken good care of him and everything should be fine. I'll probably have to give him a lot less grief for a few weeks, for sure."(Chevy PR)(4-28-2012)

  • Special NASCAR Unites schemes to run UPDATES & Images: as part of the NASCAR Foundation's NASCAR Unites program, a few drivers will run special paint schemes at various races including #47-Bobby Labonte, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #55-Mark Martin, #56-Martin Truex Jr. and #99-Carl Edwards at Charlotte in May;
    #2-Brad Keselowski (no image), #29-Kevin Harvick (no image) and #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Charlotte in May and Daytona in July;
    #16-Greg Biffle at Michigan in June. See links to the images of the schemes on the Paint Scheme Gallery page.(4-9-2012)
    UPDATE: NASCAR announced the launch of "NASCAR Unites - An American Salute," a patriotic initiative uniting the NASCAR industry and fans this summer to celebrate America and support U.S. military families. NASCAR Nation will be covered from head to toe - and from splitter to spoiler - in red, white and blue to highlight the summer season, starting and ending at two traditionally patriotic summer NASCAR events held at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-27) and Daytona International Speedway (Independence Day Weekend, July 5-7). Additional activities related to the six-week initiative will take place between these "tent-pole" events, including retail programs and other sponsor promotions.
    To launch the initiative, the "NASCAR Unites - An American Salute" paint scheme for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 National Guard Hendrick Motorsports Chevy was revealed today in the nation's capital for more than 30,000 children and their guests attending the 134th Annual Easter Egg Roll event at the White House.
    Among those NASCAR drivers already committed to "NASCAR Unites - An American Salute" paint schemes are Earnhardt, 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion #14-Tony Stewart, #16-Greg Biffle, Danica Patrick, #2-Brad Keselowski and #99-Carl Edwards. As part of the program, NASCAR and The NASCAR Foundation will work with charities to fund initiatives that support military families. A social media promotion utilizing a #NASCARUnites hashtag will highlight track activations as well as patriotic activities from teams, broadcast partners and sponsors.(NASCAR)
    AND In the Nationwide Series, #88-Cole Whitt, will run in the Kentucky race in June and #7-Danica Patrick will run in the Nationwide race at the Daytona race in July. See images of the cars on the #7 NNS team paint schemes and #88 NNS paint schemes page.(4-9-2012)

  • RCR to hold Pit Crew Training Combine: Richard Childress Racing announced it will hold the first Pit Crew Training Combine in its 43-year history on Tuesday, April 10 and Wednesday, April 11 from 2:30-4:30 pm/et at the organization's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series facility located in Welcome, N.C.
    The one-of-a-kind event, open to experienced pit crew members as well as athletes with a serious passion for developing into full-time pit crew team member, gives participants the opportunity to showcase their athletic talents and learn the necessary skills to help them develop into a well-rounded teammate. Activities will consist of a variety of rigorous agility workouts and physically demanding tests which include mock training programs and real-time simulated pits stops in high-pressure scenarios normally experienced on a weekly basis both on and off the track throughout the course of a full season. Entrants will have the ability to learn from some of the most experienced and respected leaders in the industry on what it takes to prepare your body and develop the necessary mindset for the highest level of motorsports competition.
    "This event is an exciting opportunity for anyone with a passion to become a full-time pit crew member with an elite racing organization," said Eric Wilson, Director of Human Performance at RCR. "With the right attitude and preparation, this combine could be a vital step towards an athlete's goal of taking that next step in their career."
    The session on Tuesday, April 10 is scheduled for the positions of jackman and gasman, while the session on Wednesday, April 11 is scheduled for tire carriers and tire changers. Qualified competitors who are interested should arrive at the RCR campus dressed and ready to work out, and check in at the front desk for instruction. There are no fees associated with the event and it is open to the public. For additional information at rcrracing.com.(RCR)(4-7-2012)

  • Career start #400 for Harvick: #29-Kevin Harvick will mark a milestone in his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career this weekend as he makes his 400th start in Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway. Since his first NSCS start on Feb. 25, 2001, at Rockingham Speedway, Harvick has earned 18 wins, 88 top-five finishes, 177 top-10 finishes and five pole awards.(RCR)(3-30-2012)

  • Special scheme for Harvick at Martinsville: UPDATE: hearing that #29-Kevin Harvick will run a white and black Budweiser Prohibition scheme on the #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevy at Martinsville Speedway this weekend, see an image on the #29 Team Schemes page.(3-26-2012)
    UPDATE: Anheuser-Busch and its family of wholesalers across the United States annually celebrate the repeal of Prohibition on April 7 - the day the Cullen-Harrison Act took effect in 1933, legalizing the sale of 3.2 percent alcohol by volume beer in the District of Columbia and the 20 states in which state laws did not prohibit its sale. Kevin Harvick and the #29 Budweiser is Back team will join in the celebration of this milestone in American brewing history by running a special paint scheme for this weekend's Goody's Fast Relief 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway. The "Budweiser is Back" black and white paint scheme pays homage to the post-Prohibition days of the early 20th century with the newspaper headline from 1933 announcing "Prohibition Ends at Last!" on the hood. The TV panel features the words of August A. Busch Jr. who proclaimed "Happy days are here again!" during a special radio broadcast on KMOX CBS Radio. In addition to the paint scheme, Harvick will don a special white firesuit for Sunday's race at Martinsville. Instead of wearing standard baseball hats, Harvick and the #29 team will sport newsboy caps that were common in the early 20th century.(Elevation Group)(3-28-2012)

  • Special scheme for Harvick at Martinsville: hearing that #29-Kvein Harvick will run a white and black Budweiser Prohibition scheme on the #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevy at Martinsville Speedway this weekend, see an image on the #29 Team Schemes page.(3-26-2012)

  • Harvick to be inducted into ACS's Walk of Fame: As the 2011 Auto Club 400 race winner, Harvick will be inducted into the Auto Club Speedway Walk of Fame on Saturday, Mar. 24 at 11:30 am/pet. The Bakersfield, Calif., native will receive a bronze plaque from track president Gillian Zucker, which will be placed in a cemented area along with his footprint, handprint and signature. The induction will be held in the Auto Club Speedway FanZone, located outside gate 12 and is open to the public (RCR).(3-23-2012)

  • Jimmy John's returns to the #29: The black, red and white colors of Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches will adorn the #29 Chevy as the primary sponsor of Kevin Harvick and the team for the first of six races in 2012 this weekend at Auto Club Speedway.(RCR)(3-22-2012)

  • RCR to Honor Team Member Frankie Allen: Richard Childress Racing's NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series teams will carry a special decal this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway in honor of Frankie Allen, a valued employee and three-year veteran of the RCR team, who passed away earlier this week. Allen worked as the shock specialist on the #2 Camping World Truck Series entry with drivers Kevin Harvick, Brendan Gaughan and Tim George Jr. The Rock Hill, S.C., native served as the car chief for George Jr's #31 ARCA Racing Series team for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. In addition to running memorial decals on RCR's Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series cars this weekend, the three RCR Truck Series teams will carry the decal honoring Allen for the Kroger 250 race at Martinsville Speedway on March 31. "Frankie put in a lot of hard work and effort at RCR and truly became a friend to me and others at the shop," said Mike Dillon, Vice President of Competition for RCR. "One of his favorite sayings was 'hurry up' so it seemed appropriate to have that phrase on the decals the cars will carry. He will definitely be missed at the shop and our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this tough time." Allen is survived by his wife Renee. Funeral arrangements are pending.(RCR)(3-15-2012)

  • Childress joins Growth Energy Board of Directors: On the opening day of its 2012 Executive Leadership Conference, Growth Energy announced that Richard Childress, President and Chief Executive Officer of Richard Childress Racing, has agreed to join the organization as a member of its Board of Directors. Growth Energy represents 75 U.S. ethanol producers and 63 associated companies. Through grassroots support, media relations and advocacy efforts, Growth Energy promotes reducing harmful emissions, creating American jobs and strengthening national security through increased use of ethanol. In 2011, Growth Energy, partnering with the National Corn Growers Association and others, agreed to a marketing partnership with NASCAR under the American Ethanol brand. In the 2011 racing season, NASCAR used Sunoco Green E15 racing fuel in all of its vehicles, proving in more than 1.5 million miles of racing, qualifying and practice laps that E15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent gasoline) is a safe and effective fuel blend for today's automobiles. American Ethanol has an agreement with RCR Racing to use Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 American Ethanol Chevy, as a spokesman for the industry.(RCR)(3-10-2012)

  • Childress looking for first Vegas win: Richard Childress Racing has earned a Sprint Cup Series victory at 19 of the 23 tracks on the 2012 schedule. The only tracks on the current schedule where RCR hasn't earned Sprint Cup Series wins are Homestead-Miami Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. Additionally, RCR has Sprint Cup Series wins at 22 tracks overall, including North Wilkesboro (N.C.), Riverside (Calif.) and Rockingham (N.C.), which are no longer on the schedule.(RCR)(3-10-2012)

  • Rheem scheme for the #29 team: Rheem will adorn the #29 Chevy for the first of 10 races, beginning this weekend. Rheem is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta and U.S. operations in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Minnesota and North Carolina. In its 86th year of operation, the company manufactures a full-line of eco-friendly, technologically advanced residential and commercial heating and cooling systems.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #29 team paint schemes page.(3-2-2012)

  • Richard Childress, Ricky Rudd elected to NMPA Hall of Fame: Team owner Richard Childress and Ricky Rudd, the driver who gave Childress his first NASCAR win, have been elected to the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame. Each received more than the required 65 percent of the votes cast by the NMPA's members. Childress made his first NASCAR Sprint Cup start in 1969. He drove for five full seasons, 1976-80, with two top-five finishes. Twenty races into the 1981 season, Childress turned the wheel over to Dale Earnhardt, and in June 1983 at Riverside, Calif., Rudd gave Childress his first victory as a team owner. In 1984, Earnhardt rejoined Childress, and they would go on to win 66 races and six championships. Overall, Childress has 100 Cup wins, as well as 56 victories and five team-owner titles in the Nationwide ranks, and 24 wins and two Camping World Truck Series crowns. Rudd competed in Cup racing for 32 years, with stints for team owners such as Childress, Rick Hendrick, Bud Moore Roberts and others. Rudd earned 23 Cup wins, including the Brickyard 400 in 1997 as an owner-driver, and he holds the NASCAR Cup record for consecutive starts with 788. Rudd was also the 1992 titlist in the International Race of Champions series. Others receiving votes for the NMPA Hall of Fame were: drivers Donnie Allison, Bill Elliott, Tiny Lund and Sara Christian; former crew chief and team owner Ray Evernham; team owner Joe Gibbs; promoter Richard Howard; and photographer Ladon George.(Fayetteville Observer)(2-17-2012)

  • RCR Partners with K&N Engineering for ECR Engines Program: Richard Childress Racing and K&N Engineering, Inc., the inventor and leading innovator of reusable cotton gauze filter technology for automotive applications, have reached agreement on a multi-year partnership for ECR Engines' NASCAR program. The technical partnership provides ECR Engines with K&N Engineering air and oil filters as well as research and development support. K&N Engineering will receive marketing rights to Richard Childress Racing's drivers, cars and teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. All RCR race cars will be adorned with the K&N decal through the NASCAR Contingency Sponsor program as well as having the K&N logo under the hood of every car.(RCR)(2-17-2012)

  • Former KHI Development Driver lands sponsor and new team: Coulter Motorsports announced that Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation (a Jaysi fave) has joined the team as primary sponsor of the Pro All Star Series (PASS) #2 Car driven by 2011 PASS Rookie of the Year, Gray Gaulding. Gray will debut the Krispy Kreme #2 car at the Dillon Motor Speedway, South Carolina Clash on March 10, 2012. The highly recognizable Krispy Kreme logo will adorn Gaulding's Chevrolet and firesuit for 16 races. More info on my Driver Development page.(2-8-2012)

  • Harvick inducted into Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame: #29-Kevin Harvick returned Wednesday to where his racing career began -- his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif. -- to be inducted into the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame. A sold-out gathering greeted their hometown hero, who went from racing go-karts around the Bakersfield area as a 5-year-old to winning the Daytona 500 in 2007. "It's been an honor to be selected," Harvick told the audience at his induction. "My friends and family and everybody in this town have been very supportive. From my go-kart days or my wrestling days at North High, no matter what it was, the town has been supportive. And you guys support our foundation events when we come back. It's truly an honor to see the support." Harvick, 36, was one of four enshrined during Wednesday's ceremony. Also inducted were Olympic swimmer Gabe Woodward; Pat Skrable, an outstanding baseball and football player at Bakersfield High School; and Arnold Kirschenmann, a golfing standout from Bakersfield. Harvick joins just three other drivers in the Hall -- four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears, off-road champion Roger Mears and Indy 500 competitor George Snider.(NASCAR Wire Service)(2-3-2012)

  • Harvicks expecting a baby: #29-Kevin Harvick said Wednesday night his wife is 14 weeks pregnant. Harvick announced DeLana Harvick's pregnancy during a media event at Richard Childress Racing. The couple closed their race team at the end of last season and said they were excited to use all the free time they were about to acquire.(Associated Press)(1-26-2012)

  • American Ethanol to sponsor Austin Dillon in Cup race: In a nod to its commitment to the sport, American Ethanol announced at the NASCAR Preview fan event in Charlotte, N.C., that it will continue relationships with Richard Childress Racing and RAB Racing for the 2012 season. Austin Dillon, 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion, will drive the iconic #3 Chevy during the 2012 Nationwide Series season with American Ethanol serving as the primary sponsor for six races as well as one race in the Sprint Cup Series in 2012. Dillon's #3 American Ethanol Chevy paint scheme was unveiled at the event. In addition to American Ethanol's partnership with Dillon, the organization will serve as an associate sponsor with the entire RCR family of drivers. Team owner Richard Childress as well as RCR's Sprint Cup Series veterans Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Paul Menard will also serve as spokesmen for the cause. Kenny Wallace, who notched 11 top-ten finishes last year, will drive the #09 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for RAB Racing. American Ethanol will partner with Wallace for the Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500, as well as five races in the Nationwide Series.(Richard Childress Racing)(1-22-2012)

  • Harvick, Biffle, and NASCAR fan to appear on 'Dog Whisperer': In a sport where drivers are constantly striving to be leaders of the pack, a few NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars - and one lucky NASCAR fan - are taking a back seat to learn a thing or two about how to control their pets. "Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan," airing on Nat Geo WILD, is going all-NASCAR when they bring the show to Daytona Beach, Fla. this February to shoot an upcoming episode. This episode, which will be filmed around Daytona 500 events on February 17-18, will feature NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Greg Biffle and Kevin Harvick for two of the first three segments. For the final segment, Millan will work with a NASCAR fan who will be chosen. Any NASCAR fan with a dog in need of help who lives in the Daytona area, or will be in the Daytona area during the time of shoot, and wants to star in an episode of "Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan" should visit http://www.cesarsway.com/dogwhisperer/submissions for information on how to submit an audition video. After collecting auditions, the "Dog Whisperer" staff will determine one lucky winner to appear in the NASCAR episode.(NASCAR)(1-16-2012)

2011 News

  • 2011 Races [26] that Budweiser is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Daytona, Bud Shootout - 2/12
    Daytona, Gatorade Duels - 2/17
    Daytona 500 - 2/20
    Las Vegas - 3/6
    Bristol - 3/20
    Martinsville - 4/3
    Texas - 4/9
    Talladega - 4/17
    Richmond - 4/30
    Darlington - 5/7
    Dover - 5/15
    Charlotte, Sprint All-Star Race - 5/21, co-primary
    Charlotte - 5/29, military
    Kansas - 6/5
    Michigan - 6/19
    Daytona - 7/2, White RWB scheme
    Kentucky - 7/9
    New Hampshire - 7/17
    Pocono - 8/7
    Watkins Glen - 8/14
    Richmond - 9/10
    Chicago - 9/18, "Bowtie"
    New Hampshire - 9/25
    Kansas - 10/9
    Martinsville - 10/30
    Phoenix - 11/13, "Bowtie"
    Homestead - 11/20

  • 2011 Races [6] that Jimmy John's is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Phoenix - 2/27
    California - 3/27
    Indianapolis - 7/31
    Michigan - 8/21
    Charlotte - 10/15
    Talladega - 10/23

  • 2011 Races [4] that Rheem is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Infineon - 6/26
    Atlanta - 9/4
    Dover - 10/2
    Texas - 11/6

  • 2011 Races [1] that Okuma is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Pocono - 6/12

  • 2011 Races [1] that Realtree / Bad Boy Buggies is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Bristol - 8/27

  • Harvicks Lend Helping Hand To Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive: The Kevin Harvick Foundation donated about 125 toys to the Martinsville Speedway Toy Drive on Tuesday, Dec 21st. Those toys will be distributed to needy youngsters by Christmas Cheer of Martinsville and Henry County (VA). The Harvicks live about 35 miles south of Martinsville Speedway and often refer to Martinsville Speedway as their "home track." They have partnered with Martinsville Speedway on several events, but the toy donation is their way of giving back to the Martinsville and Henry County area. The Kevin Harvick Foundation and radio station 93.1 The Wolf sponsored a month long toy-drive and fundraising concert last week at Johnny and June's in Winston-Salem, NC, featuring country music stars Jake Owen and the Eli Young Band. The main beneficiaries of the successful event were foster children in Guilford and Forsyth counties, but the Harvicks made sure some of the toys made their way to Martinsville and Henry County.(Martinsville Speedway)(12-25-2011)

  • Hunt Brothers associate sponsor of Harvick: Hunt Brothers Pizza will sponsor two of Richard Childress Racing's NASCAR Nationwide Series teams as well as the #29 Sprint Cup Series team with Kevin Harvick through a multi-year partnership agreement that begins in 2012. Hunt Brothers Pizza will be the primary sponsor for three NASCAR Nationwide Series races on the #33 Chevy when Harvick is the driver. The #2 Chevy, with driver Elliott Sadler, will carry the Hunt Brothers Pizza primary sponsor paint scheme for the NNS event at Chicagoland. In addition, the Nashville, Tenn.-based company will be an associate sponsor throughout the NNS season for the #2 and the #33 Chevy teams. Hunt Brothers Pizza will also continue its season-long associate sponsorship of Harvick and RCR's #29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, beginning with the Daytona 500 in February.(Richard Childress Racing)(12-12-2011)

  • RCR Racing Operation to Conduct Surplus Auction: Iron Horse Auction Company, Inc. of Rockingham, N.C. will conduct an auction of surplus racing equipment for the Richard Childress Racing Organization on December 6, 2011 at 10:00 am. The auction will include racing cars, racing engines, parts, accessories, equipment and much more. The auction will be held on site at RCR Racing Complex. Iron Horse Auction Company, Inc. and its principals are recognized on an international level for their knowledge and experience in the sale of NASCAR racing equipment. For further information, go to ironhorseauction.com(Iron Horse Auction Company)(11-30-2011)

  • Wilson replaces Martin as Harvick's crew chief: Richard Childress Racing has made organizational changes to its competition department in preparation for the 2012 NASCAR season. Long-time RCR crew chiefs Shane Wilson and Gil Martin have taken new assignments with the 14-time championship-winning organization. Wilson has been named the crew chief of the #29 Budweiser/Rheem/Jimmy John's team with driver Kevin Harvick after three seasons in the same position with RCR's #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper team. Martin, the #29 team crew chief since May 2009 and a crew chief at RCR since August 2000, has been named director of team operations, reporting to director of competition Kent Day. Further personnel changes within RCR's competition department will be announced in the coming weeks.(Richard Childress Racing)(11-23-2011)

  • Dale Jr. has no problem with the #3 being used: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., recently met with members of the media at Homestead-Miami Speedway and discussed a few topics, including Austin Dillon in the #3 and the history of the number, from the transcript in part:
    Q) RICHARD CHILDRESS TELLS US THAT HE ASKED YOU AND (SISTER) KELLEY IF IT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT IF HIS GRANDSON RAN THE #3 IN THE NATIONWIDE SERIES NEXT YEAR. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF IN THREE OR FOUR YEARS HE SAID HE WANTED TO MOVE AUSTIN DILLON UP TO SPRINT CUP RACING AND HE'D LIKE TO TAKE THAT #3. WOULD YOU BE COOL WITH THAT?
    Earnhardt Jr. "Yeah, I would. Austin has ran that number and I'm not real sure; I just look at it differently. I don't look at the numbers tied to drivers as much as just the history of the number. The number is more of a bank, you know, that you just deposit history into. It doesn't really belong to any individual. Austin's ran that number and you can't really deny him the opportunity to continue to run it. It just wouldn't be fair. Dad (Dale Earnhardt Sr.) did great things. He was a great ambassador for the sport and we're still as a whole, reaping the benefits of all he accomplished and what he did that put us in front of a lot of people. But even before that, the number was Richard's. Richard drove it. And someone else drove it before then. There's a lot of guys in the fifties and sixties that ran that number with success. So the number is really kind of like a bank and you deposit history into and they don't really belong to the individuals. It's iconic when you put the colors and the style with it; it's a little bit iconic to the sport. Austin is a good kid, He seems to have a great appreciation for what's happening to him and what's going on around him. And I would be happy if he wanted to keep doing that. He kind of had to know when he first started to run that number if he got this far into the deal, he would have to cross a few bridges like that and that was a tough decision I guess at first to start running the number for him; knowing what kind of pressures he might face down the road. But I think it would be fine by me for him to do that. I think that it's got to get back on the race track one of these days. It just can't be gone forever you know?"(Team Chevy)(11-20-2011)

  • Harvick to lose crew chief? UPDATE 3 denied in part: Matt Clark [formerly of RCR 2008-2011 and Hendrick Motorsports 2002-2007] reported on SPEED's NASCAR Racehub that #29 Richard Childress Racing's crew chief for #29-Kevin Harvick, Gil Martin, will not return as the crew chief in 2012, Supposedly Martin will move into RCR's Competition Director. No word who will take over as Harvick's crew chief. Fox Sports has already reported that Shane Wilson, crew chief for #33-Clint Bowyer will move to the #31 team and driver Jeff Burton in 2012. Luke Lambert, who was promoted from team engineer on the #31 team to crew chief on July 25, will crew chief Elliott Sadler as RCR absorbs the Kevin Harvick Inc. Nationwide Series squads.(11-18-2011)
    UPDATE: The #29 Richard Childress Racing road crew was told its services would not be needed after this weekend. One crewman said he found out about the decision in the parking lot when he arrived at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday morning. Another crewman stated he found out via the Internet. "No one knows where we're going," said one 17-year veteran of RCR. Crew chief Gil Martin says his son Ford called to inform him that his job status was changing. Early Friday morning, rumors swirled that Martin, who still has two years on his contract, was out of the #29 crew chief's role and moving into the director of competition position. As Martin pointed out, that role is currently filled by Kent Day. Although sources say Shane Wilson was earmarked for the crew chief's role on the #31 team of Jeff Burton, his name is now being linked as a possible replacement on the #29 Chevrolet. Another possible candidate is Ernie Cope, who has been the crew chief for Kevin Harvick Inc. Nationwide Series driver Elliott Sadler and has worked with Harvick in the past. Luke Lambert, who is currently the crew chief for Burton and the #31 team is expected to assume the crew chief duties with Sadler in the Nationwide Series next year.(FoxSports)(11-18-2011)
    UPDATE2 denied in part Richard Childress told Sirius XM NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that there is no truth to rumors that the #29 road crew has been informed that they will be terminated after this weekend's season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway. "There may be some changes made during the winter," said Childress, "but that is absolutely nothing but a rumor. Nobody has been told that they eill not return."(11-18-2011)
    UPDATE 3: Childress said he will not fill the position lost when former competition director Scott Miller went to Michael Waltrip Racing. He elevated Kent Day from technical director of competition to interim competition director and won't fill Day's role.(SceneDaily)(11-19-2011)

  • Budweiser Bowtie scheme at Phoenix: For the second time this season the #29 Chevy of Kevin Harvick will honor the Budweiser "Bowtie" can refresh with a special paint scheme. Introduced in August, the new can design is Budweiser's 12th since Anheuser-Busch began offering its flagship brand in cans in 1936. The focal point of the design is Budweiser's iconic bowtie, complemented by the time-honored Budweiser creed and Anheuser-Busch medallion. The same elements are prominent on the #29 Budweiser Chevy for Sunday's race. Harvick's #29 Budweiser Chevy also sported this paint scheme at Chicagoland Speedway in September (RCR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(11-9-2011)

  • Rheem sponsoring Harvick in 10 races next year: Rheem Manufacturing Company officially announced a comprehensive plan to continue its involvement in various NASCAR racing series. Rheem has completed a multi-year agreement with Richard Childress Racing to be the primary sponsor of the #29 Chevy driven by Kevin Harvick for 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races as well as being the co-primary sponsor with Budweiser for NASCAR's annual mid-season All-Star race over the term of the agreement. Rheem will also be a major associate sponsor of the #29 Chevy for the remaining 26 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in which Budweiser or Jimmy John's are the primary sponsor. Rheem will continue its co-sponsorship with Menards of RCR's #33 Chevy driven by Paul Menard and others in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for 12 races in the 2012 season. Rheem also announced an agreement with Eddie Sharp Racing to be the season-long, primary sponsor of the #33 Chevy Silverado that will compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2012. As a part of the agreement, RCR has formed a technical alliance with ESR to provide engineering, testing and technical assistance to the team while also receiving support from Chevy and ECR Engines. After successfully competing in several NASCAR races for Rheem in 2011, Cale Gale has been signed to drive the #33 Rheem truck full time for ESR in 2012.(RCR)(11-3-2011)

  • Rheem makes final appearance of year on #29: Rheem will serve as the primary sponsor on the #29 Chevy for Sunday's race at Texas and the car will carry the company's familiar red and black colors. Rheem first served as the primary sponsor on the #29 Chevy this season at Infineon Raceway. Rheem also graced the #29 Chevry twice in September at Atlanta and Dover. Sunday's race at TMS marks Rheem's fourth and final race on the #29 Chevy for the 2011 season.(Richard Childress Racing), see an image of the car on my #29 team paint schemes page.(11-2-2011)

  • Harvick and Biffle exchange words Saturday at Martinsville: #29-Kevin Harvick and #16-Greg Biffle had a run-in on the track when the Sprint Cup Series got in its only practice after the rain stopped Saturday, and then had words as the confrontation spilled over into the garage later. On the track, Biffle ran into the back of Harvick's car. Harvick, who is fifth in the series standings 26 points behind leader Carl Edwards, later hit Biffle in the back. The drivers later stopped at the exit of Turn 2, then headed for the garage, where Harvick pulled in alongside Biffle, then pulled ahead, momentarily blocking Biffle's access to his stall. Biffle turned in anyway, clipping the back of Harvick's car. After climbing from his car, Biffle headed to Harvick's garage stall, drawing a crowd of team members and officials, even though the conversation appeared to become amicable.(Associated Press/ESPN)(10-30-2011)

  • Richard Childress Racing Reaches 100th Win: With its sixth victory of the 2011 season, by #33-Clint Bowyer at Talladega Superspeedway, Richard Childress Racing reached historic NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win No. 100, a major milestone in the storied history of one of NASCAR's most prolific teams. It was the team's 12th win at Talladega, which puts it atop the all-time wins list at the historic track. Richard Childress Racing started its trek to the top of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 1969, as a single-car team with its driver also its owner. Richard Childress paired his business acumen with driving skills that produced results. Childress finished his driving career with six top fives and 76 top 10s. But it was when Childress took the back seat that Richard Childress Racing exploded. It earned its first win in 1983 at Riverside International Raceway with driver Ricky Rudd. A year later, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt joined the organization fulltime, and the rest - as they say - is history. Earnhardt won six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships and 67 races while flying the Richard Childress flag. Now, the team has reached another milestone, and another accolade - 100 victories. RCR has won with seven different drivers, at 22 different tracks.
    RCR Wins By Driver: Dale Earnhardt 67; Kevin Harvick 18; Clint Bowyer 5; Jeff Burton 4; Robby Gordon 3; Ricky Rudd 2; Paul Menard 1.(NASCAR)(10-24-2011)

  • Jimmy John's final 2011 race: The black, red and white colors of Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches will adorn the #29 Chevy of Kevin Harvick as the team's primary sponsor for the sixth and final time in 2011 this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway (RCR), see images of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(10-21-2011)

  • RCR Teams With Extra F.U.E.L.: All Richard Childress Racing vehicles competing in this weekend's events at Talladega Superspeedway will carry a decal for Bryson's F.U.E.L.(Families United to Eliminate Leukemia ), an organization dedicated to assisting families who are currently battling childhood cancer. Bryson Smith, the four-year-old son of Jim (& Heather) Smith, who builds the RCR Street Performance Camaro, has been courageously fighting a battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) since June. The Smiths started the Bryson's F.U.E.L Foundation in hopes of relieving the financial and emotional burden of families who are undergoing treatment at Levine's (Charlotte, N.C.) & Brenner's (Winston-Salem, N.C.) Children's Hospitals (RCR)(10-21-2011)

  • RCR Leasing Car and Hauler To Winston-Salem State's Motorsports Program: Richard Childress recently joined students, faculty and staff from Winston-Salem State University's motorsports management program to receive a special thank you from the school for the race car and hauler RCR is providing to the university. "We were pleased to be able to say 'thank you' and to recognize Richard Childress and the staff at RCR for all of their support," said Dr. Travis Teague, coordinator of the Motorsports Management Program. "This donation is a major step in our vision of having a race car for our educational purposes as well as being able to utilize it as a great marketing piece for the entire university." RCR donated the car to the university and is leasing the hauler to them for $1 a year. The celebration and thank you was held October 5 at the RCR Museum parking lot. WSSU is the only four-year university in the country and the only HBCU (Historically Black College and University) to offer a Bachelor of Science degree program in Motorsport Management. The program prepares students for entry-level positions in motorsports operations, marketing and event planning.(WSSU/RCR)(10-21-2011)

  • Childress says three teams likely next year: Richard Childress was asked about his teams during a press conference at Charlotte on Thursday:
    DO YOU ENVISION THE #33 CUP CAR ON THE TRACK NEXT YEAR, OR DO YOU SEE YOUR PROGRAM NOW AS THREE CUP CARS?
    "Right now we're looking at three Cup cars with an occasional Cup race. Who knows what may come up between now and then? I've had offers to race people and race drivers and had another full sponsorship with a driver; I just want to make sure it's the right move when we make it. So we're still as of right now, we're three Cup teams."
    JUST TO CLAIRFY, YOU MIGHT RUN A FOURTH CAR PART TIME NEXT YEAR IN CUP OR NOT?
    "I'm sure if we don't have a team we may stick Austin in another car one or two times. We've got a couple of other people that said hey we want to run. If we see it's the right opportunity for a change that we can test something or look at a driver or something we may do that."
    YOU TALK ABOUT THE BUSINESS MODEL, IF PEOPLE COULD BRING YOU A ONE OR TWO-RACE DEAL YOU COULD INSERT PEOPLE INTO THAT CAR AND HAVE A NUMBER OF SPONSORS AND HAVE A DIFFERENT BUSINESS MODEL.
    "Yeah, but that's not really what we want to do. You can't be competitive like that. I'd rather have three teams that you can be competitive with and occasionally pick up a race or two along the way and if you've got something you want to try you do it."(Chevy PR)(10-13-2011)

  • Jimmy John's for Harvick at Charlotte: The black, red and white colors of Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches will adorn the #29 Chevy as the team's primary sponsor for the fifth time in 2011 this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(RCR), see an image of the car on the #29 team paint schemes page.(10-12-2011)

  • Bowyer and the Harvicks to appear in ESPN spot: #29-Kevin Harvick, his wife DeLana and teammate #33-Clint Bowyer will appear in the latest NASCAR on ESPN commercial that will debut this weekend across ESPN networks. It will be the third in a series of four spots that will run this fall to promote ESPN's coverage of NASCAR. This year's campaign, "Nothing Beats First Place," leverages the changes to the point system to place an even greater emphasis on winning by featuring top drivers in humorous on and off-the-track situations that demonstrate their passion for winning. Featured drivers include Harvick, Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch. Behind the scenes photos and a sneak peek at the commercial will be featured on RCRRacing.com this Saturday at 11 am/et.(Bud Racing PR)(10-6-2011)

  • Special scheme for Harvick at Dover: Rheem and Richard Childress Racing (RCR) will mark National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a pink and black paint scheme on the renamed #29 Rheem Chasing the Cure Chevy for the Oct. 2 AAA 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Dover International Speedway. The special paint scheme of the #29 Chevy, driven by Kevin Harvick, is part of a month-long program created by Rheem to help raise national awareness of the importance of regular check-ups and early diagnosis in the fight against breast cancer. Young Survival Coalition ("YSC"), the premier global organization helping young women face the challenges of breast cancer, expects that another 10,000 women under the age of 40 in the U.S. will be added this year to the 250,000 who have already been diagnosed. YSC works with survivors, caregivers and the medical, research, advocacy and legislative communities to increase the quality and quantity of life for women diagnosed with breast cancer ages 40 and under. The Rheem Chasing the Cure program is a part of the company's "Heart of Comfort" corporate responsibility initiative. DeLana Harvick, wife of Kevin Harvick, will wear a specially designed pink and black Rheem firesuit for the race. She will also present a duplicate version of her firesuit autographed by the entire #29 team to Young Survival Coalition during a media event at the Dover Monster Mile Speedway prior to the start of the race. "I've had friends and family affected by breast cancer," said DeLana Harvick. "With groups like the Young Survival Coalition and programs like Chasing the Cure, it's a great way to promote awareness and early detection." Beginning in October, Rheem will launch a month-long contest on its Rheem Racing Facebook fan page to build awareness and garner support for breast cancer awareness. Rheem has pledged to donate one dollar for the first 10,000 Rheem Facebook fans who pledge one dollar or more to Young Survival Coalition. The #29 crew will wear special pink and black Rheem Chasing the Cure T-shirts and hats for the Dover race; these hats and shirts, as well as a special ladies T-shirt, will be on sale at the RCR merchandise hauler at Dover as well as online at the RCR team store. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Young Survival Coalition.(RCR), see an image of the scheme on the #29 Team Scheme page.(9-27-2011)

  • Scott Miller leaving RCR: UPDATES: Scott Miller and Richard Childress Racing have parted ways. Miller had served as director of competition since 2003 for RCR, whose drivers are Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Paul Menard. After a short sabbatical, sources said Tuesday, Miller will fill a similar role at Michael Waltrip Racing. Kent Day will serve as interim director of competiton for RCR until a permanent replacement can be found. Miller was in his second stint with RCR, having initially worked with the team from 1997 to 2001.(Fox Sports)(9-20-2011)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing has promoted Kent Day to interim director of competition from his previous position as technical director with the 12-time NASCAR championship winning organization. Former RCR director of competition Scott Miller has taken a position with another motorsports organization."Kent brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new position as interim director of competition at Richard Childress Racing," said Mike Dillon, RCR's vice president of competition. "As technical director, he played an integral role in the overhaul and turnaround of RCR's competition department beginning in mid-2008. He already understands our competition philosophy and will now play an even more important role in RCR's on-track success.(RCR)(9-20-2011)
    UPDATE 2: Michael Waltrip Racing named industry veteran Scott Miller as executive vice president of competition effective at the conclusion of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Miller has served in several roles throughout his 16-year stint in NASCAR, most recently as director of competition at Richard Childress Racing. Miller has been a winning crew chief and has repeatedly guided teams into the Chase for the Sprint Cup from his management role. Miller will manage all competition aspects, including design, manufacturing and engineering, as well as the technical relationship between Toyota Racing Development's resource facilities in Salisbury, N.C., and Costa Mesa, Calif.(MWR)(9-21-2011)

  • Harvick to have Designated driver paint scheme at New Hampshire: This Friday Budweiser employees around the United States will celebrate Global Be(er) Responsible Day, a day of outreach to encourage alcohol responsibility and the use of designated drivers. Budweiser and NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick are helping spread the message and will debut a special "Designate a Driver" paint scheme for this Sunday's race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Visit Budweiser's Facebook page to watch a video from Harvick about Global Be(er) Responsible Day, when more than 1,500 Anheuser-Busch employees across the United States will join local wholesalers to encourage the use of designated drivers. Adults can also take the pledge on Budweiser's Facebook page to be, or use, a designated driver. Thousands of consumers who take the pledge will be eligible, where legal, to win a Budweiser hat with a designated driver message.(Budweiser PR), see an image of the car on my #29 team paint schemes page.(9-21-2011)

  • Harvick gets some of Bowyer's crew members: Kevin Harvick was circumspect after Monday's GEICO 400, but those were Clint Bowyer's pit crew members he was standing beside during prerace ceremonies at Chicagoland Speedway. In fact, for the second time in as many seasons, Harvick has gotten pit crew help for the Chase from his Richard Childress Racing teammate. In an effort to bolster RCR's only Chase entry, front tire changer Jason Pulver, front tire carrier Austin Craven, rear tire changer Dustin Necaise, rear tire carrier Matt Kreuter and jack man Andrew Childers moved from Bowyer's #33 Chevy to Harvick's #29. Last year, most of Bowyer's crew went to Harvick's car before the sixth Chase race at Martinsville. By that time, Harvick was contending for the title and Bowyer was out of the running.(Sporting News)(9-20-2011)

  • Childress elected to International Motorsports Hall of Fame: Richard Childress, a former independent driver who built a NASCAR team that won six Sprint Cup championships with Dale Earnhardt Sr. behind the wheel, has been voted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Childress and two other new hall members (to be announced later) will be inducted into the Talladega, Ala. hall May 3 next year. Childress and the other new hall members were chosen from a list of 20 finalists in recent voting by news media members and other hall panelists. Among other candidates on the nominee list are Kenny Bernstein, John Force, Joie Chitwood, David Hobbs, Marvin Panch and Lee Shepherd.(SPEED)(9-18-2011)

  • Gordon questions Menard's spin at Richmond: UPDATES: #24-Jeff Gordon says there is something "fishy'' about Saturday night's final caution at Richmond International Raceway that opened the door for #29-Kevin Harvick to win. Gordon implied after the race that #27-Paul Menard, Harvick's teammate at Richard Childress Racing, spun out intentionally with 16 laps to go to bring out the caution. Harvick then beat Gordon off pit road and maintained the lead after the final restart with 12 laps remaining. Gordon said from what he's been told of the radio communications between Menard, crew chief Slugger Labbe and RCR executive Mike Dillon there is reason to believe the spinout was orchestrated on a second channel. NASCAR released a statement Thursday saying officials did not see any wrongdoing during the race. "We haven't seen or heard anything that would indicate the #27 did anything inappropriate in Richmond," NASCAR said. "We watch closely the activity in each event all season long to maintain a fair and even event for all competitors. We naturally will do the same for the balance of the season." Harvick said he asked officials within the organization about the incident after accusations began flying and was told the right rear tire on Menard's car was "down to the cords.'' Menard said on the radio the tire was going down with 17 laps to go.(ESPN)
    AND: Statement from Richard Childress: "There were no team orders despite all the speculation in the media. I know Paul Menard well enough that he wouldn't have spun out on purpose even if he had been asked. We are at Chicagoland Speedway to win the race and get a great start toward the championship."(RCR)(9-16-2011)
    UPDATE: NASCAR President Mike Helton said Friday morning at Chicagoland Speedway that series officials are investigating Paul Menard's spin late in the Richmond race that played a role in helping teammate Kevin Harvick win that race. Helton said he has yet to hear the audio from Menard's radio chatter. "We're going to look into it and see if there's anything,'' Helton said. "A lot of it is going to be interpretation. Certainly, it's on us to understand exactly what all we can find as far as facts are concerned. It's on all of our shoulders to get the facts right and if there's something there, we should find out about it and be sure that we've got it right.'' Helton said that series officials will look at video of the caution itself to determine "if it appears that there ... it was done on purpose.'' He also said series officials will get access to the audio.(Virginian-Pilot)(9-16-2011)
    UPDATE 2: NASCAR officials said on Saturday there is no evidence to support allegations that Paul Menard spun out intentionally to bring out a caution and affect the finish of last weekend's Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. Spokesman Kerry Tharp said officials listened to audio of Menard's radio transmission before he spun out with 16 laps remaining and found nothing to indicate he did anything deliberately.(ESPN)(9-17-2011)

  • Budweiser Bowtie for Harvick at Chicagoland: Budweiser and NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick will celebrate the recent debut of the new Budweiser "Bowtie" can refresh with a special paint scheme for the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 18. Introduced last month, the new can design is Budweiser's 12th since Anheuser-Busch began offering its flagship brand in cans in 1936. The focal point of the design is Budweiser's iconic bowtie, complemented by the time-honored Budweiser creed and Anheuser-Busch medallion. The same elements are prominent on the #29 Budweiser Chevy for Sunday's race.(Elevation Group), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(9-14-2011)

  • Harvick wins at Richmond: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Wonderful Pistachios 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway for his 18th career win 4th of the season.
    #99-Edwards finished 2nd followed by #24-Gordon, #6-Ragan, #22-Busch, #18-Busch, #14-Stewart, #39-Newman, #11-Hamlin and #5-Martin. The pole sitter, #00-Reutimann finished 26th after being involved in a wreck mid-race.
    With the Chase starting next race at Chicago, the points have been reset with #18-Busch and #29-Harvick leading the points.
    #14-Stewart and #88-Earnhardt Jr. lock up 9th and 10th place in the Chase with the Wild Cards going to #2-Keselowski (3 wins, 11th in points) and #11-Hamlin (1 win, 12th in points).
    There were 11 lead changes among 7 drivers and a record tying 15 cautions for 85 yellow flag laps. The attendance is listed as 88,000, down from 95,000 last year.
    Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
    ESPN2, Sunday, September 11 at 1:00am/et;
    SPEED, Wednesday, September 14 at 12:00pm/et

    See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Richmond Race Results/Awards page.
    See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.
    For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(9-10-2011)

  • RCR teams running 9/11 decals at Richmond: Richard Childress Racing's four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars [#27-Menard, #29-Harvick, #31-Burton & #33-Bowyer] will be adorned with decals commemorating the 10th anniversary of 9/11 this weekend to honor the fallen heroes of the New York Police Department, the Fire Department of the City of New York and the Port Authority Police of New York and New Jersey. The decals, which the RCR cars first carried in 2002, were provided by Police Officer Victor Dipierro of the NYPD's 49th Precinct in The Bronx, N.Y. The Dirt Late Models that RCR's Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon will drive Sept. 10 in the World 100 at Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio will also be adorned with the 10th anniversary decals (RCR)(9-9-2011)

  • Rheem returns to the #29: With headquarters in Atlanta, less than 50 miles north of AMS, Rheem will serve as the primary sponsor on Kevin Harvick's #29 RCR Chevy for Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the car will carry the company's familiar red and black colors. Rheem first served as the primary sponsor on the #29 Chevy this season at Infineon Raceway where Harvick scored a ninth-place finish in June. The company will also be the primary sponsor on the #29 Chevy at Dover and Texas later this season (RCR), see images of the car on the #29 Team Schemes page.(9-1-2011)

  • Harvick locked into chase: Add another Chase qualifier to your list. Although #29-Kevin Harvick's name wasn't announced Saturday night at Bristol, NASCAR's subsequent review of the points standings showed that Harvick should have been included among those who will compete for the Sprint Cup championship in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Harvick has three victories and 782 points, tied with Jeff Gordon for fifth in the Cup standings. Harvick is 110 points ahead of one-time winner Denny Hamlin, who currently occupies the second wild-card position behind three-time winner Brad Keselowski. Even if Harvick finishes last in the next two races (scoring two points) and Hamlin wins both and leads the most laps (scoring 96 points), Harvick will get the wild card because of his higher finish in the standings.(Sporting News)(8-29-2011)

  • RCR Releases pit crew coach UPDATE: Less than one day after #29-Kevin Harvick had trouble on pit road at Michigan International Speedway, Richard Childress Racing released pit-crew coach Matt Clark, SPEED sources confirmed Monday. Clark, who had the title of Director of Human Performance and Leadership Development at RCR, had been with the team since January 2008. In that position, he was charged with assembling and coaching RCR's Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series, Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series over-the-wall pit crews. The 40-year-old Clark previously had worked with Hendrick Motorsports in a variety of capacities from 2001 to 2007. Prior to that, he was with Team Rensi and had worked in the athletic departments of both Albertus Magnus College and South Central College, both institutions in New Haven, Conn. Calls to RCR seeking comment were not immediately returned. (SPEED)(8-22-2011)
    UPDATE: RCR has replaced Clark with Eric Wilson. Wilson is currently the jackman for Harvick's #29 pit crew and was a jackman and coach for Richard Petty Motorsports last season.(NASCAR Insiders)(8-25-2011)

  • Realtree to sponsor four cars at Bristol: Realtree Camouflage Designer and President Bill Jordan announced sponsorship on four different Chevrolet Sprint Cup cars atthe August 27 Bristol Night Race. Look for Realtree's new Antler Logo in the primary sponsor position on Richard Childres. Racing's #29 Realtree/Bad Boy Buggies car, driven by Kevin Harvick; Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing's #1 Bass Pro Shops car, driven by Jamie McMurray; and Stewart-Hass Racing's #14 and #39 cars, piloted by Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman, respectively. "All of us at Realtree are excited to have such a big presence at one of NASCAR's most prestigious races of the year," said Jordan. "Of course, this race comes at a time of year when hunters are really getting fired up about the fall. It's amazing how many of our fans are passionate about both racing and hunting. And many of the drivers feel the same way. In fact, three of the guys we're sponsoring at Bristol... Harvick, Stewart and Newman... have hunted with me and the Realtree cameras many times, and McMurray is an avid outdoorsman too. For many years now, Realtree, Chevrolet and NASCAR have been partners in connecting fans to the outdoors, and just recently we all teamed up with Outdoor Channel to bring fans 'Realtree's NASCAR Outdoors'. The show has been a huge success. Fans really enjoy seeing their favorite drivers on hunts, and drivers and others from around the NASCAR garage are strong ambassadors for the outdoors. It really is a fun project for everyone involved, including the fans."(Realtree), see an image of the #29 scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(8-22-2011)

  • Realtree & Bad Boy Buggies sponsoring Harvick at Bristol: Realtree, the creator and marketer of the world's most versatile camo patterns, and Bad Boy Buggies, a leader in utility vehicles for hunting and outdoor lifestyles, will partner as co-primary sponsors of Richard Childress Racing's #29 Chevy team with Kevin Harvick for the August 27 Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Realtree, based in Columbus, Ga., has maintained a relationship with RCR since 1997 and with Harvick at RCR since 1999. The pairing of Realtree and Bad Boy Buggies with RCR and Harvick has some interesting twists. Realtree is one of the longest running RCR sponsors, with 14 years of continuous presence on the team's cars, and actually sponsored Harvick's first ARCA race at Talladega in an RCR car. Bad Boy Buggies is currently a sponsor at Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) in the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series.(RCR)(8-11-2011)

  • Harvick throwing out first pitch: On Wednesday, August 10, #29-Kevin Harvick will throw out the first pitch at Yankees Stadium in Bronx, N.Y., as the New York Yankees face the Los Angeles Angels. A long-time Yankees fan, Harvick has attended a number of their games over the years and even threw out the first pitch at a Yankees game back in 2001. Wednesday's game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.(RCR PR)(8-10-2011)

  • #29 Pit Crew wins 2nd quarter award: For their outstanding efforts on pit road during the second quarter of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, the #29 Budweiser Chevy over-the-wall team for Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress Racing has earned second-quarter honors in the 2011 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award competition. The team had one win (Charlotte) and four top-10 finishes during that time period. The Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award, which is determined by a vote of each team's crew chief, is given quarterly to the top-performing pit crew in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The four quarterly winners are eligible for the year-end Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award presented during NASCAR Champion's Week in Las Vegas. This year, Harvick, crew chief Gil Martin and the #29 team have posted three wins, six top-fives and 10 top-ten finishes and currently sit fourth in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings. "The pit crew has been a vital part of the success for the 29 team this season," said Martin. "These guys put so much effort in during their training each week and it shows on race day. They have done a tremendous job on pit road and it's nice to see their performance recognized by others in the sport."
    The award is part of the NASCAR Prize Money and Decal Program, also referred to as the contingency program, which provides teams prize money and weekly awards based on performance in several categories. Mechanix Wear, the No. 1 glove in racing, is the Official Glove of NASCAR used by nearly all pit crew members for 20 years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
    Members of the #29 pit crew include: Kyle Turner (front-tire changer), J.D. Holcomb (front-tire carrier), Zach Price (rear-tire changer), Bob Dowens (rear-tire carrier), Eric Wilson (jackman), Mike Morrison (gasman), Mike Scearce (7th Man/Windshield). The team's pit crew coach is Matt Clark. The #29 pit crew will be presented the second-quarter Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award during pre-race ceremonies before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway on August 21.(NASCAR)(7-27-2011)

  • Harvick says he's been warned to not touch Busch: Kevin Harvick says he is racing with handcuffs when competing against rival Kyle Busch, whom he and his owner have feuded with since May. Harvick, who finished second behind Busch in the New England 200 on Saturday, told his Nationwide Series team over his radio that he had to be careful around Busch and then confirmed afterward that NASCAR President Mike Helton had warned him at Michigan in June not to touch Busch on the track. "I was told a few weeks ago that if we touched the 18 car [of Busch], we'd be parked," Harvick said. "I've just got to be really careful. I would have liked to have gotten the track position and slid up and do what I needed to do. But I've just got to be really careful. That's the way NASCAR put it to me." NASCAR spokesman Kristi King said if there was a conversation between Harvick and Helton, it would remain private. Busch said he has received no warning. "It would have been a lot easier to win if you didn't have handcuffs put on you, but that's the way NASCAR said we had to do it," Harvick said.(Scene Daily(7-17-2011)

  • Richard Childress Racing Taps Torrey Galida as New COO: Richard Childress Racing has named Torrey Galida to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer for the 12-time NASCAR championship-winning organization. In other RCR key management moves, long-time RCR executive Ben Schlosser has been named Chief Marketing Officer and Scott Frye has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer. Galida joins RCR following many years of experience in various motorsports industry capacities. He will be responsible for overseeing RCR's day-to-day business operations and will report to Richard Childress, RCR President & CEO. Schlosser has been with RCR since April 2002 and most recently served as Senior Vice President, Business Operations. He will continue to report to Childress. Scott Frye joined RCR as controller in April 2007 and replaces Art McCarter, who will retire later in the year. He will report to Galida, as will Executive Vice President Bill Patterson. Mike Dillon and Richie Gilmore will continue to report to Childress as heads of RCR competition and ECR Engines.
    "I am excited about Torrey becoming a part of the RCR team," said Childress. "He has significant experience and is well respected in the industry. He will be a great asset as we position RCR for the long-term. Ben has played a key role in our success since becoming part of our team and has helped RCR move forward in the overall marketing and business development areas. With the planned retirement of Art McCarter, Scott has demonstrated his ability to move into the CFO position. People are the key to any successful business and we are fortunate to have such a strong management team at RCR."
    Galida comes to RCR from TRG Motorsports, where he served as the Chief Marketing Officer and General Manager for the NASCAR and Rolex Sports Car Series organization. He was a top executive for more than a decade with the Ford Motor Company before assuming key executive positions with Roush Fenway Racing and Millsport Motorsports, a sports marketing and sponsorship agency. "I have an immense amount of respect for Richard Childress and the organization he has built," said Galida. "RCR is one of the premier sports teams in the country. I am delighted to have the opportunity to play a role in the team's continued success."(RCR)(7-3-2011)

  • The Kyle Busch / Kevin Harvick 'handshake': at separate press conferences, #29-Kevin Harvick and #18-Kyle Busch were asked their thoughts about Kyle Busch walking up to Kevin Harvick after the race at Infineon Raceway and shaking Harvick's hand.
    Q) KYLE BUSCH CAME UP AND SHOOK YOU HAND LAST WEEK AFTER INFINEON, IS THAT ALL OVER WITH AND YOU GUYS ARE GOOD TO GO?
    Harvick: "I wouldn't call it good to go on that. I mean we raced together for a lap and a half. I was as confused about all that as everybody else."(Team Chevy).
    Q) Why did you shake Kevin Harvick's hand after last weekend's race?
    Busch: "I felt like we had a really good race with each other. So, just wanted to let him know that."
    Q) Did you feel like you gave each other room in last weekend's race?
    Busch: "Yes. We gave each other great room and raced each other hard and clean. And, that's all there is to it. You all are reading way too much into things."(Toyota Racing)(7-1-2011)

  • Stars and Stripes for Harvick: Budweiser and #29-Kevin Harvick will celebrate Fourth of July this weekend at Daytona with a special patriotic paint scheme selected by adult NASCAR fans. The paint scheme - white with red and blue stars and stripes - won the online vote hosted on Budweiser's Facebook page by less than 700 votes after five weeks of voting. Harvick's #29 Chevrolet will also feature Folds of Honor, an organization that provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel killed or disabled while serving their country, on the TV panel for Saturday night's race at Daytona. In addition to the special paint scheme, Budweiser has featured a limited-edition red, white and blue Patriotic Can from Memorial Day through the Fourth of July and will donate a portion of all sales, May 26 - July 10, to Folds of Honor (RCR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes Page.(6-30-2011)

  • Rheem debuting on the #29 at Infineon: For the first time since 2009, Richard Childress Racing and Rheem are teaming up on the race track and the partnership takes center stage this weekend in Sonoma, Calif., for the running of the Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. Rheem Tankless Water Heaters will take over as the primary sponsor for Kevin Harvick and the #29 Chevrolet Team for the first of four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races this season. The relationship is an expansion of the existing program between Rheem and Kevin Harvick, Inc., which was established in 2007. Rheem Tankless Water Heaters will be the primary for three additional events in 2011 with the Sept. 4 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway being the next event for the company. The Rheem Tankless Water Heater colors are also scheduled to adorn the #29 Chevy during the Oct. 2 event at Dover International Speedway and the Nov. 6 event at Texas Motor Speedway.(RCR)(6-24-2011)

  • Roush supportive of Childress: Jack Roush drew a few laughs after his team's NASCAR Nationwide victory, when he was asked his view of the fine handed down to fellow owner Richard Childress. Childress was fined $150,000 earlier this month for an altercation with Kyle Busch at Kansas Speedway. Childress was upset that Busch bumped into Joey Coulter on the cool-down lap after a race. "It was pretty high," Roush said about the fine. "I guess that pretty much puts the nail in the coffin of, 'Have at it, guys.' Maybe that was a boy and a man. I am not sure. Maybe that is different than the boys having at it. Kyle has been pretty rough on my cars over a period of time and for Richard to stand up for himself was OK," Roush said.(Associated Press)(6-19-2011)

  • Harvick vs. Busch resurfaces: #29-Kevin Harvick made it clear Sunday at Pocono Raceway that his feud with #18-Kyle Busch isn't over. The Richard Childress Racing driver forced Busch down the track early in the Sprint Cup race when the two were fighting for position in the last event of their four-race probation, handed down by NASCAR after their pit road incident at Darlington. It was a continuation of the feud between the drivers, as well as the one with Harvick's team owner, Richard Childress, who put Busch in a headlock and punched him in the Truck Series garage after last weekend's truck race at Kansas. The incident came after Busch made contact with RCR driver Joey Coulter on the cool-down lap. "He knows he's got one coming," Harvick said after finishing fifth at Pocono on Sunday, two spots behind Busch. "I just wanted him to think about it." NASCAR warned the two drivers to just race, and the battle seemed to settle down after that. "It seemed like he was trying to make it awfully difficult on me," Busch said. "There were a couple of times I had to back off and wait (before passing)." Busch said what Harvick did simply showed his character. "It's not my fight," Busch said. "He's trying to turn it into one."(ESPN.com)(6-13-2011)

  • Childress discusses penalty, incident with Busch: Richard Childress, Owner of Richard Childress Racing, met with members of the media at Pocono Raceway. The transcript:
    RICHARD CHILDRESS: "Here is the deal. I am going to make one statement on this deal. I appreciate everyone's patience during the last week when I couldn't talk to everyone. The main thing is I take all the responsibility for my actions last week. I am very passionate about this sport. I am passionate about my race teams, our fans and I let my emotions get...come in front of my passion. But that is behind us. I guess the next thing is the fine that was levied against me, I'm going to pay it personal. I agree that NASCAR should have done something with me. I don't agree that they didn't handle the situation that happened on the cool-down lap. With that said, we had a lot of fans to send in donations last week toward our fine, I am going to pay it personally. All that money that has been sent in, that is still coming in, we're going to take and donate to the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. At least in every bad situation, something good will come out of it. Hopefully Kyle (Busch) and myself will both end up learning something from this. Thank you all very much. Talk to you later. That's it.(Team Chevy)(6-10-2011)

  • Fans select white scheme for Harvick at Daytona: Budweiser and Kevin Harvick will celebrate Fourth of July this year with a special patriotic paint scheme selected by adult NASCAR fans. The paint scheme -- white with red and blue stars and stripes -- will be featured on the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet during the July 2 race at Daytona International Speedway. From April 30 to June 3, fans 21 years of age or older cast their vote on the Budweiser Facebook page for one of three patriotic paint schemes. After five weeks of voting, the white paint scheme edged out the red-and-white striped paint scheme by fewer than 700 votes. In addition to the special paint scheme, Budweiser is featuring a limited-edition red, white and blue Patriotic Can from Memorial Day through the Fourth of July. Budweiser will donate a portion of all sales May 26-July 10 to Folds of Honor -- an organization that provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel killed or disabled while serving their country. In total, Budweiser is raising up to $2 million to support Folds of Honor this summer.(NASCAR), see image of the winning scheme car on the #29 Team Schemes page.(6-9-2011)

  • Kyle Busch says Childress' fine is 'end of it': #18-Kyle Busch says that the $150,000 fine NASCAR levied against Richard Childress is the end of the matter for him. Childress was fined on Monday for assaulting Busch after a NASCAR Trucks race at Kansas Speedway, the latest incident between the driver and Childress' race teams. Busch was in Ohio on Wednesday to participate in Tony Stewart's annual charity race. "NASCAR decided to make the decisions that they felt were necessary," Busch said before the race at Eldora Speedway. "It's pretty much the end of it. It's not my fight."(Associated Press)(6-9-2011)

  • Jimmy Spencer says Childress was wrong: from a Jimmy Spencer article on SPEED - But take it from someone who has been there - Childress crossed the line in punching Busch. No one should ever hit or physically confront another individual. Arguing, hurling insults or yelling at someone is okay, but you shouldn't touch them. I picked the wrong way to handle my problem with another Busch brother, Kurt, years ago, and I still regret it. I think Kurt learned something from me punching him but I learned more, and if I had the chance to do it over again, I wouldn't have hit him. I've been in several brawls in my time and nobody ever wins. Childress got off too easy. NASCAR should have come down on him harder than a $150,000 fine. They should have suspended him for three races - that would get his attention. He took responsibility for what he did but never apologized because he's really not sorry. I speak from experience when I say that situations like last weekend's affect the younger generation a lot, especially the kids watching our sport. My biggest problem with what Childress did stems from the fact that he is representing major corporations with thousands of employees. Yet he let his temper get the best of him and he assaulted someone. That gave the sport the biggest black eye it has had in years. Fans and folks inside the sport may think it's funny, but these companies probably aren't happy about having a car owner representing them who assaulted someone.
    And believe it or not, I think that Busch's sponsors can be proud of the way he handled himself. We're usually criticizing Busch's behavior, but I admire him for not fighting back and also for staying in the car at Darlington when Kevin Harvick came up to his car on pit road. Busch is the most exciting driver in our sport right now. Yes, he ruffles feathers, but so did the late, great Dale Earnhardt. But Earnhardt didn't outright attack other drivers. I admire Kyle for respecting Childress enough, although he got punched, to not punch back. It takes a strong person not to retaliate.
    I still don't really see what Childress was so upset about. Busch wasn't out of line in bumping Coulter's truck on the cool-down lap. Rewind a few laps to when they were putting on a hell of a race for fifth place and Coulter slid up in front of Busch. If Busch hadn't lifted and let him go, both of them would have wrecked. Coulter was the one at fault there, so Busch bumped him after the race to teach him a lesson. That's just part of racing and how you teach younger drivers who are coming along. Sure, Busch did a little damage to Coulter's quarter panel, but he also did the same to his own truck.(in part from SPEED)(6-9-2011)

  • RCR and Okuma Showcase Renewed Partnership on #29 at Pocono: Richard Childress Racing and Okuma America Corporation, the U.S.-based affiliate of Okuma Corporation, a world leader in the development of computer numeric controls (CNC) and machining technology, have extended their partnership through 2017. The RCR/Okuma partnership began in 2000. RCR's #29 Chevy with driver Kevin Harvick will carry the Okuma logos in the primary sponsor positions for this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway. It will mark the first time Okuma has been the primary sponsor of an RCR car in Sprint Cup Series competition.
    "The Okuma/RCR relationship has been mutually beneficial and we are excited to continue it," said Jim King, President and Chief Operating Officer, Okuma America Corporation. "We've been able to provide cutting-edge technology to a leader in the motorsports industry and learn more about our machines and how we can improve manufacturing across all industries. Using the Okuma Technology Center at RCR to show our machines in action provides us with expanded opportunities to build and enhance customer relationships. We feel winners partner with winners and we are proud to contribute to Richard Childress Racing's success."
    The RCR and Okuma partnership has grown significantly over more than a decade. From four Okuma machines and five employees that first year, the RCR Okuma Technology Center is now a 17,000 square foot facility, housing 12 Okuma machines and employing 15 technicians, engineers and management staff. The RCR OTC manufactures more than 3,000 different race parts with a total output in 2011 forecast to reach nearly 100,000 units. RCR and Okuma have worked together to specially design and develop CNC machinery to produce intake manifolds, cylinder heads and camshafts.
    "The partnership between Okuma and RCR has been an integral part of RCR's success over the years," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "The competitive nature of our sport dictates that we produce more and more quality, dependable race parts on our own premises. It's one of the key factors in providing a competitive advantage for both RCR and ECR Engines. The Okuma Technology Center is also the perfect facility for Okuma to showcase its products in a high performance, real-world setting."(Richard Childress Racing)(6-8-2011)

  • Altercation between Childress and Kyle Busch after CWTS Race: UPDATE: fine and probation for Childress: From the SPEED Center Facebook page, "multiple witnesses tell SPEED there was a physical confrontation between Richard Childress and Kyle Busch after today's NASCAR Truck Series race..RCR driver Joey Coulter and Kyle battled for position..Kyle hit Coulter's truck on the cool-down lap..multiple sources say Childress took matters into his own hands".(6-4-2011)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress had an altercation with Kyle Busch in the Camping World Truck Series garage area after the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250, sources confirmed Saturday night. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp confirmed that NASCAR was looking into the rumors of an altercation following the Camping World Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway. The altercation happened in the garage area about 30 minutes after the conclusion of the race, according to the sources, who indicated that Childress initiated the altercation. Childress likely was upset that late in the race, Richard Childress Racing driver Joey Coulter and Busch had a tight battle for fifth with contact on the final lap. Busch tapped Coulter on the cool-down lap following the race.(Scene Daily)(6-4-2011)
    UPDATE 2: NASCAR officials are investigating a physical altercation involving team owner Richard Childress and driver Kyle Busch in the garage area following Saturday's Truck series race at Kansas Speedway. According to a member of a Truck team who asked not to be identified, Childress took off his jewelry before approaching Busch in the garage area and struck him with his fist. The two were separated; traded insults and then Childress grabbed Busch in a headlock and struck him again before the incident was broken up. The crew member said Childress initiated the incident. Officials with Busch's team and Richard Childress Racing declined to comment on the incident.(Charlotte Observer)(6-5-2011
    UPDATE 3: NASCAR officials met with Richard Childress and Kyle Busch Sunday morning at Kansas Speedway. Later NASCAR president Mike Helton met with the media and said that, in NASCAR's view, Kyle Busch did not do anything during or after race to violate his probation. NASCAR considered ejecting Childress from the track but decided to allow him to stay because his teams needed a race-day leader. However, Childress will have restrcitions on where he can go during the race and it not likely to be allowed on pit road. In addition, further penalties to Childress will be announced by Tuesday. Following is NASCAR's complete statement: "NASCAR has reviewed the incident involving Richard Childress and Kyle Busch after the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Saturday at Kansas Speedway. We have met with all parties involved and have determined what happened yesterday is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by NASCAR. Richard Childress's actions were not appropriate and fell far short of the standard we expect of owners in this sport. We have met with Childress this morning and made our position very clear to him. Further, we expect he will make it clear to all in his organization to ensure this situation does not escalate any further. We will announce our actions regarding this incident Monday. Kyle Busch remains on probation with NASCAR and we continue to watch his actions carefully. However, we have determined that Kyle's involvement in this incident does not violate his probation and no further action is required."(6-5-2011)
    UPDATE 4: NASCAR has fined owner Richard Childress $150,000 and placed him on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing - involved in an altercation in the garage area) of the 2011 NASCAR rule book. The violation occurred following the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race June 4 at Kansas Speedway. The probation includes all NASCAR-sanctioned events.
    STATEMENT FROM NASCAR: "The penalty we have announced today for Richard Childress reflects NASCAR's response to the incident at Kansas Speedway on Saturday. We feel this action is appropriate and are confident all parties involved understand our position on this matter and will move forward appropriately."(NASCAR)
    Statement from Childress: "First of all, I'm responsible for my actions, plain and simple. As you know, I am a very principled person and have a passion for what we do at Richard Childress Racing. I believe passionately in defending my race teams and my sponsor partners. In this instance, I let that passion and my emotions get the best of me. I accept the penalty NASCAR announced today and, as a company, we will now focus on this week's races at Pocono Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway."(RCR)(6-6-2011)

  • Harvick to run Armed Forces scheme: The #29 Budweiser Armed Forces Chevrolet that Kevin Harvick will race in Sunday's Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway features a "stealth" flat-black paint scheme, complete with flat sponsor and contingency decals. The special scheme is a part of Budweiser's "Here's to the Heroes" campaign that benefits the Folds of Honor Foundation (FHF), which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for families of U.S. military personnel killed or disabled while serving their country. In addition to the #29 Budweiser Armed Forces Chevrolet, Budweiser is donating $100 for every home run hit during the 2011 Major League Baseball season to FHF. Budweiser is also donating a portion of all sales in the weeks leading up to the Fourth of July in an effort to raise as much as $2 million for FHF (RCR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(5-26-2011)

  • Special scheme for Harvick: Kevin Harvick's #29 Chevy will sport a different look for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 2007 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winner will transform his traditional black machine into a #29 Budweiser-Realtree Chevy, featuring Realtree on the hood, trunk and C-post with camo trim highlighting the body panels of the now-familiar Budweiser theme.(RCR), see an image of the car on my #29 Team Schemes page.(5-19-2011)

  • Kevin Harvick discusses Darlington incident: #29-Kevin Harvick met with members of the media at Dover International Speedway and discussed the incident with #18-Kyle Busch and penalties from last week at Darlington, the transcript in part:
    Q) KYLE CALLED YOUR RACING UNCALLED FOR AND UNEXCEPTABLE, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU DID LAST WEEK THAT FITS THAT DEFINITION AND HOW DO YOU RACE HIM GOING FORWARD?
    "Well I think when you look - after I got the I hooked you after I got a flat tire comment yesterday, the incident started off of turn two. We came off of turn two, I was driving straight behind the car in front of me. We can talk about being three feet off the wall or whatever, but I was directly behind the car in front of me coming up off the corner and at the time I didn't even know it was the #18. The car hit me in the door and as soon as he hit me in the door I drove it to the left, we got to the other end, I let it go and ran into the back of him and ran him up the race track, took the position back. At that moment we got three wide and there wasn't really a lot of room and things happened and he hooked me on the straightaway. Look the wrecking doesn't bother me but the only thing that bothers me is the right-rear quarter panel because in my mind I know what that means. I don't mind getting wrecked back. If you think it's a payback for Homestead that's fine. Those parts don't bother me, I understand how it all works but when you throw them off its time to handle it."
    AS FAR AS YOU TWO GETTING ALONG, WHAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL SCENARIO?
    "That probably won't ever happen."
    HOW DO YOU RACE KYLE BUSCH GOING FORWARD AND DOES THIS ALSO IMPACT HOW YOU RACE EVERYBODY ELSE.
    "It definitely affects how you race for the next four weeks. We got the ultimatum yesterday of the explanation of how probation worked and how NASCAR expected us to race on the race track was put to us very clear yesterday. I think the way that the next four weeks go was basically dictated to us yesterday in the NASCAR trailer."
    Q) A LOT WAS TALKED ABOUT THAT THE PENALTIES WERE SUPPOSEDLY FOR WHAT TRANSPIRED AFTER THE RACE, BUT IS THAT REALLY FAIR ON THE DRIVERS PART BECAUSE AREN'T THE THINGS THAT LEAD UP TO WHAT TAKE PLACE AFTER THE RACE A DIRECT RESULT OF WHAT HAPPENS IN THE RACE. CAN YOU JUST TALK ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS?
    "For me I didn't use my car as a ram or dry to make a point with running into somebody on the race track or knocking them out of the way after the race, I didn't do any of that stuff after the race. I wanted to handle it so that the guys didn't have to do more work than they already did. The bottom line is I know there are changes this week with the officials and how they are going to approach things after the race, but I mean there was a split screen on TV, there were no NASCAR officials in sight and they got what they wanted and in the end you suffer the penalty for what it's supposed to be on pit road but has carried over to the race track now when it was stressed to me in the hauler after the race and when I received my penalty on Tuesday it was stressed to me it was for the pit road. So it just doesn't make sense to me. But it is what it is. It's not like I can do anything about it. I'm not complaining about it, I just want to understand it. I don't understand it. I'm not going to lose sleep over it. I'm going to move forward and it's done and over with. I don't want to be the nice guy that has to understand why the penalties are ramping up like they used to be."
    Q) CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE MEETING YOU HAD YESTERDAY AND TONY STEWART MADE A COMMENT THAT MAYBE THEY SHOULD OUTLINE THE RULES MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU GUYS CAN HAVE AT IT?
    "Well I mean the meeting was just basically NASCAR explaining how probation works and how we need to stay away from everybody basically and each other. So that was basically the jest of the meeting. I think as far as you talk about the Tony Stewart comment, I think for me it's definitely to the point where it's a little bit confusing with how it all works. I think when you look at the boys have it theme, it's obviously changing as we go through the process. I think when you go back and you look at the very first major incident that you saw on the race track, I guess it would be Carl (Edwards) and (Brad) Keselowski in Atlanta and you saw the car go upside down. Carl was parked for hooking him in the right rear quarter panel and then it happened again and you see a lot of people coming out of the pits and retaliating and sometimes it's a one-lap penalty and sometimes you are parked for the race and sometimes you look at the Keselowski and Hamlin thing at Homestead so there's a lot of different things happening. I understand that it's evolving but from a drivers standpoint you don't really 100 percent understand how it works. Last week they stressed a lot to me that the penalties were for pit road violations after the race and the jeopardy that it put everybody in after the race and I understand that part. Yesterday it was all about being on probation and on the race track. So just a little bit confused about that. Nobody really had any clarification as to what we were supposed to do and not supposed to do other than we are on probation for four weeks and now it's a penalty on the race track. I don't really know if it was a penalty for the race track because we saw the same right-rear hook and obviously there was a lot that led up to that lap. I felt that Kyle (Busch) got into my door. I ran him down on the back straightaway. I got into him in (turn) three and we got three wide. Yesterday Kyle's explanation was he had a flat tire and hooked me on the straightaway. It's kind of one lie after the other and you see everything that happened after the race and for me the way that I was brought up and taught to race, when you hook somebody in the right-rear quarter panel that's the equivalent of throwing your gloves off in hockey. That's the point where everybody has reached the boiling point and basically the only answer I get out of Kyle is I'm a race car driver not a fighter but if you drive like that you're gonna have to learn how to take care of yourself. It's just a lot that went through the mind and for me it's done and over with and we'll move on. Just a lot of questions I think more than answers were a part of this week."
    Q) HOW SPECIFIC DO YOU WANT IT TO BE?
    "Well, there just has to be consistency. I can race either way. We can flip each other over. I don't mind wrecking. I don't mind getting wrecked. I don't mind eye for an eye. I don't mind any of that but just tell me what the rules are. Explain to me what the penalty is if you are going to hook somebody in the middle of the straightaway, if you are going to spin them out, if you are going to retaliate, what is the penalty? Tell me what the penalty is. A consistent answer."
    WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WANTING TO UNDERSTAND, DO YOU FEEL LIKE NASCAR NEEDS TO GO MORE BLACK AND WHITE LIKE IN OTHER SPORTS?
    "It can't be for a certain circumstance and how you wake up in the morning as to how you think it needs to be treated. There has to be some guidelines on where it all is. You here the upper brass talk about wanting to do things more like the NFL or this or that, but you have to be consistent in order to do that."
    CAN YOU GIVE US THE READER'S DIGEST VERSION OF HOW PROBATION WORKS? ALSO CAN YOU ADDRESS THE FACT THAT WHY THE #29 TEAM CAME OUT TO DEFEND YOU THE 18 TEAM WAS NO WHERE IN SIGHT TO BACK UP THEIR DRIVER?
    "Obviously I've got a bunch of guys that are just a great bunch of guys. We all get along. We all have the same approach to how we like to see things, what we think is fair and what we think is not fair. There isn't a guy on that team that wouldn't lay under a bus for the next guy. That really happened last year as we went through the year. It's something that you just don't find very often and this is a bunch of guys that I consider friends and I think they consider themselves all friends. Them running up pit road is not a surprise to me. I think they would back me whether I was right or wrong, they are going to back me up and I will do the same for them. That's the great part about our team. The No. 18 team not backing him up, I mean when you don't have a backbone how do you back someone up?"
    DOVER, CHARLOTTE, KANSAS, THE NEXT THREE RACES ARE ALL THREE RACES THAT ARE IN THE CHASE, YOU'RE NOT LOCKED IN BUT YOUR PROBABLY AS COMFORTABLE OR MORE COMFORTABLE THAN ANYONE ELSE WITH THE WINS AND YOUR STANDING IN THE POINTS, HOW DO YOU APPROACH THESE THREE RACES?
    "I think it's a combination of a lot of things. I think over the past few weeks we've been able to try things that we wouldn't have tried in the past. We struck out at Richmond on what we tried. I think Darlington was a huge success for us as far as the way the race track performance was and hopefully that bleeds over into Charlotte. This week is a little bit different than some of the race tracks because of the type of race track that you are racing on. These are important weeks. Dover is in the Chase, Charlotte is in the Chase, just to kind of zero in on what exactly you need when it comes time toward the end of the year. So we're shooting for better set-ups and more wins. That's basically where we are at right now points wise."
    NASCAR YESTERDAY SEEMED TO SAY THAT IF ONE PERSON REALLY PRESSES THE ISSUE THAT'S ITS MORE COMPLICATED THAN BEING ABLE TO LINE UP A MENU OF PENALTIES AND THAT IS ONE PERSON REALLY PUSHES IT, IT WOULD KIND OF BE DETRIMENTALTO THE SPORT TO HAVE EVERYTHING LAID OUT IN FRONT OF YOU, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
    "I have a lot of experience of this in the past so I'll reference the past, as things ramp up and you get in trouble the first time it's best to just not get in trouble again because you're gonna be the poster child to either change this process to make it more clear and see the fines ramp back up or you're going to be the guy that shows it's not really going to change. I just don't think for us it's not going to be the smartest thing in the world to be that next guy. I don't know if you are referring to, are you referring to me or the #42 and #39, I don't know which one you are referring to but there are just a lot of different elements to the whole thing that are happening right now that are confusing to the drivers."(Team Chevy)(5-13-2011)

  • Kyle Busch discusses Darlington incident: #18-Kyle Busch met with members of the media at Dover International Speedway and discussed the incident and penalties from last week at Darlington, the transcript in part:
    Q) Where was your team following the incident at Darlington?
    Busch: "To be honest with you, I don't know if they were aware of the antics. I had already unplugged my radio, so I don't know what was going on over the radio, but we were pitted down in pit stall three or four or something like that last week. I do know that it was an awfully long way to haul, if you ask me. As I did turn in to the garage area after what happened down on the end of pit road, I did see some guys coming from that way. They were behind the pit wall, they weren't out on pit road. When I turned into the garage area, some of them were turning in with me and following the car. When I got back to the truck, there were about four or five at the truck. They were where they were supposed to be, I will say that."
    Q) Do you think hitting Kevin Harvick in the quarter panel during the race meant you were 'throwing the gloves down?'
    Busch: "Apparently he's watching too much hockey. That's what you do in your own time during the week I guess. To me, I did have a left rear tire flat and I wasn't sure that if I turned too hard to the right to stay off of him or to get away from him that the car would actually spin out the wrong way -- my car would. Believe that for what it's worth. I believe there's some in car cameras you can see and I did have to come to pit road during that caution period to change left side tires because they were flat."
    Q) Why do you and Kevin Harvick not get along?
    Busch: "As far as us getting along, I'm not sure that we ever really did. I think he (Kevin Harvick) tried and that's why at Homestead I kind of talked about the two faces of Kevin Harvick. I still believe that's out there. He'll talk to you to your face like your best friends, but then behind closed doors or him at home or whatever, he has the utmost disrespectful thoughts or whatever else. That's all -- I don't care. I'm going on with my own business."
    Q) Is there anything you want to clarify about your actions last week?
    Busch:"No, I don't feel like I'm lying about anything because there's video cameras and what is it, 85 video cameras around the race track that will pretty much simplify or backup anything that you're saying. Not lying about anything. The only thing I will say I guess is that I'm sorry I came off of turn two on the flat trying to give Kevin (Harvick) room and maybe I slid a little too far and I got into him first. Maybe that's what initiated everything. I apologize about that. It wasn't my intentions to get into him and then have everything go down the way it went down. I was just trying to race the final five laps as hard as I could, as clean as I could to get the best finish we could. We shouldn't have been back in that situation anyways, but we did have pit road -- a loose wheel and problems on pit road that we had to rebound from and come back from."
    Q) Do you like Kevin Harvick?
    Busch: "I don't know. I've never gotten along with the guy. I don't know that he (Kevin Harvick) really ever got along with my brother either. I think there's something beyond from his past growing's up maybe and racing with Kurt (Busch) that I don't know and I was just kind of thrown in that I was never really liked. I don't know."
    Q) Do you feel like you have a clear understanding of the NASCAR rules?
    Busch: "I do. I understand it perfectly actually. It's the 'boys have at it,' that happens out on the race track and it seems like they allow us to police ourselves pretty simply out there. When matters get taken into the drivers hands or anything else onto pit road, where innocent bystanders can be injured or something , NASCAR is going to step in and they're going to intervene and they're going to set penalties the way that they feel need to be levied. To me, it's not a gray area, it's pretty simple, it's black and white. I'm not focused in all that really or what penalties should be during what circumstances because I'm a racer and I know that going out there on the race track and trying to win is the utmost thing. If you do that, then you certainly shouldn't be getting in any brawls or anything like that."
    Q) Do you agree that NASCAR probation does not change the way you race between the flags?
    Busch: "I think the focus of probation is between the two of us -- it's between the situation. If I was out there on the race track -- say racing for fourth or fifth-place or something like that, and I got loose and I got into Jimmie Johnson or somebody like that and I spun them out and wrecked them. That has no consequences to the probation. If I'm out there racing hard and trying to pass Kevin (Harvick) for instance or something, and I feel like he's blocking me and I spin him out and wreck him. There's going to be consequences to that. That's how I see it. And, of course, to anything happening off the race track or something like that. That's also what it relates to. But as far as on the race track goes, good, clean, hard competition -- somebody making a mistake, something like that, it doesn't mean anything."(Toyota Racing)(5-13-2011)

  • NASCAR revises procedure for pit road officials: NASCAR will change how it dispatches its officials after a race in response to the pit road incident between #29-Kevin Harvick and #18-Kyle Busch on Saturday night at Darlington. The change is to make sure all cars are clear of pit road before series officials are released to head toward their post-race duties. The move is intended to help NASCAR better control pit road. At Darlington, Harvick stopped his car near pit entrance and blocked Busch after the race. The cars sat for several seconds before Harvick exited his car and reached in to hit Busch as he sat in his car. Busch ran into the back of Harvick's car as he drove off, sending Harvick's car into an inside pit wall. At the time of the incident only a couple of Harvick's crew members were in the vicinity of the cars. NASCAR's officials were positioned further down pit road where the top five finishers (and any random cars) stop, or in Victory Lane to monitor the winning car or throughout the garage. Video replays showed that after Busch hit Harvick's car, several of Harvick's crew members were en route to the scene along with three NASCAR officials.(Virginian Pilot)(5-13-2011)

  • Harvick & Busch meet with NASCAR at Dover: #29-Kevin Harvick and #18-Kyle Busch were called to the NASCAR hauler before Thursday's Truck Series practice at Dover International Speedway, their second meeting with the governing body since Saturday's post-race pit road confrontation at Darlington. The meeting came two days after each driver was fined $25,000 and placed on four-race probation for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series. Neither was eager to discuss details of the second meeting, which included NASCAR president Mike Helton and vice president of competition Robin Pemberton, or the fine before heading onto the track for the first of two practices. "I've got better things to do," Busch said. "NASCAR has to police their series as best as they feel they need to. I'm all for it. I think it was fine." Harvick smiled and repeatedly said he would answer all questions during Friday's media availability.(ESPN)(5-13-2011)

  • Harvick -Busch fined, probation: per a Kevin Harvick tweet: "4 weeks probation and $25,000 fine....I understand because of the car on pit road.." And from ESPN.com: Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch were placed on four weeks' probation and fined $25,000 Tuesday for their pit road confrontation following Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Darlington Raceway. Harvick tweeted about his penalty and officials from Kevin Harvick Inc. confirmed the punishment Tuesday.
    AND NASCAR has penalized NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick as a result of rules infractions committed at last weekend's event at Darlington Raceway. Busch, driver of the #18 car, and Harvick, driver of the #29 car, have each been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation for the next four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events until June 15 for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing - involved in an altercation on pit road after the conclusion of the race). "These penalties are a result of what occurred on pit road after the race was over," said Kerry Tharp, senior director for communications, competition. "They are about maintaining a safe environment on pit road."(NASCAR)(5-10-2011)

  • NASCAR will look into driver altercations: NASCAR will address altercations that occurred between Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya in the sanctioning body's hauler and the dustup on and off the track between Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. "We'll look at both of those," Kerry Tharp, NASCAR's senior director of communications, said Sunday morning. Montoya requested a meeting with NASCAR after his feud with Newman was reignited at Richmond International Raceway last weekend. Newman and officials from Stewart Haas Racing elected to meet with NASCAR immediately after the Richmond race. When the drivers gathered in the hauler on Friday morning, a punch was thrown by Newman, according to sources. Harvick vs. Busch came to a crescendo last November at Homestead Miami Speedway when the driver of the #29 complained that Busch was racing him too hard and Harvick then dumped Busch's #18 Toyota, which erupted into flames. The rivalry was rekindled Saturday night at Darlington Raceway on the second-to-last restart on Lap 363 as the drivers jockeyed for position among the top 10 on the lead lap. After the race, Harvick chased Busch onto the entrance of pit road, where the #29 crew waited to defend their driver. Harvick climbed from the car and approached Busch's vehicle. Harvick attempted to throw a haymaker, but Busch hit the gas and plowed the #29 into the wall. Both drivers were called to the NASCAR hauler after the incident. The last time a NASCAR driver intentionally hit another car on pit road was Steven Wallace at Memphis Motorsports Park in October 2009. Wallace was fined $5,000 and placed on probation.(Fox Sports)(5-9-2011)

  • Fans can vote for Harvick's Daytona scheme: Budweiser and Kevin Harvick will celebrate Fourth of July this year with a special patriotic paint scheme that will be selected by adult NASCAR fans and featured on the #29 Budweiser Chevy during the July 2 race at Daytona International Speedway. Now through June 3, fans 21 years of age or older can visit the Budweiser Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/Budweiser and cast their vote for one of three patriotic paint schemes they would like to see featured on the #29 Budweiser Chevrolet for the July 2 Daytona race. Voting is available in the "Pick Your Paint" tab on the Budweiser Facebook page, and fans can cast one vote daily during the voting period.(Budwesier PR)(5-7-2011)

  • DeLana Harvick Selected as One of The Top Women in Business: Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) co-owner DeLana Harvick has been selected as a recipient of The Business Journal's 12th-annual Women in Business award and will be honored today at a luncheon along with the other award winners in Greensboro, N.C. For over 10 years, The Business Journal's Women in Business program has honored extraordinary businesswomen in the Triad for outstanding contributions to their profession, employers and community. Sponsored by the Bryan Series at Guilford College and NewBridge Bank, the Women in Business program recognized 15 outstanding business leaders, ranging from entrepreneurs to high-ranking executives. Harvick grew up in racing as her father, John Paul Linville, was a driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series until 1995. While she would have preferred to follow in her father's footsteps behind the wheel, she found a successful career in motorsports public relations. Her strong work ethic and professionalism earned the Kernersville, N.C. native the respect of not only the media, but of the racing community as well.
    In February of 2001, Harvick married her husband, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick. Together they formed KHI which celebrates 10 years of competition in NASCAR this season. The Harvicks have two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships to their credit and multiple wins in both the Truck Series and Nationwide Series with a host of drivers. With the support of long-time and new sponsor partners, KHI has grown to three full-time Truck Series teams and two full-time Nationwide Series teams which will compete for both the Driver and Owner championships in the two series this year.
    In 2010, the duo founded the Kevin Harvick Foundation. Established to support programs that positively enrich the lives of children throughout the United States, the Kevin Harvick Foundation works not only to improve the quality of life, but to help underprivileged youth find and realize their dreams by supporting programs such as the Kevin Harvick Athletic Scholarship Fund at California State University, Bakersfield, Kevin's Krew, Kevin Harvick Foundation Chase Your Dreams Scholarships and a camper cabin at Victory Junction.(KHI)(5-2-2011)

  • Richard and Judy Childress Receive Awards for Charity Work: Richard Childress received two awards for his charitable work in early April - one for his support of our troops from the Armed Forces Foundation and one for his family's work with the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. While in Washington, D.C. for the seventh annual Armed Forces Foundation Congressional Gala, Mr. Childress took the opportunity to visit several injured soldiers at the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Md. Most of the soldiers suffered from traumatic blast injuries and recently received the Purple Heart. At the gala later that evening, Mr. Childress received the Bill and Beverly Young Humanitarian of the Year Award. He has visited U.S. military troops across the nation, as well as in other countries, including Iraq, Bosnia, and Spain.
    A few days later, the Winston-Salem branch of the Exchange/SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) organization awarded Richard and his wife, Judy Childress, with the 2011 Founders Award for their exceptional commitment to the health and well being of children. Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill presented the award to Mrs. Childress and cited the Childresses' work helping children since launching the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in July 2008. The Institute is working to save the lives of children who experience serious injuries and help them recover quickly through research, education and prevention. April is Child Abuse Prevention month.(RCR)(4-28-2011)

  • Mike Dillon returns to track: This weekend has been the best medicine possible for Richard Childress Racing vice president of competition Mike Dillon, who's officially back at a NASCAR race track for the first time since early March. Dillon was sidelined, and briefly hospitalized, when a blood clot was discovered in one of his lungs, between the NASCAR weekends at Las Vegas and Bristol. He was released from the hospital March 19 and since then, life as he had known it hasn't existed. Dillon was hospitalized and had to go on blood thinners. In conjunction with that, doctors forbade him from traveling by air, due to sitting at length and the danger of clots forming at altitude. Talladega was Dillon's first full-fledged race trip since Las Vegas, March 4-6. The interesting fact was he and Tina traveled by motorhome -- something Dillon said he'll do "to everything that's within about eight hours" until he's once again cleared to fly.(NASCAR.com)(4-17-2011)

  • Harvick wins at Martinsville: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Goody's Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway for his 2nd win of 2011 ]and in a row] and 16th win of his career. It is Richard Childress Racing's first win at Martinsville since Dale Earnhardt won there in 1995.
    #88-Earnhardt Jr. finished second followed by #18-Busch, #42-Montoya, #24-Gordon, #17-Kenseth, #1-McMurray [the pole sitter], #6-Ragan, #33-Bowyer and #5-Martin.
    There were a record 31 lead changes among 12 drivers; 11 cautions for 72 yellow flag laps. The attendance is listed as 60,000 up a tad from last years 58,000 which was rain delayed until Monday when 40,000 came back to watch the race
    Scheduled Race Re-Air: SPEED, Wednesday, April 6 at 12:00pm/et See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Martinsville Race Results/Awards page.
    See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page
    For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(4-3-2011)

  • Kevin Harvick wins at Auto Club Speedway: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway for his 1st win of 2010 and the 15th of his career. He came from 3rd place with 3 laps remaining and passed #48-Jimmie Johnson for the win coming off turn 4 on the final lap. Johnson held on for second. #18-Busch, who led 151 laps on the day finished 3rd, followed by #17-Kenseth, #39-Newman, #99-Edwards, #33-Bowyer, #83-Vickers, #4-Kahne, and pole sitter #42-Montoya. Points leader going in to the race, #22-Busch finished 17th.
    There were 18 lead changes among 10 drivers; 4 cautions for 16 yellow flag laps and the attendance is listed as 88,000 up from last year's 72,000 at the February race and 70,000 at the October race.
    Scheduled Race Re-Air on SPEED, Wednesday, March 30 at 12:00pm/et.
    See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Auto Club Race Results/Awards page.
    See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.
    For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(3-27-2011)

  • Austin Dillion to make Cup debut: UPDATE: The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation's Centennial Celebration and the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma will be the primary sponsors when Austin Dillon makes his Sprint Cup Series debut later this season in the #98 Curb-Agajanian Performance Group Chevy. The Ronald Reagan Centennial is a historic, year-long celebration to commemorate the 100th birthday of the 40th President of the United States of America. A series of substantive and celebratory events, partnerships, and initiatives sponsored by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation are planned throughout 2011. The specific race will be announced at a later date.(RCR)(3-27-2011)
    UPDATE: Austin Dillon will make his Sprint Cup debut later this year at either Kansas in October or Phoenix in November in a car built by his grandfather's Richard Childress Racing. Team co-owner Mike Curb, owner of Curb Records, was a lieutenant governor under Reagan as well as co-chairman of Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign. The team for Dillon will get its car from RCR, an engine from Earnhardt Childress Racing and will use Dillon's RCR crew that fields his car in the Camping World Truck Series.(Scene Daily)(3-28-2011)

  • RCR's statement regarding Mike Dillon: The following is a statement from Richard Childress Racing, in response to numerous media inquiries on the health of vice president of competition Mike Dillon - 'Richard Childress Racing vice president of competition Mike Dillon was admitted to the hospital late last week after doctors discovered a blood clot in his lung. Dillon, 46, underwent a series of tests and is awaiting results but was released from the hospital earlier this afternoon.'(RCR)(3-19-2011)

  • Rheem to sponsor #29 in some races: Richard Childress Racing and Rheem have reached an agreement for Rheem to become part of the partnership marketing program for RCR's #29 Chevy NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team and driver Kevin Harvick. Rheem will serve as the primary sponsor for at least three races during the 2011 season: June 26 at Infineon Raceway; September 4 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and November 6 at Texas Motor Speedway. Rheem will be an associate sponsor on the lower rear-quarter of the #29 Chevy for the remaining races. The paint scheme and uniform will mimic the existing KHI #33 Rheem Tankless water heater scheme. The relationship is an expansion of the existing program between Rheem and Kevin Harvick, Incorporated, which was established in 2008. Rheem was a major associate sponsor of RCR and the #29 team from 2007 to 2009.(RCR), see an image of the scheme on #29 Team Schemes page.(3-16-2011)

  • Harvick not concerned about Daytona engine failure: From Kevin Harvick's media availability Friday at Phoenix:
    DID YOU GUYS FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ENGINE? "Yes."
    WHAT HAPPENED? "It broke. (laughter)"
    ANY MORE DETAILS? "Yes, not that I'm going to tell you but they have a good idea. They called me Monday morning and told me what had happened and I feel like they have a good direction to fix it."
    WAS IT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT OR SOMETHING? "Both of them."
    ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT GOING FORWARD? "No, I don't think it's something to worry about. I think it's just something we have to make an adjustment on. I think the No. 29 and No. 31 both had the same problem."(Chevy PR)
    AND: Kevin Harvick's and Jeff Burton's early Daytona departures were due to scuffed pistons in the engine. The Earnhardt Childress Racing engine department worked overtime this week to recreate the overheating situation that occurred because the current pistons were not designed to the same degree as the block.(Fox Sports)(2-26-2011)

  • Jimmy John's on the #29 at Phoenix: The #29 Chevy will adorn the same black and red colors but with a different sponsor this weekend at the Fresh Fit 500. Harvick and Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches will make their first NSCS appearance at PIR. The Champaign, Ill., based company signed a multi-year partnership that includes six races as the primary sponsor of the #29 Chevy and will remain an associate sponsor for the remaining races.(RCR) See an image of the car on my #29 team paint schemes page.(2-25-2011)

  • Forbes names most valuable NASCAR teams & highest paid drivers: The weak economy has pummeled NASCAR over the past three years, with sponsorships, merchandise sales, race winnings and subsidies from automakers falling. Fans have tuned out, sending TV ratings down 24% since 2006 and leaving more than 40,000 empty seats at some races last year. One of its longest-tenured teams, Richard Petty Motorsports, was scrambling for cash on a week-to-week basis so it could race on weekends last fall. Is NASCAR headed for a full-blown meltdown? Hardly. Yes, the value of the top 10 teams slid 5% in 2010, on average, to $136 million by [Forbes] count, as prize money dropped and sponsors dialed back their commitment, but a rebound in 2011 for the sport is a strong possibility. NASCAR's strongest and most valuable team remains Hendrick Motorsports. With a valuation of $350 million on revenues of $177 million in 2010, Hendrick is worth 56% more than the next-highest-grossing team, Roush Fenway Racing, which [Forbes] value at $224 million on revenues of $140 million last year. Hendrick earned a NASCAR-high $18 million in operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) in 2010. Richard Childress Racing was third on the list, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing. Rounding out the top 10: Stewart-Haas, Michael Waltrip Racing, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, and Red Bull Racing.
    AND: Despite his lack of success in recent years on the track, Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains NASCAR's highest-paid driver, earning $29 million in 2010 thanks to merchandise sales that are the best in the sport and reportedly account for one-third of all NASCAR licensed merchandise sales. Other income streams include an annual salary from Hendrick and a 50% share of his $4.9 million in winnings and bonuses in 2010 from Sprint Cup races. Earnhardt also has a bevy of personal endorsements, including Chevrolet, Nationwide and Wrangler. Hendrick teammate Jeff Gordon follows Earnhardt in the NASCAR money standings with earnings of $25 million last year. It is a clean sweep for Hendrick at the top with five-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, the third-highest-paid driver at $24 million. The rest of the top 10: Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, and Matt Kenseth.(Forbes)(2-24-2011)


    Remember Dale Earnhardt

  • RCR and ECR Honor Dale Earnhardt at Daytona: Richard Childress Racing and Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines will pay tribute to the life and legacy of the legendary Dale Earnhardt throughout 2011 Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. Commemorative #3 decals will adorn all eight of RCR's race cars, transporters and pit boxes. ECR employees will wear special ECR/#3 hats at the track throughout Speedweeks while RCR employees will wear special RCR/#3 hats February 18.
    "All of us at RCR and ECR are honored to pay tribute to Dale on this 10th anniversary," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing and Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines. "His legacy is still felt every day at RCR, ECR and throughout the world. We hope all of Dale's fans appreciate this salute to their hero and ours."
    The #29 Budweiser Chevy has been adorned with a small #3 decal since Kevin Harvick assumed the driving duties of RCR's former No. 3 Chevrolet in the second race of the 2001 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season after Earnhardt's passing at Daytona on February 18, 2001.(RCR)(2-11-2011)

  • Odyssey Battery Renews Partnership Agreement with RCR: Odyssey battery by EnerSys and Richard Childress Racing have renewed and expanded their multi-year partnership agreement for Odyssey battery to continue as a Technical Partner of Richard Childress Racing. Odyssey will also become an associate sponsor of the #29 Budweiser Chevys driven by Kevin Harvick. The expanded technical partnership continues a relationship that began in 2009. ODYSSEY batteries are manufactured by EnerSys Energy Products, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EnerSys.(RCR)(2-8-2011)

  • Hunt Brothers to be associate sponsor on the #29: In a partnership with Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), Hunt Brothers Pizza will be the primary sponsor for, Kevin Harvick and Elliott Sadler. Hunt Brothers Pizza will serve as a primary sponsor for the KHI #2 and #4 Nationwide Series entries, with Kevin Harvick and Elliott Sadler behind the wheel. Hunt Brothers Pizza will also be represented as primary sponsor of the KHI #2 Chevy in the Truck Series, with drivers Harvick and Sadler. Additionally, Hunt Brothers Pizza will join Harvick as an associate sponsor for the full 2011 season on Harvick's #29 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Sprint Cup Series car. Hunt Brothers Pizza will be represented on Harvick's uniform and have logo placement on the car.(Kevin Harvick Inc)(2-8-2011)

  • Another sponsor for the #29 car? UPDATE: hearing Jimmy John's will sponsor Kevin Harvick's #29 RCR Chevy for six Sprint Cup series in 2011. Budweiser is scheduled to be the primary sponsor of the car for 20 races in 2011. Jimmy John's has sponsored Kevin Harvick teams in the past running on KHI's Nationwide cars and Camping World trucks.(1-24-2011)
    UPDATE: Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches and Richard Childress Racing have reached a multi-year partnership agreement for the franchised sandwich shop restaurant chain to be the primary sponsor for six races and an associate sponsor for the balance of the season for Richard Childress Racing's #29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team and driver Kevin Harvick. The partnership is a continuation of an established relationship between Jimmy John's Franchise, LLC, RCR and Kevin Harvick, Incorporated. Jimmy John's, based in Champaign, Ill., was a primary sponsor of KHI's #33 NASCAR Nationwide Series program the past two seasons and was an associate sponsor of RCR's #29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team in 2010. Founded in 1983, Jimmy John's has grown to more than 1,000 stores in 39 states throughout the U.S.(RCR)(1-25-2011)

2010 News

  • Childress wins Sporting News award: Richard Childress, who oversaw a resurgence of Richard Childress Motorsports, is the Sporting News owner of the year, the magazine announced Wednesday.
    RCR made a remarkable turnaround in 2010. After all four of Childress' drivers missed the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2009, the organization consolidated to three teams this year with drivers Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer. All three qualified for the Chase, and Harvick was in contention for the Cup championship until the final lap at Homestead. Bowyer won two of the 10 Chase races, at New Hampshire and California.(Sporting News)(12-2-2010)

  • Roland DGA Partnership with RCR: A whole new look is in store for Richard Childress Racing (RCR) thanks to wide-format inkjet printing technology from Roland DGA Corp. A partnership between the two companies, announced, establishes Roland DGA as the exclusive printer manufacturer for RCR, home to three of the top 2010 Sprint Cup Series Chase finishers, including #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton and #33-Clint Bowyer. The partnership equips RCR's new state-of-the-art Graphics Center with Roland's most advanced wide-format inkjet printers and printer/cutters. Through the partnership, RCR will open its campus-like facility located in Welcome, NC, to Roland for training classes, dealer meetings, product demonstrations and other events, and will offer additional support to Roland advertising and marketing campaigns. Since opening the RCR graphics studio, Roland printers have been working around the clock to wrap RCR's extensive inventory of racing cars and trucks, show cars and delivery vehicles.(Roland DGA PR)(12-2-2010)

  • RCR Shop Takes Green to next level: In the first program of its kind, designed to prevent the unnecessary disposal of aerosol spray cans still containing chemical solutions that can eventually leak into the environment, Safety-Kleen and Richard Childress Racing are teaming up to make sure those cans are empty and recycled. "We've been helping keep NASCAR events and teams 'green' for years by properly managing a wide range of recyclable fluids used in their shops and cars," said Eric Zimmer, executive vice president of branch sales and service for Safety-Kleen. "Now we're taking that to the next level by focusing in on some of the less obvious potential sources of environmental contamination - such as spray cans - and we're proud to be undertaking this industry-leading effort with Richard Childress Racing." Many businesses simply throw used aerosol cans in the trash, which is perfectly legal, without even thinking about the fact that those cans are not completely empty and that the contents will eventually find their way into the environment. The better option is to make sure the cans are completely empty and then have them recycled, but that has not been easy to do. Now, using a new drain system developed by Safety-Kleen partner Justrite Manufacturing, businesses can easily get all of the material out of an aerosol can, simultaneously preparing the can for recycling and collecting the liquids for recycling or proper disposal. The Childress Racing teams will now be pioneering the use of these machines in their shops.(PRNewswire)(12-1-2010)

  • Havick, Busch Homestead incident comments: from Toyota NSCS Homestead Post-Race Notes & Quotes:
    Q) What happened to take you out of the race?
    #18-Kyle Busch "I don't know. (Kevin) Harvick pulled a slide job on me earlier in the day and I crossed over and passed him clean, but apparently it wasn't in the time of day in order to do that. I don't know. My guys work way too hard to be in this position and fight hard all day long to be put with a wrecked race car at the end of the year. We wanted to come out here and finish strong. We felt like we had a top-four or top-five car. It just means so much to me -- to those guys -- that we come out of here with a good run like we were having. It's very unfortunate. It's just a guy that doesn't have his head on straight apparently today. I thought everything was good. I talked to him in the pre-race in the driver's meeting and all of that, but he's such a two-faced guy it just doesn't matter."(Toyota)
    #29-Kevin Harvick from a Team Chevy transcript in part

    THE INCIDENT WITH KYLE BUSCH, GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT:
    Harvick: "Kyle raced me like a clown all day and cut me off and ran up in front of me. The last time I just didn't lift."(Team Chevy Racing News)(11-22-2010)

  • #29 Over-the-Wall Team Voted Fourth-Quarter Award: The pit crew of the #29 Shell Pennzoil Chevy for Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress Racing has earned fourth-quarter honors in the 2010 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award competition while on their way to a chance of winning the Sprint Cup. The Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award , which is determined by a vote of each team's crew chief, is given quarterly to the top-performing pit crew in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The four quarterly winners are eligible for the year-end Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award presented during Champion's Week in Las Vegas. The award is part of the NASCAR Prize Money and Decal Program, also referred to as the contingency program, which provide teams prize money and weekly awards based on performance in several categories. Mechanix Wear, the #1 glove in racing, is the Official Glove of NASCAR used by nearly all pit crew members in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This year, Harvick and the #29 team had three wins, 15 top-fives and 25 top-10's. While Harvick is turning fast laps behind the wheel, crew chief Gil Martin over-the-wall gang has been on their game as well, performing consistent, quick pit stops all year.
    Members of the #29 Shell Pennzoil pit crew include: Dail Long (Front Tire Changer), Terry Spaulding (Front Tire Carrier), Jonathon Billy (Rear Tire Changer), Erik Pringle (Rear Tire Carrier), Carey Wimbish (Jackman), Mike Morrison (Fueler), and Phil Gould (Catch Can Man). The team's pit crew coach is Gil Martin (VMG)(11-21-2010)

  • NASCAR does pre-inspection of Chase contenders: NASCAR has inspected the cars the three championship contenders plan to race in next week's season finale. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston says the cars for #48-Jimmie Johnson, #11-Denny Hamlin and #29-Kevin Harvick were inspected in the North Carolina research and development center this week. The cars were measured to make sure they fit the templates ahead of the Nov. 21 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. NASCAR says it was a precautionary measure during the tightest Chase for the Sprint Cup championship since the format was introduced in 2004.(Associated Press)(11-12-2010)

  • Harvick masters plate tracks: #29-Kevin Harivck is first driver since #24-Jeff Gordon in 2007 to score a top 10 finish in all 4 restrictor place races during the season.(ESPN NASCAR Now)(11-1-2010)

  • Harvick and Burton talk: At Martinsville teammates Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton left the Virginia track fuming at each other, but now all seems to be okay between the RCR teammates. Harvick told PRN's Mark Garrow the two have talked this week and everything is okay and chalked it up to two drivers just trying to get all they could on a Sunday afternoon. Harvick said, "That's pretty much what it boils down to. When you have two guys that are competitive people which in my opinion a good teammate is somebody who can push you from a competition standpoint to be better as a driver and get the most out of his car. Hey, it's not the first time we've had a spat but the good thing about it is there's enough respect there that we did and have before sit down and in 10 minutes you can have it all worked out...so it's just part of it."(PRN Garage Pass)(10-28-2010)

  • RCR Teammates Feuding: #29-Kevin Harvick was not pleased with how teammate #31-Jeff Burton raced him Sunday at Martinsville Speedway and showed that displeasure by running next to Burton during a caution with about 140 laps left. Asked after the race about the incident, Harvick said: "We were just racing.''
    Burton had a different take. "I don't understand what he is mad at,'' Burton said. "I think he is just wound up and racing for a championship. I can assure you I didn't do anything wrong and I would do it again a thousand times. Because if what I did was wrong, then I will just quit racing." Told that Harvick complained about how he came down on him, Burton questioned Harvick. "There will come a point when he realizes that everybody in the world is not against him,'' Burton said. "And every time it's a conflict he is involved. And you would think over the amount of years that he has done it, that he would get the hint that he is always in the middle of it and maybe sometimes if he just backed up a little bit and caught his breath, he would be OK. I'm not out to harm him. I am a teammate of his and I am trying to help him and there comes a point where he needs to just catch his breath and realize that it's my race track too.''(Roanoke Times)(10-25-2010)

  • Crew swap for the #29 & #33: #29-Kevin Harvick and #33-Clint Bowyer met with the media at Martinsville Speedway on Friday, and it was mentioned by both that Richard Childress Racing, has swapped crews beteern the #29 and #33 teams, with the full pit crew [not crew chiefs] being swapped,, the transcripts, in part:
    Q) HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES YOU'VE HAD ON PIT ROAD? IF THEY DON'T GET ADDRESSED, ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTEND OVER THE NEXT FIVE RACES?
    Harvick: "Those issues have been addressed and I believe everything will be fine this week. Richard (Childress) made some huge changes this week."
    Q) YOU ARE RUNNING A BLACK PAINT SCHEME SOME NEXT YEAR, IS THAT A TRIBUTE OR SIGNIFICANCE TO DALE EARNHARDT?
    Harvick: "Nope."
    Q) KEVIN WAS IN HERE EARLIER TALKING ABOUT PIT CREW CHANGES AND I UNDERSTAND THAT ALSO INVOLVES YOUR TEAM-COULD YOU ADDRESS THAT? WHAT'S GOING ON?
    Bowyer: "There is no question that my team is arguably the best team at RCR-they've been together the longest. With us being out of the championship deal; Kevin is the last shot at RCR at basically bringing a championship home. We owe it to everybody involved-all the employees who try to bring that championship back home. Certainly I'm going to miss them, but we've got a brand new racecar built for here, it's an exact replica-as close as we could get it-to the New Hampshire car so it should be fast again. I think we can win with his pit crew as well. There is certainly no slouch with what he had, and if he needed my crew to be better I was going to give it to him. I owe it to him as a teammate."
    Q) IS THIS A PERMANENT SWITCH?
    Bowyer: "We'll see. Obviously if he is out of the championship contention then I'll get them back, but as long as he's in that thing and he can win a championship for RCR, why not?"
    Q) HOW HARD IS IT AS A DRIVER WHEN YOU SWITCH PIT CREWS-IS IT MORE OF AN ADJUSTMENT FOR THOSE GUYS THAN IT IS FOR YOU IN THE CAR?
    Bowyer: "Well, the ones that it is hard for is the guys that have been with him all year long and with five races to go you turn your back on them-that's who it is hard for. It's difficult for those guys, but it is what it is. We're in this business to win championships and if he thought that he needed that to win a championship then we've got to give it to him. A championship is a huge thing and that is our only shot a doing so."
    Q) ARE SOME OF KEVIN'S OLD CREW MEMBERS ON THE TEAM TODAY, OR IS THAT A HIRED CREW THAT YOU BRING IN?
    Bowyer: "They're the guys that I plan on winning this race with, so I'm fine with it. We're just switching the whole crew. It is what it is. That was the decision that was made and I'm fine with it. I'll get my guys back, I know that. A lot of my guys work and build my racecar, so we all work together week in and week out at the race shop and at the race track. I wanted to be the one. They called and told me that that is what they wanted to do and I owed it to those guys to go in and tell them that. On Tuesday morning, I went in myself and got my guys together and I told them what was going to happen, and that I thought we owed it to all the employees-there are 400 employees at RCR, not just those over the wall guys-we owed it to everybody at the engine shop that has been doing an awesome job all year long, from the fab shop to everybody involved, even the guy that mows the grass. We owe it to them guys to bring a championship home and do everything we can do to that."(Team Chevy PR)(10-22-2010)

  • Realtree to Sponsor #29 Team at Talladega: Realtree, the creator and marketer of the world's most versatile camo patterns, will be the primary sponsor of Richard Childress Racing's #29 Chevy team with driver Kevin Harvick for the Oct. 31 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Realtree, based in Columbus, Ga., began its involvement with RCR in 1997 on the #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy teams with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. It began its relationship with Harvick at RCR in 1999 and continues today as an associate sponsor of the #29 team. In addition, Realtree president Bill Jordan and RCR president and CEO Richard Childress have been personal friends for decades through racing and their love of the outdoors. "It's great to have Bill Jordan and Realtree on board next weekend," said Harvick. "They have sponsored me at RCR since 1999, when I ran the ARCA Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, so I look forward to driving the No. 29 Realtree Chevrolet in the Chase at Talladega."(RCR)(10-22-2010)

  • Call 811 Returns:
    Following successful promotions of Call 811 during the April 25 Talladega race this year and the Homestead race last November, the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy of Kevin Harvick will once again run the logo on its deck lid, and additionally for this race, on the TV panel and lower rear quarter panel during the October 16 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway to promote safe digging by encouraging fans to "Call Before you Dig."(RCR)(10-13-2010)

  • Harvick Foundation starts up a scholarship: On Friday, the Kevin Harvick Foundation announced it will fund a full academic scholarship to one Cal State State Bakersfield student-athlete per year for the next 12 years. Harvick made the presentation of the $151,200 award at a press conference at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, in advance of Sunday's Sprint Cup race. Harvick started his accession toward NASCAR's highest level of racing by winning a late model title at the old Mesa Marin Raceway while still a student at North High and said this is an ideal way to give back to the community and support higher education. "I looked back at everything I got to do and I was pretty fortunate to get help from people who didn't necessarily have to help me move up the ranks," he said. "We were out in California (for the February race in Fontana), drove up one day, stopped in and asked if they'd be interested in a scholarship." The caveat: that the award winner come the Bakersfield area and be in need of a scholarship. The inaugural recipient of the scholarship is CSUB sophomore and volleyball player Lauren Holderman, who was at Auto Club Speedway to accept the award. Harvick and his wife, DeLana, formed the Kevin Harvick Foundation (KHF) earlier this year to support programs that positively enrich the lives of children throughout the United States. Other programs supported by the KHF include a camper cabin at Victory Junction, Baptist Children's Homes of N.C., Boys & Girls Clubs and Kevin's Krew.(Bakersfield Californian)(10-10-2010)

  • Harvick's Crew Captures Tissot Pit Road Award at Kansas: Kevin Harvick's crew won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway. It was the first pit road win of the season for the #29 team, which will receive $5,000 from Tissot plus a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. Harvick's #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road during the Price Chopper 400 -- 194.316 seconds. Jeff Gordon's #24 team leads the Tissot standings with four wins. The crews for #17-Matt Kenseth, #18-Kyle Busch and #26-Jamie McMurray are tied for second with three wins each. There are seven Cup races remaining in 2010. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver.(Tissot), see standings and race by race winner on my 2010 Pit Crew News page.(10-6-2010)

  • Hamlin/Harvick make up: Sprint Cup points leader #11-Denny Hamlin and #29-Kevin Harvick have made peace. Hamlin said during a Tuesday news conference promoting the October race at Charlotte Motor Speedway that he and the Richard Childress Racing driver talked on the phone and settled the issues that transpired last weekend at Dover. "We came to really quick terms that our friendship is solid," said Hamlin, noting Harvick is probably his closest friend away from the track. "Regardless of what happens on the racetrack, our friendship goes further than that. We do a lot for each other off the track and I feel that goes a long way." It wasn't that way Saturday at Dover International Speedway. Harvick was angered by things Hamlin said about the RCR team of Clint Bowyer that was fined 150 championship points last week after NASCAR determined Bowyer's winning car at New Hampshire violated tolerances. "We talked and everything is good with us," Hamlin said. Hamlin admitted he may have said too much during his Friday news conference when he attacked Bowyer's team. He said the plan entering the media center was to avoid questions about the situation, but when told Bowyer referred to his car and Johnson's having to go through post-race height inspection twice the previous week at New Hampshire, Hamlin threw caution to the wind. Hamlin said he knew when he left the interview that he'd stirred things up. He wasn't surprised when Gibbs and team president J.D. Gibbs called to tell him he said too much. "It is hard for me not to say what's on my mind at times," Hamlin said. "Joe kind of explained that to me. Not everybody needs to hear what you have to say when you think things are going wrong. I kind of understand that." Hamlin said Joe and J.D. Gibbs were calm. Crew chief Mike Ford, who called his remarks against Bowyer's team "stupid," was not. "Mike wasn't laughing at all," Hamlin said. "Obviously, he's a deflection type guy. He figures we have enough within that race team as far as what we need to do to stay focused to win a championship. We don't need to make our jobs any harder. He told me we made our jobs harder, and I definitely can't disagree with that."(ESPN.com)(9-29-2010)

  • Harvick, Hamlin exchange words Saturday morning: #29-Kevin Harvick showed he had his teammate's back by damaging #11-Denny Hamlin's rear. After Hamlin bumped Harvick on the track, the top two points leaders were involved in a heated and profane exchange in the garage, sparking some life into the first practice Saturday at Dover International Speedway. The dustup came a day after Hamlin blasted Clint Bowyer, saying Harvick's RCR teammate was making excuses for why his winning car at New Hampshire failed a follow-up inspection. Harvick appeared to stick up for Bowyer not with words, but with force. Hamlin knew he'd be a target when he said Harvick's crew made sarcastic comments toward him before practice. Hamlin, who said he expected retaliation for his antagonistic criticism, said Harvick also got into the #11 Toyota on pit road. Hamlin and Harvick made contact during the opening laps of practice, with Harvick damaging the right rear of Hamlin's No. 11 car. Once the drivers returned to the garage, they got into each other's faces before they were separated. Tempers quickly flared again and they went back to yelling at each other before they were broken up for good.(Associated Press/ESPN.com)(9-25-2010)

  • Budweiser to sponsor RCR / Harvick UPDATE 4 images posted: Sources tell [ESPN's Marty Smith] Kevin Harvick will have a split sponsorship on the #29 in 2011, and Budweiser will be on the car in the majority of points races, as well as the two exhibition events. There are still some hurdles to jump to get the Bud deal done. RCR had no comment when [Marty] asked them about it. Budweiser, either. Budweiser and Harvick are a good match. His edgy personality fits the brand well. He meshes with the no-nonsense good ol' boy, red label demographic. I'm told Harvick did himself a huge favor with the way he conducted himself in Victory Lane at the Shootout in February -- beer in hand while saying and doing the right things in front of the company's new management.(ESPN.com)(8-7-2010)
    UPDATE: Officials with Anheuser-Busch and Richard Childress Racing are close to finalizing a sponsorship package that would put the popular Budweiser beer brand on the team's #29 Chevy with driver Kevin Harvick beginning in 2011, sources said. An announcement is expected to come within the next week. Budweiser currently sponsors the # 9 Ford of Richard Petty Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne. Kahne will drive for Red Bull Racing in 2011 and is slated to move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, where he will replace veteran Mark Martin in Hendrick's # 5 Chevy. Budweiser, which has a long history in NASCAR, is not expected to remain at RPM. "Budweiser has decided to go in another direction with regard to its driver/team sponsorship and will announce those plans in the very near future," Mark Wright, Vice President, Media, Sports & Entertainment Marketing for Anheuser-Busch, Inc., said in a statement provided by the company. "We enjoyed our three-year relationship with Kasey Kahne and wish him all the best in the future."(Scene Daily)(8-12-2010)
    UPDATE2: Richard Childress Racing has called a press conference for Tuesday morning at team headquarters for a "major announcement regarding 2011 season and beyond".(8-15-2010)
    UPDATE3: Budweiser will sponsor the #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevy that Kevin Harvick drives, a three-year deal [2011-2013] and be the primary sponsor for the majority of Sprint Cup races each season (RCR/Bud Video Press Conference).
    UPDATE4: Budweiser announced Richard Childress Racing driver Kevin Harvick will become the next star to take the wheel of the iconic Budweiser car when the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season begins in February. "Budweiser's involvement in NASCAR dates back more than three decades, and we're excited to have as successful a driver as Kevin Harvick to usher in a new era for Budweiser," said Mark Wright, vice president of media, sports & entertainment marketing, Anheuser-Busch. "Kevin also benefits from having the support of a highly respected owner in Richard Childress and the great people of Richard Childress Racing, who will help put the #29 Budweiser Chevy in a position to challenge for Sprint Cup championships."
    Under the terms of the [3-year] deal, Budweiser will serve as primary sponsor of the #29 Chevy for 20 points races, two non-points races during Speedweeks [Bud Shootout & Gatorade Duel] and co-primary sponsor of the Sprint All-Star Race. Budweiser will remain an associate sponsor for the remaining races on the schedule. Harvick is the two-time and defending champion of the Budweiser Shootout (2009-2010).(RCR)(8-17-2010), see images of the car on my 2011 #29 Team Schemes page.(8-17-2010)

  • Harvick wins at Michigan: #29-Kevin Harvick won the CarFax 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway for his 3rd win of 2010 and 14th of his career. It is his first win and a non-restrictor plate race since Phoenix in 2006. #11-Hamlin finished second followed by: #99-Edwards, #16-Biffle, #17-Kenseth, #14-Stewart, #42-Montoya, #56-Truex, Jr., #19-Sadler, and #20-Logano. Harvick increased his lead to 293 points over #24-Jeff Gordon. There were 17 lead changes among 9 drivers and 5 cautions for 25 yellow flag laps. The attendance was reported at 105,000, up slightly from last year which was 103,000.
    See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Michigan Race Results/Awards page.(8-15-2010)
    See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(8-15-2010)

  • Menard moving to Richard Childress Racing: UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing and Menards, the third-largest home improvement company in the United States, have signed a multi-year partnership agreement for the Eau Claire, Wisconsin-based company to become the primary sponsor of RCR's fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team beginning in 2011 with driver Paul Menard. "Paul has developed into a very good race car driver, and we see his move to RCR next year as an opportunity for him to continue that progress," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "At the same time, we feel Paul will contribute to the continued progress and success of RCR. Paul will fit in perfectly with our team of drivers at RCR, and they are all looking forward to working with him. We're also very proud to be aligned with Menards, one of the great family business success stories in American history." Further announcements about the program will be forthcoming.(RCR)(8-11-2010)
    UPDATE: Richard Petty Motorsports issued the following statement in regards to the announcement that Paul Menard, driver of the #98 Menards Ford, will depart the team in 2011. "We have enjoyed having Paul Menard and the Menard family as a part of the Richard Petty Motorsports team this season," said NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner Richard Petty. "Paul is in the middle of his best season of competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and we feel like our strong commitment to him and that team in addition to the great support from Ford Racing has been a major part of that," added Foster Gillett, managing partner and team owner. "With 14 races to go, we expect the #98 team to finish just as strong as it started this year."(RPM)(8-11-2010)

  • 4th team for RCR? Menard? UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing is looking at possible expansion to four teams in the Sprint Cup Series in 2011 and is in the process of finalizing a deal to run next year's Nationwide Series program through Kevin Harvick Inc. Team owner Richard Childress said an announcement on the deal with KHI should be made soon. The plan is for RCR to supply engines to KHI for the Nationwide program and for RCR to field two teams in the Truck Series where Childress' grandson, Austin Dillon, drives the #3. RCR Cup drivers Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick would run KHI cars when in the Nationwide Series. Childress would not comment on speculation that Paul Menard, who drives for Richard Petty Motorsports, would be his fourth driver. But he did say that a fourth team is a possibility. "We're looking at it," Childress said Sunday at Pocono Raceway. RCR had four teams in 2009, but returned to three this season after sponsorship for the fourth team and Casey Mears could not be found. Menard would bring the family business, Menard's, with him as a sponsor if he made the move. RPM does not have a deal with Menard for 2011, but has been in talks with Marcos Ambrose to drive either the #9 being vacated by Kasey Kahne or #19 currently driven by Elliott Sadler. Team officials are optimistic that AJ Allmendinger will be back in the #43 next season even though Allmendinger has talked to other teams.(ESPN)(8-1-2010)
    UPDATE: Frontstretch is reporting #98-Paul Menard has agreed in principle to move to Richard Childress Racing for 2011. Sponsorship would continue to come from his father's company, Menards, with a car number and crew chief to be announced. No word on an official announcement yet from either side, but the team would expand to four cars while retaining their current driver lineup of #31-Jeff Burton, #29-Kevin Harvick, and #33-Clint Bowyer.(Frontstretch)(8-5-2010)

  • Silly Season kicking in gear at IMS:
    " All signs point to Richard Childress Racing announcing the week of the Watkins Glen Race next month that Budweiser will be on #29-Kevin Harvick's car. Mobile 1 had been courting #24-Jeff Gordon, but HMS ended that by reupping with Quaker State. Don't be surprised to see that sponsor pop up at Stewart-Haas.
    " Richard Petty Motorsports' future seemingly hangs on what #43-AJ Allmendinger does. If he and sponsor Best Buy stay, then #98-Paul Menard and his sponsor may hang around, as well. But Allmendinger has talked to several teams, including Penske Racing. Menard is beating the bushes as well, with speculation he'll be in the fourth car at Richard Childress Racing. All we know for sure is Stanley is the only sponsor contractually committed to the organization beyond this season. Odds are RPM will shrink from four teams to three, two or none. The last would be a huge blow to the garage and increase the possibility of fields of fewer than 43 cars next season. It also could end Richard Petty's presence in the garage, which would be sad to see.(ESPN.com)(7-25-2010)

  • Kroger and #29 team up at Indy: Fans will have a chance to interact with and compete against the #29 Shell-Pennzoil crew as part of a grocery bagging challenge at the Kroger store in Speedway, IN. The team will race against fans to see who can bag groceries the fastest. Fans who fill their bags faster than the crew will win a $50 Shell gift card, and the runner-up receives a Kroger gift card in thanks for their participation. Additionally, driver Kevin Harvick, the current points leader, will feature the Kroger logo on the deck lid and rocker panel of the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet during the July 25 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(Edelman)(7-20-2010)

  • Harvick 1000 points better than last year: Daytona marked the 18th race of the season, so we've officially hit halfway in the 36-points race schedule. Anyway, this is a good time to take a look at how things have changed since last year in looking at the points and who's climbed the most and who has fallen the most compared to this point a year ago. Naturally, #29-Kevin Harvick is the leader. Last year he was 26th in the points with 1,683 points. This year, he's leading the points with 2,684 points. Thus, he's climbed 25 spots in the points and gained 1,001 points from this time a year ago. To put his success into greater perspective, it took him 28 races last year to exceed the point total he has now in 18 races.(Hampton Roads), to see a list of drivers and the exact points spread from last year, see my Daytona Race page.(7-5-2010)

  • Harvick wins at Daytona: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway for his 2nd win at the track, 2nd win of the season and 13th of his career. The start of the race was delayed 90 minutes because of rain. #9-Kahne finished 2nd followed by #24-Gordon, #88-Earnhardt, Jr., #31-Burton, #99-Edwards, #2-Busch, #83-Sorenson, #71-Bliss, and #82-Speed. The race ended with a green-white-checker finish. #33-Bowyer was leading on the final restart but lost the lead and ended up spinning on the final lap to finish 17th. The "big one" happened on lap 148 when #2-Busch and #31-Burton made contact while running up front. Drivers behind them tried to check up but set off a chain reaction. There were a total of 19 drivers involved: #77-Hornish, #42-Montoya, #48-Johnson, #39-Newman, #09-Labonte, #98-Menard, #82-Speed, #9-Kahne, #5-Martin, #20-Logano, #14-Stewart, #83-Sorenson, #38-Kvapil, #7-Gordon, #12-Keselowski, #47-Ambrose, #16-Biffle, #78-Smith, #11-Hamlin. The accident caused a 19 minute red flag. Points leader #29-Harvick saw his lead increase to 212 [from 105] and #24-Gordon moved to second.
    There were 47 lead changes among 18 drivers and 9 cautions for 37 yellow flag laps. The attendance was reported at 115,000, the same as 2009.
    See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Daytona Race Results/Awards page.
    See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(7-3-2010)

  • DeLana Harvick responds to Logano's remarks...for charity: A day after Joey Logano sarcastically forgave Kevin Harvick following a late-race incident at Pocono Raceway by saying that his wife DeLana "wears the firesuit in the family, tells him what to do," DeLana Harvick turned Logano's slight into some inspired merchandising. Fans can purchase a white T-shirt through Harvick's website that reads "I wear the firesuit in this family" in red with Harvick's "Happy" red logo underneath. The $15 shirt, available in sizes small through extra large, will be shipped once received from the manufacturer. DeLana Harvick is a fixture in the NASCAR garage and is co-owner of the couple's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series teams (ESPN/AP). All proceeds from the sale of this item will benefit the Kevin Harvick Foundation.(6-8-2010)

  • Logano vs. Harvick, some notes: #29-Kevin Harvick and #20-Joey Logano got together on the track a few laps from the finish, Logano came down entering turn 3 and Harvick didn't follow but held his ground, the #29 right front touched the #20-left rear, sending the #20 in a long slide, just missing the outside wall. Harvick finished 4th and Logano was able to hold on and finished 13th. On pit road, Logano drove up to where Harvick's car was parked, a crew member tried to hold Logano back while his father grabbed Logano and encouraged him to confront Harvick. Logano could not get near Harvick as the #29 crew members blocked the way. Logano said a few things and was ushered away. Moments later he was interviewed by TNT and said "It's disappointing to be honest with you, we had a top-five run going with the Home Depot Toyota. I was pretty pumped up about it. Racing the 29 (Kevin Harvick) and he let me go in the middle of the straightaway and then decided to dump me in the next turn. I don't know what his problem is with me but it's probably not his fault. His wife wears the fire suit in the family and tells him what to do. It's probably not his fault." What will it take to cool this feud down? "I don't know. I'm going to go to the NASCAR hauler and I guess they are going to tell me what I'm supposed to do. We will just have to see." What did Coach Gibbs and J.D. Gibbs say to you? "They just said to calm down, you know we finished 13th. We rallied back from 30th in two laps so at least we got something out of it. Not a top-five like we should have finished, but it is what it is. I don't know what I ever did to (piss) him off, but he is apparently stupid." -more- (Toyota NSCS Pocono Post-Race Notes)
    Harvick's comment "We had a great day, today. I just got into turn three and we just wound up getting together (with the 20). It was just two cars going for the same space at one time. I just need to thank everybody on my Shell-Pennzoil Chevy, they did a great job today and we had a solid car. I kind of got stuck back there in the middle of the pack with the pit strategy but, all-in-all, our car was good all day and worked out for a top five."(RCR)
    AND Harvick called the incident "a 20-year-old move" and added, "he just races without giving people any respect and not much room. So, we just wound up getting together. It's unfortunate, but that's the way it goes."(FoxSports)
    Harvick responded on Twitter, "After his TV comment I don't know if he wants to fight me or [DeLana]. My money's on her!"
    AND Harvick's crew chief Gil Martin claimed Logano sped toward Harvick's pit box and nearly slammed into several crew members before coming to a stop.(Associated Press) Logano went to speak to Sprint Cup series officials after the race and left without further comment. Harvick was not called to the hauler.(6-7-2010)

  • Happy Harvick and the Flyers: #29-Kevin Harvick's close friend, Jeff Carter, scored two goals for the victorious Philadelphia Flyers in Game Five of the NHL Eastern Conference Finals, as the win secured a berth in the Stanley Cup Final for the Flyers. Harvick will fly to Philadelphia on Wednesday, June 2, to attend Game Three as the Flyers host the Chicago Blackhawks [Chicagoi leads the best of 7 series 2-0], their first Stanley Cup Final home game in 13 years. Harvick and Carter met during a 2007 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Winner's Circle event in Philadelphia, hosted by Richmond International Raceway.(RCR)(6-2-2010)

  • RCR Street Performance Group Unveiled: Pennzoil announced the start of the "Get Your Key to Clean" promotion to celebrate the launch of Pennzoil's best cleansing portfolio of products ever. The promotional sweepstakes provides consumers the opportunity to win a VIP weekend at the Bank of America 500 in October, as well as a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS2, a piece of automotive history, the first vehicle produced by the newly formed RCR Street Performance Group. The special edition 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS2 is the first of its kind and has been up-fitted and enhanced with numerous performance upgrades that are befitting one of the most successful NASCAR teams, Richard Childress Racing, and the maker of some of the most technologically advanced motor oils available, Pennzoil®. Additions to the vehicle include a carbon fiber body kit to increase downforce and performance, a completely reupholstered interior using the iconic colors of Pennzoil® and RCR, and a completely revamped suspension and supercharged engine for NASCAR-inspired performance. More info on the promtion at RCR's website.(RCR/Pennzoil PR)(5-30-2010)

  • RCR: no plans to swap sponsors: Team owner Richard Childress says his organization doesn't plan on moving sponsorships around among his three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams as it attempts to find a replacement for Shell/Pennzoil. "We've done that in the past," Childress said Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "[But] we don't have any plans to [do that]." Shell's departure at season's end to join Penske Racing leaves Childress searching for funding for the group's #29 Chevrolet, driven by Kevin Harvick. General Mills currently sponsors teammate Clint Bowyer, through its Cheerios brand, while Caterpillar provides backing for the #31 of driver Jeff Burton. At least one potential scenario mentioned following the Shell announcement dealt with moving Cheerios to Harvick and attempting to obtain a sponsor, such as Budweiser, for Bowyer. In addition to Cheerios, Bowyer has additional sponsorship from BB&T and The Hartford. Budweiser currently sponsors Richard Petty Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne, but with Kahne departing for Hendrick Motorsports, it's not known whether Budweiser will remain at RPM or go elsewhere. "I think General Mills is happy with Clint," Childress said. "Clint is happy driving the Cheerios car. There are a lot of different rumors swirling [around]. We're working with a lot of different companies right now, some new companies that aren't in the sport. We've been getting a lot of positive response about the future with Kevin and RCR."(SceneDaily)(5-30-2010)

  • Childress/Harvick discuss Harvick re-signing: RICHARD CHILDRESS, OWNER OF RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING (RCR), AND KEVIN HARVICK, DRIVER OF THE #29 SHELL-PENNZOIL CHEVROLET, held a press conference to announce a multi-year contract extension between RCR and Harvick, and discussed various elements of their agreement. Full Transcript:
    MODERATOR: "Thank you all for coming today, I am the Director of Communications for Richard Childress Racing and we have a very important announcement for the present and future of RCR. As some of you may have seen on a Twitter post or somewhere else, RCR and Kevin Harvick have agreed to a multi-year contract extension for Kevin to continue in the RCR No. 29 Chevrolet Sprint Cup Series car. As I said, multi-year agreement, no we aren't going to tell you the exact years and all of that good stuff. At this time I would like to turn it over to Richard Childress. Richard, if you would, tell the folks where things stand right now and your thoughts on Kevin continuing on now well past a decade at RCR."
    CHILDRESS: "We're very excited to have Kevin back. He has written a lot of history for RCR. He stepped in the car when we lost Dale in 2001 and I don't know of any driver that could have stepped in there under the pressure and handled it the way he did. We'll always be grateful. To have him come back and re-sign again, we're excited about it. I know there will be questions about sponsors. We have three or four companies that we are dealing with right now and hopefully in the very near future, we'll have something to announce there. But the key thing is to have Kevin back. He is a top driver in this Series and to have him in our group of drivers is just unbelievable and we are glad to have him back."
    ARE YOU AT THE POINT NOW YOU ANTICIPATE FINISHING YOUR DRIVING CAREER WITH RCR?
    HARVICK: "Well, you never know how things are going to shake out but obviously I don't think the sport has created, with the time and commitment and things that it takes to be competitive, I don't see myself racing until I am 50 years old. Whether it is one more contract or two more contracts, nobody knows. But right now there are a lot of years in front of us with this one. The way that we started and hopefully we can end that way and continue that going forward."
    ON THE SPONSORSHIP, THE ECONOMY LOOKS LIKE IT'S TRYING TO TURN AROUND SOME. HAVE YOU NOTICED MORE COMPANIES WILLING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT MAJOR SPONSORSHIP DEALS? IS IT A LITTLE BIT BRIGHTER NOW?
    CHILDRESS: "Yes, for sure. Our marketing department has been talking to some new companies that's not in the sport right now that have a lot of interest. Our sport, with the Hall of Fame opening, a lot of things with racing has been really great this year and the country is still in an economy downturn a little bit, but it looks like its leveling and moving in the right direction. And I think our sport is strong enough with all the people and the companies we have in it. And the companies that are looking to get into the sport today gives us bright hope." IN YOUR DECISION-MAKING, DID YOU EVER CONTEMPLATE BEING A DRIVER/OWNER FOR KHI?
    HARVICK: "No. We've talked about this a lot before. It's not something that I have the desire to sit and make those decisions over $15 or $20 million or whatever decisions are; you've got to have too much money in this day and age to start a company. The RCR's of the world have that backbone and have already made those investments on the parts and pieces and the tools necessary to be competitive in the sport. It's not something I was really looking for as a challenge."(Chevy Racing)(5-25-2010)

  • RCR/ECR Employees to Distribute Donations to Nashville Relief Effort: Employees of Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines will deliver and help distribute donated cleaning supplies May 25 for residents of the Nashville, Tenn., area who were adversely affected by last month's devastating flooding. An RCR Promotions show car trailer filled with donated cleaning supplies departed Monday from RCR headquarters in Welcome, N.C., headed for Cat Financial headquarters in Nashville. Tuesday morning, May 25, nearly two dozen RCR and ECR Engines employees will fly from Smith-Reynolds Airport, in Winston-Salem, to Nashville International Airport. The group will meet and divide the cleaning supplies at Cat Financial before making stops at United Way distribution centers in the area. RCR began collecting donations May 13 at the RCR Museum. "We wanted to do more than just drop off a trailer full of cleaning supplies in Nashville," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "People's lives were turned upside down by the flooding so we wanted to join our partners at Cat Financial to do something personal that shows how much we care. I want to thank everyone who donated and I'm very proud of all of the RCR and ECR employees who are helping distribute those supplies." Cleaning supplies collected over the past two weeks included bleach, scouring pads, dust masks, work gloves, heavy duty trash bags, paper towels, insect repellent and hand sanitizer.(RCR)(5-25-2010)

  • Childress expect to sign Harvick by end of month: UPDATE 4 Budweiser? UPS? Harvick re-signs: Richard Childress expects to have Sprint Cup points leader #29-Kevin Harvick signed to a new deal by the Coca-Cola 600 at the end of the month. "Yeah, we're pretty far down the road," the owner of Richard Childress Racing said of negotiations before Friday's Cup practice at Darlington Raceway. "We've still got to get a few things finalized, but we're looking forward to getting everything done by Charlotte or before Charlotte." Harvick was not immediately available for comment, but did say in a recent radio interview that he hoped to have a deal in place soon. Sponsorship is among the details to be finalized. Shell/Pennzoil announced last month it would leave Harvick after this season and move to the #22 car of Kurt Busch at Penske Racing in 2011. Asked if Budweiser or Mobile I, big-name sponsors whose current deals are up, might be on the list, Childress said, "There are sponsors that are not even in the sport that are interested."(ESPN.com)(5-7-2010)
    UPDATE: Sprint Cup point leader Kevin Harvick has agreed to an extension with Richard Childress Racing, a source close to the situation confirmed on Friday. RCR has scheduled a press conference for Saturday at 3:15 p.m. at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Team owner Richard Childress said only that he planned to discuss several organizational matters. Harvick declined to acknowledge the deal, which Childress told ESPN.com three weeks ago would be completed by the end of May. "I don't have anything new to report today," Harvick said. "Soon as we get it all to report we'll go ahead and do that. Nothing new to report today." Among the details to be worked out are sponsorship. Shell/Pennzoil announced last month it would leave Harvick after this season and move to the #22 car of Kurt Busch at Penske Racing in 2011.(ESPN.com)(5-21-2010)
    UPDATE 2: #29-Kevin Harvick will continue his partnership with Richard Childress Racing. Harvick signed a multi-year contract but sponsorship has yet to be finalized. RCR is talking to several potential sponsors but Budweiser appears to be the leading candidate. Another scenario presented for Harvick is the possibility of moving Budweiser to the #33 Chevy with Clint Bowyer and bringing General Mills to the #29.(FoxSports)(5-22-2010)
    UPDATE3: Richard Childress Racing, which is expected to announce Saturday that it has signed Kevin Harvick to a contract extension, is making big pushes to land either Budweiser or UPS for next year, according to multiple sources in the Sprint Cup garage.(Ford Racing)(5-22-2010)
    UPDATE 4: Richard Childress Racing and Kevin Harvick have signed a multi-year contract extension for the 2007 Daytona 500 winner to continue his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driving career with the 12-time NASCAR championship-winning organization. The announcement was made today in the infield media center at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "I'm happy to be able to continue my relationship with Richard and RCR because, over the last 10 years, we've been through a lot together," said Harvick. "Being able to put this piece of the puzzle in place couldn't have come at a better time for me and this team because we can focus solely on winning this championship."
    "Kevin has been a big part of RCR for more than a decade now so it's good to know our relationship will continue for years to come," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "The #29 Shell-Pennzoil team is leading the points and really working very well together this season. This new contract should only help build on their momentum."(RCR)(5-22-2010)

  • Different colors for Harvick at Richmond: Reese's, a sponsor of Richard Childress Racing #29 Chevy from its beginning, kicks into high gear this weekend in Richmond as Talladega winner, Kevin Harvick and the #29 team bring the bright orange Reese's racing machine to the track to launch the Reese's "Save $1.00" promotion. Reese's, the No. 1 selling candy bar in the United States, has teamed up with Coke to offer $1.00 off the purchase of a King Size Reese's with a 20 oz. Coke or Coke Zero, which together make the perfect pit stop. Look for the No. 29 Reese's Racing team on the track and the Reese's Perfect Pit Stop coupons at your local store.(RCR), see an image of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(4-27-2010)

  • Harvick wins wild race at Talladega: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Aaron's 499 Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway taking the lead on the third Green-White-Checkered with a few feet to go over #1-Jamie McMurray, winning the race by .011 seconds, the 8th closest finish [since electronic scoring in 1993]. McMurray had led when the last caution came out before lap 188 [the end of the regular length of the race] and led at the start of each of the three green-white-checkered flags. It is Harvick's first win in 115 races [Daytona 500 in 2007], his fist win at Talladega, Richard Childress Racing 90th win and 1st win at Talladega since Dale Earnhardt won his 76th and final race in Oct. 2000. It is Harvick's 12th career win which puts him alone in 31st on the all-time win list. McMurray held on to 2nd place, followed by #42-Montoya, #11-Hamlin, #5-Martin, #6-Ragan, #33-Bowyer, #2-Busch, #18-Busch and #09-Bliss. #48-Johnson wrecked late and finished 31st out of the race. #24-Gordon got involved in a lte wreck, but finished 22nd. #7-Gordon finished 20th and is back in the top 35 in owners points in 34th. The #37 Front Row Motorsports team fell out of the top 35. There were a series and track record 29 leaders with a series and track record 88 lead changes. There were 8 cautions for 32 yellow flag laps.
    See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Race Results/Awards page.
    See points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(4-25-2010)

  • Harvick: Burned Bridges with RCR? UPDATE denied: Richard Childress Racing has probably lost its faint chance to keep Kevin Harvick on the heels of Wednesday's devastating announcement that Shell/Pennzoil is moving to Penske Racing in 2011 to sponsor Kurt Busch in the Sprint Cup Series. RCR already faced a serious, uphill challenge in trying to retain Harvick, who is in the final year of his contract, even if it had managed to hold onto Pennzoil, sponsor of Harvick's #29 since 2007. Harvick, according to multiple sources reached by SI.com but never confirmed by the driver, wanted out of RCR at the end of last season, but team owner Richard Childress held him to the contract. The duo came out strong out of the gate this season -- they led the points after five races and are currently fourth, 141 behind Jimmie Johnson -- but the sour feelings between the two haven't changed. "Kevin has burned all his bridges here," said a source requesting anonymity following the news of Shell's departure. The source reiterated the chances of Childress and Harvick dissolving their marriage were close to 100%. Harvick is the top free agent driver on the market. His preferred destination is Stewart-Haas Racing, where he'd have Hendrick equipment. Tony Stewart is on the record as wanting to expand to three cars next season, dependent upon sponsorship. With Harvick to sell and the broad range of commercial possibilities available through the team's partner-like association with Hendrick, Stewart-Haas has far greater ability to find a sponsor for Harvick. Kasey Kahne's decision to join Rick Hendrick's organization in 2012 has led to widespread speculation that he'll be at Stewart-Haas in 2011. Kahne certainly will be in Hendrick equipment next season and it's the logical place. The other possibility would be for Hendrick to ask Mark Martin to vacate the #5 a year early to go to Stewart-Haas. In either situation, it would require Stewart-Haas to run four cars in 2011. That 's not beyond the team's reach and it's where Stewart wants to get eventually.(Sports Illustrated)(4-22-2010)
    UPDATE: Kevin Harvick says he doesn't know where he'll drive next season, but it's fair to say he will remain with Chevrolet. Harvick said Friday at Talladega Superspeedway that he's had "many, many, many" conversations with team owner Richard Childress about staying with Richard Childress Racing when his contract expires after this season. He did not elaborate when asked if he's had conversations with other owners, such as Chevrolet owner Tony Stewart, with whom he reportedly was linked last season. But Harvick made it clear he's burnt no bridges with RCR, where he has driven in the Sprint Cup series since replacing the late Dale Earnhardt in 2001. He also made it clear that, because he uses Chevrolet with his Nationwide and Truck Series organization, he doesn't plan to switch manufacturers. "Richard Childress and myself, we've got a great relationship," said Harvick, who is fourth in points after missing the Chase last season. "We've been talking about a lot of things for several months. It's not anything different than we normally do at this time. The cars are running well. Everybody is communicating well. I don't know what else to say other than Richard and I have had many, many, many conversations over the last several months. What that means? Right now I'm driving the #29 car." Harvick took issue Thursday on Twitter about stories involving sources on his future [see post above]. Asked to clarify his future, he said: "If you're going to quote a source, quote their name. If they're too chicken to give their name, don't put their name in the paper. Anonymous sources are crap."(ESPN)(4-23-2010)

  • Biffle and Harvick to carry "Call 811" logo at Talladega UPDATE: CGA [Common Ground Alliance] Member 3M will promote the 811 logo on the #16 3M/Greg Biffle race car at the Talladega Superspeedway on 4/25/2010. "3M's commitment to underground damage prevention will be showcased during National Safe Digging Month at one of America's premier sporting events," stated Bob Kipp, CGA President, "we encourage all CGA members to tune in and watch the race supporting 3M, Biffle and 811!"(CGA)(2-1-2010)
    UPDATE: This week in Talladega there will be a special 811 logo on the #16 3M Ford Fusion to remind fans to call 811 before they dig to avoid cutting lines such as gas, electric and cable. April is National Safe Digging Month (RFR).
    AND: Two top race teams and the Governor of Alabama are among those supporting "Call 811" and National Safe Digging Month surrounding the upcoming April 25 race in Talladega. Kevin Harvick of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) will run the "Call 811" logo on the deck lid and rocker panels of the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy at Talladega Superspeedway. The logo will also run on the hood, deck lid and TV panel of the #16 3M Ford Fusion. The addition of the logo is part of a larger effort to educate fans and encourage them to make a quick and easy call to 811 to help protect people from unintentionally hitting underground pipelines, infrastructure and utility lines, which can put the community and environment at risk. In addition to RCR and 3M backing the cause, Alabama Governor Bob Riley has proclaimed April as National Safe Digging month in the state of Alabama and is urging all excavators and homeowners to call 811 before doing ANY digging. In an effort to promote public safety, Shell, 3M, and RCR, in conjunction with the Common Ground Advisory and its members, are encouraging homeowners and contractors to call 811 before they dig to prevent injuries, property damage and inconvenient outages. Every digging job requires a call - even small projects like planting trees or shrubs.(PR) see images of the #16 scheme on my #16 Team Schemes page.(2-1-2010)

  • Shell/Pennzoil sponsorship moves to Penske Racing in 2011: Shell Oil Company and Penske Corporation announce a multi-year cross business alliance starting in the 2011 racing season. The new alliance allows Shell and Pennzoil to expand their motorsports presence as it includes a primary sponsorship with Kurt Busch and the #22 car, as well as associate sponsorships promoting Shell V-Power with IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Helio Castroneves, Will Power and Ryan Briscoe. The global business alliance provides an opportunity for Shell and Pennzoil to expand their presence not only within motorsports, but also as a preferred supplier of fuels, lubricants and related products to the Penske organization. Beginning in 2011, Shell and Pennzoil will be the "Official Fuel and Motor Oil Supplier" to the Penske organization in the U.S and the organizations will look to extend their alliance with business development opportunities in several other countries. The Penske organization is one of the world's most successful and recognized automotive-based business enterprises and provides unique activation opportunities. Additionally, this alliance continues to enable further product development for Shell and Pennzoil both on and off the track through the invaluable knowledge gained surrounding fuels, lubricants and engine technologies. Like Shell and Pennzoil, Penske Corporation has a close relationship with Chrysler and Ferrari, both part of the Fiat Group. Winning is a tradition for Penske, an organization that has earned more than 315 major race victories including 15 Indianapolis 500 wins and the 2008 Daytona 500, more than 370 pole positions and 22 national championships.
    As part of the alliance, Pennzoil will become the "Official Motor Oil" of Penske Racing in 2011 which includes all of its entries in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series as well as the IZOD IndyCar Series. For Pennzoil, returning to Penske is a homecoming of sorts as Pennzoil first aligned with Penske as part of its IndyCar teams in 1983 and won the 1984 and 1988 Indianapolis 500 Mile Races with driver Rick Mears. In addition, Kurt Busch won his 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship driving a Pennzoil-supported car for another team.(Pennzoil Racing/Penske Racing PR)(4-21-2010)

  • RCR Statement about Shell/Pennzoil leaving: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and chief executive officer of Richard Childress Racing, regarding the announcement by Shell Oil Company that it will end its sponsorship of the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy at the conclusion of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season: "Shell and Pennzoil have been great partners with Richard Childress Racing since our first race together, when Kevin Harvick and the #29 team won the Daytona 500 in 2007. I'm disappointed that our partnership will conclude at the end of the year but understand some of the reasons that went into their business decision. RCR will continue to provide Shell-Pennzoil the highest caliber program possible, keeping in sharp focus the ultimate goal of winning the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. What this creates for RCR is the opportunity for a new partner to forge its own relationship and identity with Kevin Harvick and the championship-level team led by crew chief Gil Martin, our other race teams and drivers, and our other 35 partners. The #29 team has had only two primary sponsors since it began in 2001 but the number 3 has played a significant role at RCR for decades. We feel strongly that the third chapter of the #29 team's partnership history will be a successful one."(RCR)(4-21-2010)

  • Keselowski to the #2; Budweiser to RCR?: Kurt Busch has signed a multiyear extension with Penske Racing that includes moving from the #2 car with Miller Lite as his primary sponsor into the #22 with Shell/Pennzoil as the sponsor, team officials said on Wednesday. Brad Keselowski will move from Penske's #12 car into the #2, with Miller Lite, which has been with the organization for 20 years, remaining the sponsor for the #2. Keselowski currently is sponsored by Verizon, but because of NASCAR's exclusivity deal with Cup series sponsor Sprint, Verizon's brand logo is not allowed on the car. "Brad is one of the hottest young drivers in NASCAR and we're thrilled to welcome him to the Miller Lite Racing family," said Andy England, chief marketing officer at MillerCoors. "Rarely in this sport are you presented with the opportunity to build a relationship with a top-tier driver at the start of his career."
    The addition of Shell/Pennzoil means that Mobil 1, a competing motor oil that sponsors Penske's #77-Sam Hornish Jr., will not return in 2011. But Jonathon Gibson, the vice president of Penske Racing, said Penske is committed to remaining a three-car operation with Hornish in the third car. "We'll be prepared to announce a new sponsorship deal for that car in the next few weeks or months," Gibson said. "We're very excited. For us to have the opportunity to bring in a great brand like Shell and extend our relationship with Miller puts us in a place where we can build for the future."
    Kevin Harvick, in the last year of his contract with Richard Childress Racing, is without a sponsor. Harvick is negotiating with RCR to find a new sponsor and stay with the company, according to a source. Harvick has been with RCR since he succeeded the late Dale Earnhardt in 2001. A source said discussions between RCR and Budweiser, in its last season with Richard Petty Motorsports' #9-Kasey Kahne, have taken place. Kahne signed last week a deal with Hendrick Motorsports to replace Mark Martin in 2012 and drive a car to be determined by team owner Rick Hendrick in 2011.(ESPN.com)(4-21-2010)

  • Reports: Pennzoil/Shell to leave RCR...to Penske?: Shell/Pennzoil is expected to leave Richard Childress Racing and driver #29-Kevin Harvick at the end of the season and will sponsor a car at Penske Racing - likely for 2004 Sprint Cup champion #2-Kurt Busch - beginning in 2011, according to sources familiar with the situation. An announcement concerning the Shell/Pennzoil sponsorship is expected to come Wednesday. According to sources, the leading candidate for the Pennzoil sponsorship is Busch, whose contract with Penske runs out at the end of this year but team owner Roger Penske has said he planned to pick up the option and just needed to negotiate terms with Busch. Busch's current sponsor, Miller Lite, could move to #12-Brad Keselowski, whose car does not have sponsor logos but gets support from Verizon, which cannot be on the hood of a Sprint Cup car because of Sprint's sponsorship of the series. With Shell/Pennzoil as a sponsor, that means that Mobil likely is going away since Mobil and Shell are competitors. Mobil sponsors Penske Cup driver #77-Sam Hornish Jr., a three-time Indy Racing League champion who has competed in Sprint Cup since 2008. Shell/Pennzoil has been with Harvick since 2007, while Busch has been the Miller Lite driver since 2006 [and Miller has been with Penske since 1991]. The departure of Shell/Pennzoil from RCR leaves that organization looking for a sponsor. Harvick's contract expires at the end of this year. Team and sponsor representatives did not immediately return messages seeking comment (SceneDaily)
    AND Richard Childress Racing has been informed that Shell-Pennzoil will not return to the organization in 2011 according to team sources. Sources say the Shell-Pennzoil brand will move to Penske Racing next season for a multi-year deal where it will enjoy a business-to-business relationship with both Penske Automotive Group and Dodge. PAG is the second largest publicly traded retailer in the U.S. and operates 316 retail automotive franchises. Shell-Pennzoil will also have a presence on Penske's IndyCar Series cars. Kurt Busch is will drive the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge in 2011. Busch was set to become a free agent at the end of the season, but this deal ensures he will stay at Penske beyond 2010. As a result, Busch will vacate the #2 Miller Lite Dodge. One scenario mentioned has Brad Keselowski moving into the ride.(FoxSports)(4-20-2010)

  • Childress in talks with Harvick, no Kahne: Richard Childress is still in talks with #29-Kevin Harvick in hopes of keeping him with Richard Childress Racing in 2011. Childress doesn't expect his 2011 driver lineup to include Kasey Kahne. Rick Hendrick has signed Kahne for 2011 but must find him a ride in a Chevrolet for one season before Kahne takes over the Hendrick Motorsports #5 car in 2012. Aside from #2-Kurt Busch, who is expected to re-sign with Penske Racing, Harvick is the most accomplished free agent driver available for next year as the 10-year veteran has 11 career victories. "Kevin and I are working hard together to stay together," Childress said Sunday prior to the Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. "Our plan right now is to stay together and our plan right now is to be together. Anything can change, but right now we're planning on racing together. We've been talking. We haven't signed nothing yet. But we're definitely talking in the right direction for him to be a big part of RCR and [keeping Kevin Harvick Inc.] all together." Sponsor Shell/Pennzoil also is up for renewal. "They're doing their [request for proposals] and we'll see where that comes out," Childress said. As far as whether he could expand his operation back to four teams, Childress said the key is managing growth and that the organization would need to make sure it is ready for a four-car team. He doesn't anticipate signing Kahne to fill any open ride.(SceneDaily)(4-19-2010)

  • RCR's #29 Shell-Pennzoil Team to Honor Fallen Coal Miners: Richard Childress Racing's #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet Impala will carry a decal for this week's NASCAR activities at Texas Motor Speedway honoring the 29 coal miners who lost their lives in the April 5 mine explosion in West Virginia. The Upper Big Branch mine explosion in Montcoal, W. Va., was the worst U.S. mining disaster since 1984. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this tragic event," said Richard Childress, president and chief executive officer of Richard Childress Racing. "Coal miners and their families are part of the backbone of American society so all of us at RCR wanted to show our respect for them for their loss." The decal is affixed on the lower front quarter-panel, in front of the rear tires, of the #29 Chevy. "We have a tremendous fan following in West Virginia, and we were very saddened to hear the news," said Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet. "For all of those who lost their lives and for their families and friends, we will race in their honor this weekend in Texas."(RCR)(4-16-2010)

  • Edwards: Harvick just a 'bad person': #99-Carl Edwards insists his issues with #12-Brad Keselowski go no deeper than incidents that have happened on the track and that they will address them during a meeting Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Edwards' issues with #29-Kevin Harvick apparently go much deeper. "I have absolutely no respect for Kevin Harvick," he said before Friday's first practice at Bristol Motor Speedway. "I think he's a bad person. That's my opinion. I've told him. We've had our deal before and his actions through that interaction were so devious and underhanded and cowardly that, it's like, I just have no respect for him. When people like that question me, it makes me feel better because if those people were lined up patting me on the back I'd be on the wrong side of what's right and wrong. And I truly believe that." Edwards and Harvick got into a physical confrontation in 2008 at Charlotte Motor Speedway that ended with one of Harvick's friends dragging Edwards away in a headlock. Keselowski and Edwards are scheduled to meet on Saturday to speak for the first time since the wreck, which was magnified when Keselowski's car went airborne, flipped upside down and landed on its roof. Keselowski said last week he believed Edwards' issue with him went beyond what happened on the track. "It's no deeper than that," Edwards insisted. "It's only between him and I and what happens on the track." That's when Edwards lit into Harvick, who after their incident said, "Not a big fan. I think he's a fake." Edwards said he's not trying to be the good or the bad guy. "All those people that say whatever they say, know that if I have an issue with them I go speak to them," he said. "I don't go talk behind their back like little girls. That's what a lot of them do. I learned that wasn't cool in about the fifth grade. It's really simple. I treat everyone the best way I can possibly treat them. That's the way I was raised, but I stand up for myself. That's simple. If somebody doesn't respect that, then that's their problem. Doesn't really matter."
    Team owner Jack Roush does not condone Edwards wrecking Keselowski at Atlanta, "but I do understand it."
    "If my drivers had wrecked somebody three times I would have had issue with that in my camp," Roush said. He agreed with NASCAR's decision not to suspend Edwards, who was placed on a three-race probation.(ESPN.com)(3-19-2010)

  • And Kevin Harvick: #29-Kevin Harvick met with members of the media at Bristol Motor Speedway and discussed the Carl Edwards/Brad Keselowski situation some of the transcript:
    WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL COME OUT OF THE MEETING TOMORROW BETWEEN CARL (EDWARDS) AND BRAD (KESELOWSKI)?
    "There are a lot of things that could come out of it. Obviously there is a pretty deep history it seems like between the two of them. Hopefully they can get things squared away and not get everybody else involved in what is going on."
    HOW CLOSE DO YOU THINK EVERYONE WILL BE WATCHED ON SUNDAY?
    "I think most everybody is tired of hearing about it from our standpoint. I mean, that is what I think about it."
    YOU WERE PRETTY OUTSPOKEN ABOUT HIS PENALTY AND USED THE WORD "FAKE" ON TWITTER AND THE RADIO, COULD YOU ELABORATE ON THAT?
    "I don't think I ever said anything about his penalty being one way or the other, I made a crack about maybe I got in trouble in the wrong era and it was more expensive then. (SMILES) Things change and the sport changes and I'm not up-in-arms about anything like that. As far as the fake comment, I mean, you can't be the nice guy; you can't be the bad guy and you can't be the bully. So....that is just how I feel about that."(Chevy/GM Racing)(3-19-2010)

  • Childress spends time in Washington D.C.: Team [#29, #31, #33] owner Richard Childress spent the better part of March 2-3 in Washington, D.C. Childress, a member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation's board of directors, attended a March 2 dinner hosted by the bipartisan organization. On March 3, he had a full schedule of morning and afternoon meetings with members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives on behalf of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. Childress then attended the sixth Annual Armed Forces Foundation Congressional Gala that evening with drivers Bowyer and Burton before flying home to North Carolina.(RCR)(3-4-2010)

  • Latest on the Harvick 2011 rumors: #29-Kevin Harvick is considering his future - 2011 - and Sprint Cup sponsor Shell is also considering its NASCAR future. That company has been in the Richard Childress camp since 2007, when Harvick won the Daytona 500 for Childress and Shell/Pennzoil. So what Harvick might be thinking, what Shell might be thinking, and what Childress himself might be thinking are all good questions....that none of them are interested in listening to at the moment.
    Harvick, it is believed, has been interested in moving to the Tony Stewart-Ryan Newman [#14, #39] operation for Cup racing in 2011. However, sources close to that team indicate that team owner Stewart, though a good personal buddy of Harvick's, may be leaning now toward not expanding to three Cup teams next season. And Toyota has privately expressed disinterest in Harvick, long a Chevy driver, and what effect that might have on any Harvick option with the Joe Gibbs camp is uncertain. Harvick, of course, has the option to move KHI up to the Cup tour itself, though he has not shown much willingness to make the step to driving for such an owner-driver-owned Cup team. Much, naturally, depends on sponsor Shell, which is one of the most lucrative sponsorships in this sport. Childress would naturally want to keep Shell, regardless of what Harvick decides.(MikeMulhern.net)(2-28-2010)

  • RCR Forms Partnership with Hall of Fame Racing Owners: Richard Childress Racing has entered into a partnership agreement with a group led by San Diego Padres executives Jeff Moorad and Tom Garfinkel. Moorad, the Padres' vice chairman and chief executive officer, and Garfinkel, the team's president and chief operating officer, will assist RCR in its business development and growth opportunities, and cooperate on other strategic initiatives. They will also participate on RCR's internal advisory group. "Over the past three years, Richard has become a trusted friend," said Jeff Moorad. "We believe in NASCAR and this opportunity allows us to be a contributing part of a winning organization, led by someone who we respect and trust." In 2007, Moorad, Garfinkel, and their ownership group purchased Hall of Fame Racing from NFL legends Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach. The team suspended operations after the 2009 NASCAR season. "I've gotten to know Jeff and Tom and feel that they can add a lot to what we're doing," said Richard Childress, president and chief executive officer of RCR. "This allows us to bring our individual strengths together and benefit all involved. I have learned over the last 40 years that you have to keep innovating and improving to be successful. This new partnership will complement our already strong organization."(RCR)(2-28-2010)

  • Townley cited for underage possession of alcohol: Nationwide Series driver John Wes Townley [#21 Chevy] has been cited for underage possession of alcohol. Townley, who is 20, was cited Thursday. He apologized to NASCAR and his Richard Childress Racing team in a statement issued late in Saturday's race by his race team. "I made a big mistake and feel terrible about it," he said. "I have learned a valuable lesson and will do everything I can to make it up to those I have let down." Car owner Richard Childress said Townley made an error in judgment that will be handled internally at RCR. "Drivers are human and make mistakes like everyone else. However, we do not condone his behavior," Childress said. Townley finished 15th in Saturday's race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(Associated Press)(2-28-2010)

  • #29 scheme to promote new Pennzoil product: The #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy of Kevin Harvick will be carrying a special paint scheme this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that coincides with some exciting news coming from Pennzoil (RCR). The car will be all yellow to promote Pennzoil Ultra. See images of the car on my #29 Team Schemes page.(2-24-2010)

  • Harvick to visit with kids: As part of a continued outreach program with Shell Oil Company, #29-Kevin Harvick will visit with a group of at-risk children called "Kevin's Krew" just before Sunday's race at Auto Club Speedway. The children will take part in various activities including meeting their favorite driver near the Victory Lane area prior to driver introductions and before watching the Auto Club 500 from the stands. This is the third year that Shell, Harvick and RCR have been involved with the effort that was born in the vicinity of Auto Club Speedway and spearheaded by local police officer Todd Smith of the Colton County Police Department. Since 2008, Officer Smith, Shell, Harvick and RCR have hosted hundreds of kids as part of the program that grew from one event at Auto Club Speedway to seven events around the nation last year. In 2010, there will be eight "Kevin's Krew" events during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season - including two stops at Auto Club Speedway.
    What are your thoughts on "Kevin's Krew," the group of special needs students who will be attending the race? "I think it's a really cool thing Shell has put together. We've done this same thing for a few years at Auto Club Speedway, and the excitement I see on the kids' faces is priceless. A lot of these students may never have watched a race on TV, much less seen one from the grandstands or down in the infield. They seem pretty overwhelmed, in a good way, when you meet them. It just reminds you that we're very blessed to be in the position we're in, and to be able to race for a living. I always enjoy meeting the groups, and I hope we can give these students something to cheer about this time around."(RCR)(2-19-2010)

  • TRG form alliance with RCR: TRG Motorsports announced a strategic alliance with Richard Childress Racing for its 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup program. In this new agreement, RCR will provide cars, chassis repairs and testing resources for TRG's Sprint Cup Series operations. TRG will team with Stewart-Haas Racing for Pit Crew support to coordinate faster pit stops. "All of these new partnerships are really a great thing for us as an organization," Team Owner Kevin Buckler said. "As a one-car team, our resources have been limited in the past. This is really the best of both worlds for us to work with strong, successful organizations like RCR and Stewart-Haas." After its first full year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, TRG Motorsports begins 2010 with Championship-winning driver Bobby Labonte in the #71 Chevy, Crew Chief Doug Randolph, a new executive team led by Torrey Galida and Grand-American Championship-winning Driver/Owner Kevin Buckler, the organization will build on its winning history for a successful future and is poised as a serious competitor. Despite being a one-car operation in a sport filled with multi-car teams, TRG Motorsports brings a new business plan and organizational outlook, positioning itself to successfully go toe-to-toe with the powerhouses of NASCAR. With a solid strategic alliance with Richard Childress Racing and engine program through Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies, TRG will begin its second year of Cup competition with a strong stable of Chevrolet Impalas and a vision to succeed. Sponsor TaxSlayer.com makes its return to NASCAR with TRG as the primary sponsor for a portion of the 2010 season [13 races]. TaxSlayer.com made its debut in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series last year at Watkins Glen International Raceway and served as the primary sponsor of the #71 a total of six times in 2009.(TRG)(2-10-2010)

  • RCR Honors Former Crew Member D.J Richardson: Richard Childress Racing will honor former pit crew member and front tire changer D.J. Richardson with memorial decals during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. The #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy will carry the decals behind the front tires for the February 6 Budweiser Shootout. The helmets of the #29 Shell-Pennzoil over-the-wall crew members will also don special decals for the 2010 season. All three of RCR's Sprint Cup Series entries will carry the decals for the 52nd annual Daytona 500 on February 14, and its Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series entries will also carry the decals for their season-opening races. Richardson passed away December 25, 2009, from complications from the H1N1 virus. He joined RCR in July 2009 and finished the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season with the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy team. The 2005 Sprint Cup All-Star Rear-Tire Changer Champion began his Cup Series career with Andy Petree Racing in 1999. He also worked for Penske Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Braun Racing. The Leominster, Mass., native was 37. "D.J. should be jumping off the wall and changing tires for us again this season so we wanted to honor him in this special way," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "He was a valued member of the RCR family and is missed as we start the 2010 season."(RCR)(2-6-2010)

  • Harvick ill, will not practice in Shootout UPDATE: during Media Day coverage at Daytona International Speedway on ESPNEWS [12-3pm/et], Mike Massaro reported that #29-Kevin Harvick is ill with flu-like symptoms and canceled his interviews for Thursday and probably will not participate in Budweiser Shootout practice on Thursday, February 4th [5:00-5:45pm/et and 6:30-7:30pm/et today]. Teammate #33-Clint Bowyer will practice the #29 Shell / Pennzoil Chevy if Harvick cannot practice the Richard Childress racing entry.(2-4-2010)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing's Kevin Harvick is battling flu-like symptoms at his home in North Carolina so teammate Clint Bowyer will drive the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy in today's two practice sessions for the 2010 Budweiser Shootout. Harvick has received medical attention for the illness and hopes to make it to Daytona later this evening. Bowyer, the driver of RCR's #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevy, did not qualify for this year's non-points event.(RCR) the #29 Chevy was involved in a wreck late in the first practice and the team got the backup car out, Jeff Burton, who drives the #31 Caterpiller Chevy for RCR, will practice the backup #29 Chevy, late in Happy Hour.(2-4-2010)

  • Furinture Row, RCR expected to finalize alliance: UPDATE 2: #78-Furniture Row Racing will put the finishing touches on its technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing this week. A meeting is scheduled on Friday between principles of the two companies in hopes to strengthened the single car operation at FRR and in essence create a satellite fourth car for RCR. "While the team may look the same on the outside, eternally we're much stronger," said Joe Garone, general manager of Furniture Row Racing. "One of the assets with the alliance with Richard Childress is our ability to be secure in the top 35. "During the last quarter, we decided we needed to run the full season. Around May or June, we realized how much it hurt us not to run the full season. We can race on the Furniture Row sponsorship, but it wouldn't allow us to expand to a second car. Our primary goal is to have the #78 team run at 100 percent efficiency." FRR will continue its partnership with Kevin Harvick Inc., with the pit crew. FRR contracts the over-the-wall crew who work at KHI full-time and pit Harvick's Nationwide Series cars.(Fox Sports)(1-29-2010)
    UPDATE: On the surface it looks basically the same. But behind the scenes it's a whole new look for the Furniture Row Racing team, which made significant personnel moves during the offseason as it readies to return to a full 36-race NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule in 2010. The team's driver (Regan Smith), car number (78) and car manufacturer (Chevy) remain the same for the new campaign, which kicks off Sunday Feb. 14 with NASCAR's traditional season opener -- the Daytona 500. But when you get beyond the driver, car make and car number, the Denver-based Furniture Row team is quite different than it has been in recent years. For starters, more than 20 new employees were hired during the offseason, increasing the team's growing staff to more than 60. Along with the new hires, Furniture Row Racing went even a step further to enhance its program by forming a technical and engineering alliance with Richard Childress Racing. "Being a single-car team against the mega, multicar teams has put us at a huge disadvantage over the years," said Garone. "Now that we have formed an alliance with RCR, we will have the ability to be secured in the top 35 and keep a better pace with the other multicar teams. RCR has always been a leader and a winner, and we are proud to be affiliated with Richard Childress and his outstanding organization."(Furniture Row Racing PR)(1-29-2010)
    UPDATE 2: Furniture Row General Manager Joe Garone told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that as part of the team's new technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, Childress is now a owner of FRR. Garone said the details of the technical alliance are not fully ironed out, but will give the team a major boost in engineering. He confirmed that the team will not utilize Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines, choosing instead to continue their relationship with Hendrick Engines.(1-29-2009)

  • Harvick not talking about 2011: #29-Kevin Harvick sidestepped a question on whether he will return to Richard Childress Racing in 2011, saying just that he wanted to have fun and win races in 2010. Harvick's contract at RCR runs out after the 2010 season, and he had indicated last year he wanted to look elsewhere by not committing to returning in 2011. If anything happened during the offseason that would change Harvick's mind, he wasn't sharing it Saturday during the preseason Fan Fest at Daytona International Speedway. When asked if there was any chance he would return in 2011, a grinning Harvick said: "I'm not getting in the middle of it. ... [What] it all boils down to ... it's all about winning races, and that's all I care about. We're going to come into the season, and we're going to race a lot this year, and we're going to have fun. That's my main goal ... to have fun. How it all plays out, I couldn't tell you. It's just up to all the - I'm not going to get into all of that right now. We haven't even got on the track. And we're going to come to Daytona and race, and we're going to have a good time this year."(in part from SceneDaily)(1-17-2010)

  • Reese's returns to Harvick's Chevy: Hershey's Reese's Peanut Butter Cup's is scheduled to be featured on Kevin Harvick's #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevy at Richmond International Raceway on May 1st. See an image of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(1-16-2010)

2009 News

  • Races [1] that Pennzoil Platinum is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Daytona - 7/4

  • Races [2] that Reese's/Hershey's is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Atlanta - 3/8
    Kansas - 10/4

  • Races [1] that Pennzoil is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     All-Star Race, LMS, 5/16

  • Sad News - D.J. Richardson: Richard Childress Racing pit crew member Donald "D.J." Richardson, Jr., passed away December 25 in a Massachusetts hospital from complications of the H1N1 virus. He was 37. Richardson, of Leominster, Mass., contracted the H1N1 virus over the Thanksgiving holiday. He was admitted to Health Alliance Hospital in Leominster for evaluation, where it was determined he was suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome. "All of us at RCR are saddened by D.J.'s passing," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "D.J. was a gifted tire changer, one of the greatest team players in the business and a valued member of the RCR family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends." Richardson joined RCR in July 2009 and finished the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season as the rear-tire changer for the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy team. He began his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career with Andy Petree Racing in 1999. He has also worked for Penske Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Braun Racing. "I am shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of our friend and teammate," said Matt Clark, director of human performance and leadership development of Richard Childress Racing. "Anyone who knew D.J. realized that below the tough exterior was a caring father, friend and teammate. He had a huge heart and would do anything to help someone in need. D.J. loved changing tires and was recognized as one of the top pit athletes at the position. I want to extend my condolences to his family and friends." Details of memorial services in Massachusetts and North Carolina are pending and will be made available as soon as possible.(RCR)
    sites a couple sites were set up for Richardson, some notes can be left on the facebook group: Get Well DJ-Updates and a website was setup for Richardson at getwelldj.com.(12-26-2009)

  • Media selects top drivers, races of decade in NASCAR's three national series: With the recently completed 2009 season closing out another decade of NASCAR racing, media members have selected the top drivers and top races of the decade for all three national series as voted upon in a poll on NASCARMedia.com. The listing of drivers and races for the poll was compiled following discussions with the three series directors and other long-time observers in the industry - and also resulted from direct input from NASCAR fans. #48-Jimmie Johnson was selected as the top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver of the decade, followed by #14-Tony Stewart and #24-Jeff Gordon. Johnson won an unprecedented fourth consecutive series championship in 2009 and posted 47 NASCAR Sprint Cup victories this decade - most of any driver. He is the only driver to earn a spot in the Chases for the NASCAR Sprint Cup all six years of the format's existence. The March 16, 2003 race at Darlington Raceway was voted the top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. In what is the closest Margin of Victory - .002 seconds - since the advent of electronic scoring in May 1993, Ricky Craven edged Kurt Busch to the finish line in that thriller. The Oct. 14, 2000 race at Talladega Superspeedway, which marked Dale Earnhardt's final career victory, came in second, followed by the March 11, 2001 event at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with Kevin Harvick getting his first NASCAR Sprint Cup victory in a narrow defeat of Jeff Gordon.(NASCAR PR), see the results for the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series on those pages.(12-21-2009)

  • RCR Pit Crew Member Recovering in Massachusetts Hospital UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing pit crew member Donald "D.J." Richardson is recovering in a Massachusetts hospital from severe complications due to the H1N1 virus. Richardson, 37, of Leominster, Mass., approximately 35 miles northwest of Boston, joined RCR in July 2009 and finished the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season as the rear-tire changer for the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy team. He contracted the H1N1 virus during a visit to Massachusetts over the Thanksgiving holiday. His condition worsened due to the onset of pneumonia before he went to Health Alliance Hospital in Leominster for evaluation. Doctors quickly admitted Richardson to the hospital's intensive care unit with acute respiratory distress syndrome. "Our thoughts and prayers are with D.J. and his family during this very trying time," said Mike Dillon, RCR's vice president of competition. "All of us at Richard Childress Racing and Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines wish him a full and speedy recovery." Richardson is unable to accept phone calls or flowers from well-wishers while in the intensive care unit. His family has asked that cards, letters and notes of encouragement be sent to his attention at his father's house: Donald Richardson, 494 Merriam Avenue, Leominster, Massachusetts 01453. Richardson began his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career with Andy Petree Racing in 1999. He has also worked for Penske Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Braun Racing. The RCR communications department will continue to provide updates on Richardson's status. A Facebook Groups page entitled "Get Well DJ-Updates" has also been created.(RCR)(12-7-2009)
    UPDATE: a website has been setup to help Richardson, more info at getwelldj.com.(12-13-2009)

  • Full Nationwide season for Harvick? Defending Nationwide Series champion Kyle Busch says he still plans on running 25 races next season but is tempted to try the full schedule again after learning Cup drivers Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick also might try to run both series full time. "We can't let Carl and Kevin walk over everyone," Busch said with a laugh. "We've got to give them a run for their money."(USA Today)(12-12-2009)

  • RCR, no wins at Homestead: Homestead has been a bit of an Achilles Heel for Richard Childress Racing and is one of the few race tracks where team owner Richard Childress hasn't earned a Sprint Cup Series victory. As a company, RCR's best finish at HMS came in 2003 and in 2008 when Kevin Harvick finished second. In 29 starts, RCR has four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes at the mile-and-a-half, progressively-banked oval with drivers Dave Blaney, Clint Bowyer, Burton, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Green, Harvick and Mike Skinner. Auto Club Speedway, Kansas and Las Vegas are the other tracks on the current schedule where RCR has yet to visit Victory Lane.(RCR)(11-19-2009)

  • RCR cars to support "call 811":
    Richard Childress is a strong advocate for safety and protecting the community and environment. All four Richard Childress Racing (RCR) teams are supporting the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) and its "Call 811" initiative this week in Homestead to help educate fans about the importance of calling 811 before doing any digging or excavation activity. A quick and easy call to 811 helps to protect people from unintentionally hitting underground pipelines, infrastructure and utility lines, which can put the community and environment at risk. As part of the race teams' support, the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy will feature a logo on the deck lid that will read, "811 Know what's below. Call before you dig." In addition to support from RCR and Shell, CGA is also working with driver Joey Logano to help communicate the "Call 811" message at an appearance during race weekend.(RCR)(11-17-2009)

  • Kevin's Krew One Last Time: This will be the final Kevin's Krew [#29-Kevin Harvick] gathering of at-risk children for the 2009 season. Sponsored by Shell-Pennzoil, the group of school-age children will be treated to raceday at the track, lunch, Shell hat and T-shirt and a personal meeting with Harvick prior to driver introductions in the PIR Victory Lane area.(RCR)(11-14-2009)

  • Three drivers attempting triple duty at Phoenix: Two drivers will be aiming to make history this weekend by becoming the first to win in all three NASCAR national series at Phoenix International Raceway - Kyle Busch [#18 Cup, #18 NNS, #51 CWTS] and Kevin Harvick [#29 Cup, #33 NNS, #4 CWTS]. And Kevin Conway is attempting to make all three races [#70 Cup, #26 NNS and #71 CWTS]. Busch came close to scoring the feat last weekend at Texas when he won both the NASCAR Camping World Truck and NASCAR Nationwide Series races, but fell just short when he ran out of gas a few laps short of the checkered flag in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race, relegating him to a 11th-place finish. Both Busch and Harvick have won at Phoenix in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Conway will be attempting to make his Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series debuts. Conway is guaranteed a spot in the NNS race, the Cup and Trucks race, he needs to qualifying by speed to make the races.(11-11-2009)

  • RCR Promotes Joe Foss Institute's Veterans Program: Richard Childress Racing will run decals on its race cars this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway promoting the Joe Foss Institute's Veterans Inspiring Patriotism program. The Joe Foss Institute, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization inspired and founded by Medal of Honor Recipient, General Joe Foss and his wife, Didi Foss. Its vision is to encourage an informed patriotism and to be nationally recognized as the premier organization promoting patriotism through personal contact in schools and with youth groups. The Veteran's Inspiring Patriotism program is designed to inspire patriotism, public service, integrity and an appreciation for America's freedoms. The program's emphasis is on the freedoms, liberties and rights which are protected under the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. This educational program is designed for grades K-12 and consists of a 30-50 minute presentation that includes a video, a personal testimony from a veteran and a question & answer period. This program is delivered at no cost to schools and does not promote any political, religious or military organization or agenda. In addition, all schools are eligible to receive free American flags for their classrooms and copies of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. For more information visit www.jfiweb.org.(RCR)(11-7-2009)

  • Forsyth Tech names motorsports school after Childress: The motorsports technology program at Forsyth Technical Community College has been renamed Richard Childress Race Car Technology at Forsyth Tech. Richard Childress Racing has a long-standing relationship with Forsyth Tech and employs a number of its graduates. Forsyth Tech has been named a Center of Excellence for Motorsports by the North Carolina Motorsports Consortium. Childress was on-hand for the announcement held on the campus in Winston-Salem, N.C.(RCR PR)(10-28-2009)

  • Berrier to be Burton's new crew chief? UPDATE 2: Crew chief Todd Berrier has been mentioned as a candidate to replace Scott Miller on the #31 Chevy at Richard Childress Racing. Berrier is currently crew chief for RCR's #07 team.(FoxSports)(10-11-2009)
    UPDATE - decision on crew chief is near: #31-Jeff Burton met with members of the media at Lowe's Motor Speedway and discussed his thoughts on the status of his team: HOW CLOSE WOULD YOU SAY YOU GUYS ARE TO RESOLVING THE CREW CHIEF SITUATION ON THE #31 FOR NEXT YEAR? "We're real close. I don't have a definite date but we're real close to having all that figured out. There's a lot of things that are changing at RCR. There's a new way of doing business going into next year and in the midst of that crew chief search for the #31. We're really optimistic that we have that put to bed and we'll be able to talk about that fairly soon."(Chevy Racing)(10-16-2009)
    UPDATE 2: Richard Childress Racing continues to retool team leadership with its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series teams. Following this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, Todd Berrier will take over the crew chief duties of the #31 Caterpillar team with driver Jeff Burton while Doug Randolph assumes Berrier's duties on the #07 Jack Daniel's team with driver Casey Mears. Starting this week at Memphis Motorsports Park, Dan Deeringhoff will replace Randolph in his return to the #29 Holiday Inn team with drivers Burton, Clint Bowyer and Stephen Leicht in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Scott Miller, who has led the #31 team since 2005, will move fulltime to the director of competition position he was named to in September. Minimal changes will also be made among crew members for the #07 and #31 teams. The crew chief position for RCR's development program will be named later. "I said previously that RCR would continue to adjust our team lineups in order to have the right personnel in place and this is the next step in that process," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "Todd, Doug and Dan are all proven winners so the goal of these moves is to put them in the best situations to continue that success. I'm confident that making these changes now will be a benefit to the teams for the rest of this season as well as in preparing for 2010."
    Berrier's RCR career began as a fabricator in 1994. The Kernersville, N.C., native has earned 19 victories as a crew chief in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. He is one of a select few crew chiefs to post victories in all three series. He won the 2001 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship, the 2003 Brickyard 400 and the 2007 Daytona 500, all with driver Kevin Harvick.
    Randolph began his stock car racing career in 1984 and has been a crew chief in either the Sprint Cup Series or Nationwide Series since 2000. The Morristown, Tenn., native had earned two Nationwide Series victories, in 2003 with driver Scott Riggs, before joining RCR in May 2009. He has two Nationwide Series victories this season - July 3 at Daytona International Speedway and September 26 at Dover International Speedway - both with Bowyer behind the wheel. The #29 team is currently sixth in the 2009 owner point standings.
    Deeringhoff is in his second stint at RCR, where he has been a crew chief since December 2005. His first tour of duty began in 2001 and culminated in 2003 as the car chief for the #21 team that earned the Nationwide Series' owner championship with drivers Harvick and Johnny Sauter. The Walla Walla, Washington, native also led Bowyer and the #2 BB&T team to the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. He began the 2009 season as the crew chief for the #29 Holiday Inn team before assuming similar duties with RCR's driver development program in May.(RCR)(10-21-2009)

  • RCR making big changes; #07 team could go away: Team owner Richard Childress, speaking on Saturday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, addressed the struggles of Richard Childress Racing and the possible departure of Kevin Harvick when the driver's contract expires at the end of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. "All I've got to say is we are making a lot of changes," said Childress. "We'll probably be announcing more changes next week coming. We're using these last races to get prepared for 2010. We know we have to be better. We've seen some improvements. I think if you look, we've been up front with the different [RCR] cars in the last few weeks. This [new] car is very touchy and right now Hendrick [Motorsports] is right up on top of it. They've got it figured out for the most part. Kevin's going to be with us next year and [sponsor] Shell's going to be with us. "We'll just see how everything plays out in the future. I didn't see his interview [at California]. I've heard some comments on it but whatever happens, happens. We just move forward." Moving forward may not be an option with #07 entry of RCR's Casey Mears without sponsorship for 2010. The departure of Jack Daniel's, which has revealed its intentions to leave the company at the end of the season, leaves Mears without a sponsor. Without sponsorship in place by the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the #07 team will likely go away next season. "Right now we're meeting with companies. We've had several meetings," Childress said. "As you know, the economic times are tough right now for sponsorship. We've got interest in it. We're wanting to run it. We can't turn it into a park and start. I don't want to do that. We've got some sponsorship for a few races next year but to be competitive that isn't the way to do it, so we're kind of weighing our options to see what we're going to do." Childress seemed pleased with the progress of Mears, who joined the organization this season. Despite being 19th in the standings, Mears has notched three top-15s in his last four starts. "We're working hard," Childress said. "We're doing a lot of capital investments moving into next year on some new stuff. We're making changes in our personnel, we're going to be making more changes in the next weeks to come."(SceneDaily)(10-17-2009)

  • Burton says Harvick is expected to leave RCR: Richard Childress Racing driver #31-Jeff Burton acknowledged on Thursday that teammate #29-Kevin Harvick is expected to leave the company when his contract runs out at the end of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Burton, speaking at Lowe's Motor Speedway, was asked about Harvick's comments in a prerace television interview last Sunday at Auto Club Speedway where the 2007 Daytona 500 winner indicated he doesn't plan to compete for RCR beyond 2010. "I think that everybody is behaving in a very professional manner, and everybody is understanding that Kevin has a year left on his contract and he's going to do everything in his power to do the best job for RCR [and] RCR's going to do everything in their power to do their best job for him," Burton said. "[Teammate] Clint [Bowyer] and I are going to continue to work with Kevin the same way we always have, and I think we're going to work together better actually - not because he's leaving but because we need to. And things change. Kevin may look around eight months, 10 months from now and say, 'You know what: Things have really changed here, and I really think this is the place that we're going.' By his interview he indicated that wasn't going to happen, but you never know." Harvick, who has been with RCR's Cup program since being tabbed to replace Dale Earnhardt following the seven-time series champion's death on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, hasn't won a points-paying event since his Daytona 500 triumph in the 2007 season opener. Harvick missed the Chase this year and is 21st in the standings.(SceneDaily)(10-15-2009)

  • RCR Honors Fallen Winston-Salem Police Officer: Richard Childress Racing will run a memorial decal on its race cars [#'a 07,29,31,33 in Cup] this weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway in honor of Sgt. Mickey Hutchens, the Winston-Salem, N.C., police officer who passed away October 12, 2009, after being critically wounded October 7 in the line of duty. RCR will donate $1 to the Hutchens family for every mile completed by its four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams and one NASCAR Nationwide Series team. A total donation of $2,300 will be made if each team completes every lap, 500 miles per Sprint Cup Series team and 300 miles for the Nationwide Series team.(RCR)(10-15-2009)

  • Childress Honoring Chevy's Manufacturer's Championship: A decal honoring Chevy's 2009 Manufacturer's Championship in NASCAR's premier division will be affixed to all four Richard Childress Racing entries [#07, #29, #31, #33] for this weekend's Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway. Chevy earned its 33rd Manufacturer's crown when Tony Stewart won last weekend's Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway, and continues to lead all other manufacturers in the sport with the most championships. The congratulatory decals are prominently displayed on all RCR-prepared Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet's above the B post, directly behind the driver's name.(RCR PR)(10-10-2009)

  • RCR looking for first California win: Richard Childress Racing has earned a Sprint Cup Series victory at 18 of the 22 tracks on the 2009 schedule. The only tracks on the current schedule where RCR hasn't earned wins are Auto Club Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. Additionally, RCR has Sprint Cup Series wins at 21 tracks overall, including North Wilkesboro (N.C.), Riverside (Calif.) and Rockingham (N.C.) which are no longer on the schedule.(RCR PR)(10-8-2009)

  • Harvick to sport different colors at Kansas: Reese's, a major associate sponsor of RCR's #29 Chevy that Kevin Harvick drives, kicks into high gear this weekend in Kansas as Harvick and the #29 team transform their bright yellow-and-red Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet into a bright orange Reese's racing machine for the Price Chopper 400. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are peanut butter-filled chocolate cups. They were created in 1928 by H.B. Reese, a former dairy farmer and foreman for Milton S. Hershey. The H.B. Reese Candy Co., established in the basement of Reese's house in Hershey, Pa., went on to merge with The Hershey Company in 1963 due to the popularity of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Today, Reese's has become the No. 1 selling candy bar in the United States and the Reese's brand is the most successful brand owned by The Hershey Company.(RCR), see images of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(10-1-2009)

  • Harvick to meet with firefighter foundation: Prior to Sunday's AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway, #29-Kevin Harvick will make an appearance in Dover International Speedway's Hospitality Tent Village to meet members of the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation. This marks the second year the track is hosting members of the organization at an NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. The NFFF exists to help the families and colleagues of the nearly 100 firefighters who lose their lives in the line of duty each year across the country. Harvick's father, Mike, is a retired firefighter.(RCR)(9-24-2009)

  • PRS Guitars donates guitars to drivers: This year's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 marks the fifth year that one winning NASCAR driver will walk away with a four foot tall, fifty pound trophy custom designed and built by PRS [Paul Reed Smith] Guitars from Stevensville, Maryland. In addition, this year six drivers will leave the track with their own PRS guitar that will help aid many more people down the road.
    Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Clint Bowyer have each won a race in Richmond under the domain of Chevrolet. To honor their success and their efforts, PRS held a special press conference Friday at Richmond International Raceway, during which PRS President, Jack Higginbotham presented the aforementioned drivers with a PRS Corvette guitar for their individual charities. Jack Higginbotham, President of Paul Reed Smith Guitars, said, "It is our hope that each of these guitars will develop its own story and have a positive effect on the lives of others. Whether it is cancer research, shelter for the needy or assistance for underprivileged children, each driver has a passion for their cause, and we are honored to help them in their mission."
    PRS's extensive involvement in racing began with a sponsorship of the world dominating factory Corvette C6.r racing team in 2003. During the past six years, PRS's involvement in racing has ranged from being a part of large-scale NASCAR events to its own grassroots "Laps For Life" charity event helping support the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland.(PRS Guitars site)(9-12-2009)

  • RCR cars to honor Fallen Heroes of 9/11: A decal honoring the fallen heroes of 9/11 from the City of New York Police Department, the City of New York Fire Department and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is affixed to the five Richard Childress Racing entries [4 Sprint Cup, 1 NNS] in this weekend's NASCAR races at Richmond International Raceway. Police Officer Victor Dipierro, of the NYPD's 47th Precinct, has provided the Fallen Heroes decals to RCR each year since 2003 to mark the anniversary of the World Trade Center tragedy. Part of the 47th Precinct's 9/11 Memorial contains sections of sheet metal from the three RCR cars which carried the decals in the Fall 2003 race at Richmond International Raceway.(RCR)(9-12-2009)

  • Kevin's Krew to meet students: #29-Kevin Harvick is scheduled to meet with 40 students from local high schools in Victory Lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Sunday, September 6, before the running of the Pep Boys Auto 500. The group is part of "Kevin's Krew," a Shell-supported program designed to reach underprivileged and at-risk students and expose them to the racing industry. The students, who normally wouldn't have the opportunity to go to a NASCAR event, are treated to a unique experience while attending a Sprint Cup Series race. Started by Colton, Calif. Police Officer Todd Smith two years ago, the "Kevin's Krew" program has expanded this year to eight events. In addition to this weekend's race, "Kevin's Krew" events were held at Auto Club Speedway, Infineon Raceway and Michigan International Speedway earlier this season. The remaining events for 2009 include; California Speedway on October 11, Lowe's Motor Speedway on October 17, Texas Motor Speedway on November 8 and Phoenix International Raceway on November 17.(RCR)(9-3-2009)

  • RCR reorganizes management: Richard Childress Racing has reorganized the management of its competition department to provide its race teams and sponsors with consistent improvement in on-track performance. "This reorganization is the result of a process that took place over the past few months to improve our performance," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "On-track performance is the lifeblood of RCR and everything we do is impacted by how competitive our cars are week-in and week-out. Our common goal remains the same: win races and compete for championships. The creation of these new processes and priorities, with greater accountability, will improve our performance and every aspect of our organization. "
    Mike Dillon retains his position as vice president of competition, but with revised responsibilities. His primary focus will continue to be competition department oversight. He reports directly to Childress.
    Scott Miller, crew chief for RCR's #31 Caterpillar Racing team with driver Jeff Burton in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been named to the revised position of director of competition. His primary responsibility is oversight of the key areas of race car performance: speed, handling and durability. Miller reports directly to Dillon and will continue his dual responsibilities until the conclusion of the 2009 season. The crew chief position for the #31 team will be filled at a later date.
    Kent Day, RCR's technical director of competition, now reports directly to Miller. Day's primary responsibility is in setting the technical direction of race car development.
    Will Lind, an employee of RCR since 1982 and the director of competition the past two seasons, will assume the new role of business director of competition. Lind will continue to report directly to Dillon.
    "Scott's experience as a team engineer and a crew chief gives him a solid foundation in both disciplines and provides a unique perspective on the direction the sport is taking from the competition side," said Childress. "We've also shifted some responsibilities in other areas of the competition department to maximize performance and efficiency. RCR has some of the best people in the business and they will only become better by working within this new structure."(RCR)(9-2-2009)

  • Harvick returning to the #29 in 2010: Kevin Harvick will drive Richard Childress Racing's #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy in 2010 for his 10th season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series despite rumors to the contrary. "Rumors about Kevin not driving for RCR next season have been flying around the garage area and in the media," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "We want to put the rumors behind us by stating together that Kevin will drive RCR's #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. RCR continues to work on the overall performance of the No. 29 team, like we are with all of our teams, and the plan is to end the season on a high note. Kevin and the No. 29 team are also preparing for next season with the goal of making a run at the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship."(RCR PR)(8-31-2009)

  • Changes at RCR? Changes are coming at Richard Childress Racing. "We're getting ready to make a lot of changes to hopefully change [the performance]," Team owner Richard Childress said last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. He wouldn't get any more specific, but those close to the situation said there will be some major restructuring announced early this week that hopefully will improve performance. The organization already has made some changes within the teams to put the best at-the-track personnel with Clint Bowyer, the only one of RCR's four drivers with a shot at the Chase. Bowyer is 15th in points, 112 points out with two races remaining before the field is set. Jeff Burton is 18th, Casey Mears is 20th and Kevin Harvick is 24th. Childress has already switched the crew chiefs of Harvick and Mears in an attempt to improve performance, so any further changes likely will come in a shakeup of managerial or engineering structure.(ESPN)(8-24-2009)

  • NASCAR Drivers Help Assemble Care Packages For Military: Some seven hours before Saturday night's Sharpie 500, NASCAR drivers #07-Casey Mears and #31-Jeff Burton weren't thinking about how they would travel the fine line between making their living and risking their lives. Rather, Mears and Burton were inside a bustling Jack Daniel's tent some 500 yards outside the Bristol Motor Speedway, helping more than 100 volunteers pack 10,000 huge plastic bags of supplies - lotion, tissue, trail mix, shaving razors, puzzle books, cotton swabs, camouflage pouches, candy, raisins, beef jerky, packets of powdered orange drink and more - bound for American military troops serving overseas. In the hours before the Sharpie 500, Mears and Burton weren't obsessing over how to win a race and lift their arms in victory. Rather, they were making a sacrifice - of time, attention and hands - to lift the morale of those far away, bearing arms in combat. "It means something to me to do this, because I know how much getting these means to those soldiers," Mears said, stuffing items, one after another, into bags that kept steadily coming his way. Added Burton: "Spending some time doing this doesn't compare to the work those troops are putting in over there. So, I don't feel like this is a sacrifice for me at all. If it is one, I'm happy to make it."(Bristol Herald Courier)(8-23-2009)


    To be displayed on the RCR
    cars at Watkins Glen

  • #07 to honor Jack Daniel's Master Distiller: Jimmy Bedford, former Master Distiller for Jack Daniel's, passed away suddenly on Friday, Aug. 7, at his home in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Bedford is one of only seven Master Distiller's the company has ever had; a position he held for 20 years from 1988 to 2008. Bedford, 69, was born and raised in Moore County, the home of Jack Daniel's, and worked for the distillery for 41 years. In his memory, the Old #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy, driven by Casey Mears, will carry a special decal with the famous Jack Daniel's logo on it for this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International. In addition to the logo, the decal will say "In Memory of Jimmy Bedford." The other three Sprint Cup Series cars of Richard Childress Racing; Kevin Harvick in the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet, Jeff Burton in the #31 Caterpillar Chevy and Clint Bowyer in the #33 Hamburger Helper/Cheerios Chevy, will carry a black and white decal [see above] with the saying "In Memory of Jimmy Bedford."(RCR)(8-8-2009)

  • "In My Own Words: Kevin Harvick" Special airs on SportSouth: Richard Childress Racing driver Kevin Harvick traces the history of his career in a new special that debuted on SportSouth, Friday, July 31. "In My Own Words: Kevin Harvick" is a 30-minute interview special focused on the 33 year-old driver, who pilots the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The special chronicles how a kid from a blue-collar background in Bakersfield, California, began racing go-karts at age five, and developed his passion for cars into a successful racing career. Produced by SportSouth Originals, the interview portion of the special was filmed in January at the RCR shops in Welcome, N.C. "In My Own Words: Kevin Harvick" debuts on SportSouth, Friday, July 31 at 11pm/et, with additional airings on August 1 at 1pm/et, August 2 at 11:30am/et, August 16 at 7pm/et and August 22 at 7pm/et.(RCR)(8-1-2009)

  • Harvick in 2010...."focused on this weekend": #29-Kevin Harvick sat on a stack of tires outside his garage stall at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday willing to talk about what has been the most frustrating season of his Sprint Cup career. He was not ready to commit to driving for Richard Childress Racing next season. Despite a contract and sponsorship that runs through 2010 and a statement by owner Richard Childress that he expects both deals to be honored, Harvick went out of his way to be noncommittal. Here's a snapshot of how ESPN's David Newton's interview with Harvick went:
    Q: What are your plans for the future?
    A: "Right now we're focused on this week. We have a good car this weekend and the focus is on this weekend's race."
    Q: You talked to Childress this past week. What kind of conclusion did you guys come to?
    A: "Our focus is we brought a new car here and everything has gone well since we unloaded it. Our focus is to do what we need to do on the track and go from there."
    Q: Childress says you two are all good for next season. Is that correct?
    A: "I think everybody has talked."
    Q: Have you asked out of your contract?
    A: "We're focused on this weekend."
    Q: Do you want to be at RCR in the future?
    A: "Right now we're here to race and do what we need to do from a driver's standpoint. Everybody is working well together. ... Right now I'm the driver of the Shell Pennzoil #29 RCR Chevy. That's my job and that's what I intend to focus on. All the rest of that stuff will take care of itself."
    Q: Will you be at RCR next year?
    A: "All of us drivers and crew chiefs, we're not going to drag this thing through the mud. We're going to put our heads down and make it as good as we can."
    Q: I know you're not happy with the performance of the team, but are you happy with RCR?
    A: "That's the same question, just a different way of asking it. We're all focused on a week-to-week basis on what we need to do at the racetrack. Nothing has changed from that point."
    Q: You easily could say you'll be back next season. Why not?
    A: "I told you, we're here to race this weekend and do the best we can, and we'll continue to do that on a week-to-week basis."
    He reportedly is interested in moving to Stewart-Haas Racing and joining Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman, two of his closest friends in the garage. If Harvick doesn't want out, this could be his way of trying to force Childress to elevate the performance of the entire organization that has no driver in the Chase hunt after putting three in the past two seasons. All that's known for sure is that Harvick is focused on this weekend. "Richard and I, no matter what happens in the end, Richard and I will always be friends," Harvick said. "We have gone through a lot of good times and hopefully we'll go through a lot of great times together as we go forward."(ESPN)(7-26-2009)

  • Harvick wants out at RCR? UPDATE RCR Statement Kevin Harvick has told Richard Childress he would like to leave after this season, according to multiple sources. Harvick has one year remaining on his contract with RCR, but the Shell/Pennzoil sponsorship deal on the #29 Chvey ends at the end of this season, and Harvick is trying to move with it to Stewart-Haas. Tony Stewart has said his team is interested in running a third car in Sprint Cup in 2010. Childress is in a tough spot. He could hold Harvick to the contract and try to re-sign Shell/Pennzoil, but in a performance-based business, the Stewart-Haas option, undoubtedly, is more appealing to the gas and oil company. If Shell/Penzoil decides to leave, Childress has to find $15 million to $20 million in sponsorship to replace it -- a very difficult prospect in this economy. Harvick would also bring additional Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series capability to the organization, joining the JR Motorsports operation owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick. Kevin Harvick Inc. competes in both series.(Sports Illustrated)(7-14-2009)
    UPDATE: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, regarding recent reports about RCR team sponsor Shell-Pennzoil and Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet Impala SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: "Richard Childress Racing has a multi-year contract with Shell-Pennzoil that includes the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Shell-Pennzoil remains a great partner for RCR and Kevin Harvick as well as our sport overall. RCR also has a multi-year contract with Kevin Harvick that includes the 2010 season. That said, Shell will be the sponsor and Kevin will be the driver of RCR's No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet Impala SS in 2010."(RCR site)
    UPDATE 2:Richard Childress Racing driver Kevin Harvick would like to be released from the final year of his contract that expires in 2010, a source close to the situation said on Wednesday. "He's making that evident," the source said. The SI.com report said Shell's contract expires after this season, but multiple sources told ESPN.com the deal runs through 2010. Sources added that it is unlikely RCR owner Richard Childress would let both the driver and sponsor go, particularly in today's economic climate. A spokesman for Harvick had no comment when contacted by ESPN.com.(ESPN)(7-15-2009)

  • Taylor Earnhardt Completes First Runs in RCR #3 Chevy: Taylor Earnhardt, daughter of Dale and Teresa Earnhardt, completed two hillclimb runs in the first day of the 17th annual Goodwood Festival of Speed driving the Richard Childress Racing #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy. The Goodwood Festival of Speed is held on the grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex, a place of significant British motorsports history. This year's gathering includes a number of NASCAR stock cars in honor of the 50th anniversary of Daytona International Speedway that will participate in both demonstration and competition runs up the nine-turn, 1.16-mile hillclimb circuit. The car was prepared and is being taken care of at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by former #3 team crew members Danny Lawrence and Rich Burgess. Lawrence is currently the assistant head engine builder/trackside manager for Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines and Burgess is the shop manager for RCR's #31 Caterpillar team in the NSCS.(RCR PR)(7-4-2009)

  • Different look for Harvick at Daytona: Instead of the usual yellow and red Shell-Pennzoil colors, Kevin Harvick's #29 RCR Chevy will carry a special silver design in this weekend's Coke Zero 400 to promote Pennzoil Platinum. Pennzoil Platinum is full synthetic engine oil with superior Active Cleansing Agents that continuously attacks potential and stubborn deposits to help keep the engine clean. Pennzoil Platinum is designed to provide the ultimate cleansing under the most severe driving style or conditions to maximize engine responsiveness.(RCR), see image of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(7-2-2009)

  • RCR #3 Chevy to Participate in Goodwood Festival: UPDATE: The Richard Childress Racing #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy that seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt earned his 76th and final victory in will participate in this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed in England on July 3-5, 2009. Taylor Earnhardt, 20, Earnhardt's youngest child, will drive the car in demonstration runs during the three-day festival. It is her inaugural turn behind the wheel of a stock car. She will be accompanied by her mother, Teresa Earnhardt, president and CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., founded in 1980 with her legendary husband. The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual event held since 1993 at the Goodwood House in West Sussex, a place of great British motorsports history. Race cars old and new will participate in both demonstration and competition runs up the nine-turn 1.16-mile hillclimb circuit. This year's gathering will include a number of NASCAR stock cars in honor of the 50th anniversary of Daytona International Speedway. The car was prepared by and will be cared for at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by former #3 team crew members Danny Lawrence and Rich Burgess. Lawrence is currently the assistant head engine builder/trackside manager for Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines and Burgess is the shop manager for RCR's #31 Caterpillar team in the NSCS.(RCR)
    AND: and a couple drivers with NASCAR connections will attend the festival with Mike Skinner driving a Red Bull Racing Toyota and Rusty Wallace in a NASCAR Dodge Charger. More info on the festival at goodwood.co.uk.(6-30-2009)
    UPDATE: Four cars and drivers with NASCAR connections will participate the annual Festival of Speed at Goodwood Estate in West Sussex, England. Held since 1993, the Festival celebrates historic cars from all forms of racing. The three-day event, hosted by the Earl of March at his family's estate, features a 1.16-mile hill-climbing competition for all classes and types of race cars and motorcycles, plus a 2.5-kilometer course for historic rally cars. This year's Festival runs from July 3-5.
    Four NASCAR teams will participate in the three-day event - Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Team Red Bull and Rusty Wallace Inc.
    Landon Cassill, the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year, will drive Hendrick Motorsports' "T-Rex" - the then-revolutionary #24 chassis that four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon drove to victory in the 1998 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
    Taylor Earnhardt, the 20-year-old daughter of seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, will drive the #3 Richard Childress Racing chassis that her father drove to his last career win in October 2000.
    Rusty Wallace Inc., is sending its namesake - 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace, whose organization currently fields two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams. Also an ESPN commentator, Wallace will drive a #2 chassis fielded by his long-time former team, Penske Racing.
    Mike Skinner, the 1995 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, will drive a former NASCAR Sprint Cup chassis fielded by Team Red Bull, for whom he's driven on a part-time basis while competing full time for another NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title.
    Cassill, Earnhardt, Wallace and Skinner are among this year's Festival-record 103 drivers and riders. Also attending the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed: Jim Hunter, NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications. Hunter has over 40 years of experience in the sport, as a journalist, promoter, track president and administrator.(NASCAR)(7-2-2009)

  • Shell to Hendrick? Rick Hendrick may be in the running for the lucrative Shell-Pennzoil sponsorship for 2010, according to sources in the NASCAR garage. Car owner Richard Childress is in the third season of Shell sponsorship, but he has said little about the contract or any negotiations. Hendrick has had a long-standing sponsorship relationship with Quaker State, which is owned by Shell. If Shell were to move from the Childress camp to the Hendrick camp, it would apparently go on Mark Martin's car. NASCAR executives are expected to discuss the full range of sponsorship issues with key car owners and drivers in next week's planned annual post-Daytona 400 'seminar.' That private retreat each July was started by the late Bill France Jr., to get an inside look at the state of the sport from the owners' perspective.(MikeMulhern.net)(6-28-2009)

  • RCR to scale back to two teams? UPDATE - Statement: There is speculation that Chevy team owner Richard Childress may have to cut back to a two-car operation next season, if the Shell [#29-Harvick] and Jack Daniels [#07-Casey Mears] sponsorships are not renewed. Childress says he intends to have four Cup teams again next year, but conceded sponsorship issues remain to be resolved. Childress, through the Winston-Salem law firm Womble, Carlyle, has filed legal papers over what he says is GM's non-payment of a bill of $2,538,750. Childress insists he's not suing GM over its failure to make that payment due June 15th. That bill would apparently be a scheduled quarterly payment, part of a $10 million a year Chevrolet sponsorship for Childress' four-team operation.(mikemulhern.net)(6-22-2009) UPDATE: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing regarding allegations that RCR has filed a lawsuit against General Motors: "I would like to set the record straight that RCR has NOT filed a lawsuit against General Motors and I do not appreciate anyone suggesting otherwise. As is standard practice in bankruptcy proceedings, RCR has made a filing which is common among creditors in these situations. As previously stated as recently as this past weekend in Sonoma, RCR is proud to be associated with General Motors and we are working closely with them during these difficult economic times."(RCR)(6-23-2009)

  • Richard Childress Statement about General Motors: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, regarding cutbacks by General Motors: "Richard Childress Racing is proud to be associated with General Motors and Chevrolet. I've been driving Chevys since I ran a Camaro in Talladega's first Cup race in 1969 and I look forward to continuing that relationship. I've been fortunate to see some of the great new products General Motors has to offer, vehicles with great fuel mileage and styling. I've recently purchased a new Corvette and a Camaro and they're two of the finest cars I've ever driven. RCR is honored to help showcase GM products to help sell them in the dealerships. These difficult economic times have forced all of us to evaluate our budgets closer than ever but I can assure you that this will not affect our competition on the track."(RCR)(6-20-2009)

  • How much does GM pay to teams? While no one is saying how much General Motors is cutting its financial support from teams, at least one court document puts a price tag on it. Try $2,538,750. And that's to one Cup team. A court document [click to view pdf] shows that GM was to have paid RCR Enterprises, LLC (i.e. Richard Childress Racing) that amount on June 15. Childress spoke Friday at Infineon Raceway about the GM situation. Asked if he received his June 15 payment from GM, Childress said: "That's kind of personal. I didn't ask you if you got your paycheck this week.'' If nothing else, that gives you a sense of some of the money that's out there and involved in this sport. Childress would not reveal what kind of cutbacks GM is making with his team. Asked if he would have to lay anyone off, Childress said: "I don't know really what all is going to happen. We're going to have to make cuts like everybody in the sport or in business. We don't want to cut performance. For sure, we're not going to cut performance. We'll cut a lot of other things before that.''(Virginian-Pilot)(6-20-2009)

  • Richard Childress Elected to NRA Board of Directors" NASCAR championship-winning team owner Richard Childress [#'s 07,29,31,33] realized a long-time dream when he was recently elected to the board of directors of the National Rifle Association. The NRA Board of Directors is elected by the Association's four million members and has a broad spectrum of constituents with varying backgrounds, from law enforcement to competitive shooting, political activists to elected officials. Notable NRA Board members include Lt. Col. Oliver North, Karl Malone, Ted Nugent and Tom Selleck. The Board of Directors oversees the policies and programs developed by the organization. Childress, of Clemmons, N.C., is a lifelong supporter of the Second Amendment, a big-game hunter and an outdoor conservationist. The 12-time NASCAR championship-winning team owner is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Grand Slam Club/Ovis (Grand Slam #901). He was named a Board Member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation in 2008. Childress works with local, state and national agencies on wildlife/outdoor conservation efforts and many related charities. He worked with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in 2000 to reintroduce an elk herd into North Carolina for the first time in 200 years. His family recently teamed with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center to create the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma.(RCR)(6-5-2009)

  • Career start 300 for Harvick: #29-Kevin Harvick will make his 300th-career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start this weekend at Pocono Raceway. Dating back to February 26, 2001 the Bakersfield, Calif., native has earned 11 wins, five poles, 58 top-five (19.3%) and 122 top-10 finishes (40.8%) in NSCS competition, in addition to one win each in both the Sprint All-Star Race (2007) and the Budweiser Shootout (2009). He has led 2,991 laps and earned close to $53 million in purse money. Over those 299 starts, Harvick has logged a 17.9 starting average and a 15.6 finishing average. The 11-time Sprint Cup Series winner has been running at the finish in 285 of those 299 races and finished on the lead lap 193 times.(RCR)(6-4-2009)

  • Harvick wins Pennzoil Victory Challenge: Shell-Pennzoil's own #29-Kevin Harvick emerged victorious in the second annual Pennzoil Victory Challenge held on the front stretch of Lowe's Motor Speedway prior to Saturday's All-Star events. Harvick claimed the $10,000 prize which will be donated to his charity of choice, the Victory Junction Gang Camp. A competition that pits some of NASCAR's top drivers against one another, the Pennzoil Victory Challenge was created to showcase each driver's best celebratory skills. This year's format allowed the drivers a longer freestyle demonstration without a specific course to run. Each driver took their turn in identically prepared Jeff Gordon Racing School stock cars and had 30 seconds to complete their respective runs. An all-star line-up that included Shell-Pennzoil driver Kevin Harvick, defending Pennzoil Victory Challenge champion Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon and former Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip, the Pennzoil Victory Challenge proved once again to be exciting and a fan favorite. A new facet to the 2009 Challenge included a panel of celebrity judges featuring 16-time World Wrestling Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair, NFL All-Pro wide receiver Randy Moss, SPEED's own Jimmy Spencer, NASCAR spokesperson Kevin Costner plus Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of the award-winning country music group - Montgomery Gentry. Harvick was the second driver to take to the course and earned 58 out of a total of 60 possible points claiming this year's trophy. Kasey Kahne claimed the second position with Clint Bowyer coming in third. Four-time champion Jeff Gordon finished fourth with last year's winner Gregg Biffle rounding out the top-five. Kyle Busch and Darrell Waltrip were both disqualified after Waltrip went off course and Busch knocked down the Pennzoil pillars along the course, much to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd.(Pennzoil)(5-17-2009)

  • Pennzoil colors for Harvick: Kevin Harvick's #29 Chevy will sport a different look for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The 2007 All-Star race winner will transform his bright yellow and red Shell-Pennzoil Chevy into a special yellow Pennzoil Chevy. Pennzoil has been a sponsor in virtually every form of motorsports since the brand appeared as a sponsor of Russell Snowberger's Indianapolis 500 race entry in the 1930's.(RCR), see an image of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page(5-14-2009)

  • RCR Kicks off 40th Anniversary Celebration Where it All Began: What began in September 1969 as a stroke of good fortune for a young driver with a dream has become one of the more storied franchises in sports history. Richard Childress Racing launched its 40th anniversary celebration today at Talladega Superspeedway, the track where Richard Childress made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut and where good fortune shined on his racing destiny. The RCR 40th Anniversary Celebration will continue through Nov. 1, 2009, the length of time between the two Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega. The cornerstone of the program will include the Pick the Greatest RCR Moment contest on RCR's website, where fans will vote on one of a dozen great moments in RCR history, with one lucky fan winning RCR's VIP prize package for two to the Oct. 30-Nov. 1 AMP Energy 500 weekend. "I've been very fortunate in my racing career and I look forward to giving something back to the fans and sharing with them some of the great stories from the past 40 years," explained Childress. "Talladega has always been a special place to me, from Mr. France (Bill France Sr.) allowing me to get my first Cup Series start there to some of the great runs Dale (Earnhardt) had to trying to win the race here this weekend. It just made sense to kick things off at Talladega. I'm looking forward to spending time with the winner of the Pick the Greatest RCR Moment contest in October." Additional activities during the RCR 40th Anniversary Celebration will include a monthly breakdown of RCR highlights, from Childress' driving career to the halcyon days with the legendary Dale Earnhardt and the famed black #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolets to the current six-team operation with drivers Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer, Casey Mears, Stephen Leicht and Austin Dillon. The Winston-Salem, N.C., native started 26th and finished 23rd in that first Talladega race. Childress drove a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro after competing in the same car the day before in a support race for the inaugural event at what was then known as Alabama International Motor Speedway. He only competed in the race when NASCAR founder Bill France asked him to help fill the field after the regular series drivers refused to drive on the brand new 2.66-mile high-banked facility. Childress invested the money he made that weekend in a small piece of land where he built a race shop and, as is so often said, the rest is history.(RCR PR)(4-25-2009)

  • Fan to ride with Harvick in Pennzoil Victory Challenge: Pennzoil is taking the excitement around the 2009 Pennzoil Victory Challenge to an even higher level by allowing one lucky fan the chance of a lifetime to ride shotgun with Kevin Harvick in the 2009 Pennzoil Victory Challenge. The second annual event is set for May 16, 2009 at Lowe's Motor Speedway (LMS) as part of the Sprint All-Star Race pre-event festivities. The Pennzoil Victory Challenge is NASCAR's version of a "slam dunk contest" however this contest features the sport's top talent showing off their abilities in post-race-win celebrations in classic NASCAR smoking donut style. The driver lineup has been expanded from five drivers to seven, and like in 2008, each driver will compete in identically prepared stock cars. However, this year the new format allows each driver a longer freestyle demonstration and the panel of judges will score their creativity. The driver with the highest score from the panel will be declared the winner, with $10,000 awarded to their designated charity and a reserved spot in the 2010 Pennzoil Victory Challenge. Joining the first driver announced, #29-Kevin Harvick, will be #16-Greg Biffle (winner of the 2008 Pennzoil Victory Challenge), #24-Jeff Gordon, #33-Clint Bowyer, #18-Kyle Busch and #9-Kasey Kahne. The Pennzoil Victory Challenge will be televised live during SPEED's pre-race coverage on Saturday, May 16th prior to the NASCAR Sprint Showdown and NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.(4-25-2009)

  • Current longest-tenured driver/crew chief pairings:
    After the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Saturday, Richard Childress Racing will swap crews and crew chiefs on the #07 & #29 teams, bringing and end to the second longest current driver/crew chief combination.
    Driver / Crew Chief: Start Date
    #48-Jimmie Johnson / Chad Knaus: October 2001
    #29-Kevin Harvick / Todd Berrier*: March 2003*
    #24-Jeff Gordon / Steve Letarte: September 2005
    #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. / Tony Eury, Jr.:September 2005
    #11-Denny Hamlin / Mike Ford: October 2005
    #31-Jeff Burton / Scott Miller: November 2005
    * - Ending after Sunday's race at Talladega
    (Sports Illustrated)(4-24-2009)

  • RCR 40th Anniversary Announcement: Richard Childress Racing has scheduled a press conference for Saturday, April 25, at 9:30am in the infield media center at Talladega Superspeedway. The press conference will kick off RCR's 40th anniversary celebration that will conclude at the fall races in Talladega, where Childress made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in 1969 in the track's inaugural event.(RCR PR)(4-23-2009)

  • RCR Swap Crew Chiefs and Crews of #29 & #07 Teams: Richard Childress Racing's #07 Jack Daniel's crew will become the #29 Shell-Pennzoil crew, and vice versa, immediately following this weekend's race at Talladega Superspeedway. Crew chief Gil Martin and his crew will move to the #29 team with driver Kevin Harvick while Todd Berrier and his crew will take over the #07 team with driver Casey Mears. In addition to the crew chiefs, the transition will include car chiefs, engineers, shock specialists, engine tuners, tire specialists, mechanics, transporter drivers and over-the-wall pit crews. Harvick and Mears, who will maintain their race spotters, are currently 16th and 22nd, respectively, in the Sprint Cup Series point standings after eight races. "The decision to interchange the 29 and 07 teams was made to make both programs stronger and more successful," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "Our main objective has always been to have all four of RCR's teams qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Neither team has had the success this season that we know they're capable of, so we decided it was time to make a change to improve the two teams and the overall strength of RCR. We feel this change positions us to achieve that goal. Todd and Gil are proven winners who have strong and successful teams behind them. Chemistry is an important part of any successful organization and I felt it was time to change the makeup of these two teams. We've done this before with positive results."(RCR PR)(4-22-2009)

  • Harvick visits Luke Air Force Base: #29-Kevin Harvick, on Thursday, visited hundreds of airmen at Luke Air Force Base. Harvick, partially sponsored by the Veteran of Foreign Wars, plays a key role in the Salute to the Military program at Phoenix International Raceway that began four years ago. In Thursday's visit to the base, Harvick answered questions from the fans and signed autographs. "We've been fortunate to have a relationship with the VFW, and we've been able to do a lot of things like this," said Harvick, also a team owner in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series. "Today, it's obviously great to be a part of the people who make it happen for us to live our lives how we're able to live them. So we're all pretty fortunate to live in a country like we do, and to be able to support the people who make the sacrifices to make sure we have that is pretty neat just to be a part of." Col. Henry Reed was grateful for Harvick's presence and involvement. "It really connects our airmen in a sport that is generally very, very popular amongst military, so whenever we get the opportunity to have a great driver like Kevin come out and interact with our airmen and their families, sign autographs, talks to their kids and answer questions, it's a great morale boost," he said. "You add into the fact that PIR and VFW gave us 2,000 tickets for these airmen . . . I'm continually amazed by the outstanding community support that we have here at Luke, and we're blessed to have it." PIP President Bryan Sperber said supporting the military and giving back to the community is a common theme of NASCAR: "I can tell you every driver and their teams, in their own way, support the U.S. military even when the cameras aren't there. The entire sport is so proud of the job the U.S. military does, and it's very easy for us to want to do everything that we can to say thank you and support them."(Arizona Republic)(4-17-2009)

  • Motor oil recycling featured on Harvick's car: To help spread the word about the importance of used motor oil recycling, Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and Pennzoil are working together to raise awareness around the Pennzoil Clean Change Campaign in a special way. This Saturday, as Americans look forward to Earth Day, the deck lid of Kevin Harvick's #29 Shell-Pennzoil car will feature the Pennzoil Clean Change Campaign logo and web site during the Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. The Pennzoil Clean Change Campaign is a nationwide initiative that encourages Do-It-Yourself oil changers to recycle their used motor oil and help maintain a clean environment. Improper disposal of the used oil from just one oil change can potentially contaminate up to one million gallons of drinking water. It is estimated that 185 million gallons of used motor oil is improperly disposed of each year in the U.S. -- dumped on the ground, tossed in the trash or poured down storm sewers and drains. Use of the deck lid during the April 18th NASCAR Sprint Cup race is just a part of the Pennzoil Clean Change efforts continuing throughout the year to help raise awareness of the importance of recycling used motor oil. Throughout the season, RCR and Pennzoil hope to gather more than 100,000 online pledges.(RCR/Pennzoil PR)(4-16-2009)

  • Harvick set at RCR Thru 2010: #29-Kevin Harvick says rumors of his imminent free agency are greatly exaggerated. Although mentioned recently as a driver up for grabs after this season, "I have another year on my contract after this year [with Richard Childress Racing], so I'm not in the middle of all that stuff this year," Harvick said. "So you can go ahead and check my name off that list. We have an extension in my contract that we signed about a year and a half ago. It goes through 2010."(ESPN Insider)(3-31-2009)

  • Congrats: Two members of the #29 Shell-Pennzoil RCR team of Kevin Harvick have recently welcomed new additions to their respective families. Shock specialist Chris Chase is the proud parent of twin girls, Hayden and Addison, born on Feb. 27. Engine tuner John Goodwin is the father of a baby girl, Ella Grace, born on March 12.(RCR PR)(3-18-2009)

  • Realtree's Bill Jordan to Drive in Celebrity/Legends Race at Bristol: Realtree Founder and President Bill Jordan will drive a Team Realtree car, furnished by Richard Childress Racing, in the first annual Scotts Saturday Night Special Celebrity/Legends Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Jordan's role in the race is to run the first 15 laps against other celebrities to determine the starting positions for the legendary NASCAR drivers, who will complete the remaining 35 laps of the 50-lap event. Jordan's NASCAR legends teammate will be Terry Labonte. Jordan and Labonte's honorary pit crew will be comprised of current NASCAR drivers, many of whom hunt with Jordan and appear on the Driven to Hunt television show on ESPN2. These pit crew members will include Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer, and Martin Truex, Jr. RCR president and CEO Richard Childress will serve as Jordan's spotter during the race. The First Annual Scotts Saturday Night Special Celebrity/Legends Race will air live on March 21 on ESPN2 following the completion of the Scotts Turf Builder 300 Nationwide Series race and will be followed by a 100-lap UARA late model event. Drivers will compete in late-model stock cars and $25,000 will be donated to the winning team's charity of choice. The second-place team will have $10,000 given to the charity of its choice and $5,000 will go to the designated charity of the other entrants. Tickets, which include all three races, start at $45 and are available by calling the BMS ticket office at 423-989-6900 or by visiting www.bristoltix.com.(RCR PR)(3-14-2009)

  • Philanthropists support the Childress Institute: News of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma and its needs has touched the hearts of many generous donors who have recently made significant contributions. Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has announced a $1 million commitment from John L. Morris, founder and chief executive officer of Bass Pro Shops, to the Childress Institute. An additional $1 million pledge has been made by an anonymous private family foundation. Another recent gift was made by the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Foundation, established by Eddie Smith, owner and CEO of Grady-White Boats Inc., of Greenville, N.C. The Smith Foundation made a $250,000 commitment to the Institute for research and expansion of programs in pediatric trauma care. To date, contributors have given nearly $2 million to the Childress Institute, and pledges total almost $8.5 million. On July 30, 2008, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and the Richard Childress family announced the formation of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. The Childress Institute's mission is to significantly improve survival rates of children nationwide who suffer serious injuries and reduce the lifelong impact of traumatic injuries in children. Richard Childress and his family have provided $5 million to the Medical Center to initiate the project. Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and the Childress family are working with corporations and individuals to raise awareness and an additional $20 million to establish the Institute's endowment fund. For more information on the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma visit www.childresspediatrictrauma.org.(RCR PR)(3-7-2009)

  • No blown engine for Harvick UPDATE: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines employees discovered a punctured oil filter on the engine of Kevin Harvick's #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy after hard contact with the outside wall of Auto Club Speedway on lap 208. The filter was replaced and the engine restarted but the damage done to the car prevented the team from returning to the race and ending Harvick's DNF streak at 81 [3 short of the all-time record].(RCR PR)
    UPDATE: Kevin Harvick's modern era streak of completing 81 races in a row ended at California, but Harvick tells PRN's Garagepass it didn't have to happen. Harvick said, "The bad thing about the DNF streak is that the car was actually functional to go back on the racetrack. I thought the motor had blown up...I hit the fence and the oil was running across the racetrack and the oil streak all the way up to the wall...I thought the car had blown up. So, I left and the spotter left and they called and said hey we're ready to go back out with about 15 laps to go...and (chuckles) I wasn't there...that's the way it ended. The DNF streak is great but in the end it would be nice to have a win streak."(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(3-5-2009)

  • Reese's colors for Harvick at Atlanta: Reese's, a major associate sponsor of RCR's #29 Chevy, kicks into high gear this weekend in Atlanta as Kevin Harvick and the #29 team transform their bright yellow-and-red Shell-Pennzoil Chevy into a bright orange Reese's racing machine for the Kobalt Tools 500. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are peanut butter-filled chocolate cups. AMS was the site of Harvick's first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win. He claimed the win by .006 second over Jeff Gordon, the third-closest margin of victory at Atlanta, on March 11, 2001. Reese's is conducting a contest to find the "Perfect Fan" for more info see the Racing Contest page. To see an image of the scheme see the #29 Team Schemes page.(RCR PR)(3-4-2009)

  • RCR..four tracks left: Richard Childress Racing has earned a Sprint Cup Series victory at 18 of the 22 tracks on the 2009 schedule. The only tracks on the current schedule where RCR hasn't earned wins are Auto Club Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. Additionally, RCR has Sprint Cup Series wins at 21 tracks overall, including North Wilkesboro, Riverside (CA) and Rockingham (N.C.) which are no longer on the schedule.(RCR PR)(2-26-2009)

  • Did Not Finish Streak and stats: #29-Harvick HAD been running at the finish in 81 consecutive races which is the modern era [1972-current] record, BUT he lost and engine at Californa in Feb 2009. So #33-Bowyer has the longest streak now without a DNF at 75 consecutive races. The all-time record for the longest streak of NOT having an DNF is 84 races held by Herman Beam from April 30, 1961 thru March 10, 1963. Kevin Harvick held the modern era (1972-present) record at 58 (10/3/2002-8/1/2004) until he broke it himself in 2008. Next up was Jeff Gordon at 56 and then Dale Earnhardt at 53 [Indy in 1996 thru Martinsville in the spring of 1998.(2-23-2009)

  • Special Decal for Harvick at Calif: UPDATE: The #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy driven by Kevin Harvick will feature a special decal on the deck lid this weekend for the running of the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway. The Mater Dei High School (Evansville, Indiana) name will be featured on the deck lid of the Richard Childress Racing machine in honor of the 2008 Shell Eco-marathon Americas winning student team. The Shell Eco-marathon, held at Auto Club Speedway each April, invites teams of students to design and build the most energy-efficient vehicle powered by either conventional or alternative fuels. The students from Mater Dei High School set a record for fuel efficiency during the 2008 competition with a rating of 2,843 miles per gallon. The team claimed a $10,000 prize for their victory and also beat the overall mileage record that was set in 2007 by Cal Poly.(RCR PR)(2-19-2009)
    UPDATE: This is all in an effort to recognize the 2008 Shell Eco-marathon Americas winners as well promote the upcoming 2009 Shell Eco-marathon Americas set to take place in Fontana, California on April 15 - 18 at Auto Club Speedway. The Shell Eco-marathon is a global forum for current and future leaders who are passionate about finding sustainable solutions to the world's energy challenge. Shell is committed to providing energy in a responsible way that addresses the realities of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. To learn more about the Shell Eco-marathon, go to www.shell.com/ecomarathon.(Shell PR)(2-22-2009)

  • Time for a Clean Change: Richard Chiladress Racing and Pennzoil are working together in 2009 to raise awareness of the need to recycle used oil through the Pennzoil Clean Change Campaign. The nationwide campaign encourages do-it-yourself oil changers to recycle their used oil and help maintain a clean environment. Clean Change efforts will be ongoing throughout the year to help raise awareness of the importance of recycling used motor oil. Through the Pennzoil Clean Change Campaign, Pennzoil asks do-it-yourself oil changers to pledge to properly recycle used motor oil. Consumers can visit the campaign web site www.cleanchange.org to make the pledge, test their environmental prowess with a challenging quiz, and easily locate a certified used oil recycling facility nearest them. RCR and Pennzoil hope to gather more than 100,000 online pledges this season.(RCR PR)(2-11-2009)

  • Childress receives Tribute Award: Richard Childress accepted the North Carolina Motorsports Association's (NCMA) Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award Monday evening at the third annual NCMA industry awards ceremony at the Embassy Suites Convention Hall. Childress, who celebrated his 40th anniversary as a NASCAR Cup Series team owner in 2008, was recognized for his accomplishments in motorsports, his compassion and philanthropic efforts off the track, and for his individual integrity and character. Childress was introduced by last year's recipient, "King" Richard Petty. The event also honored companies and institutions whose efforts in 2008 greatly impacted the motorsports industry in North Carolina in 10 distinct categories: 1. Education, Two-Year Central Piedmont Community College 2. Education, Four-Year Belmont Abby College 3. Workforce Diversity Winston-Salem State University 4. Marketing, Regional Food Lion Auto Fair 5. Marketing, National NASCAR's Home Track Campaign 6. Event Facilities Z-Max Dragway 7. Economic Development Mooresville - South Iredell 8. Safety Innovation B.R.A.K.E.S 9. Small Company SRI 10. Large Company CV Products The NCMA is the voice of the motorsports industry in North Carolina, representing businesses that support more than 26,000 jobs in the state.(NCMA PR)(1-29-2009)

  • Kevin Harvick Inc. to Cup? Kevin Harvick doesn't know if or when Kevin Harvick Inc. would become a Sprint Cup team, but Harvick will be ready if the right time - and the right sponsor - comes for his organization to make that step. Harvick admits the time could be soon, especially considering the current economic climate and the merging of several teams leaving the door open for a young program to make races and establish itself. "You're going to see some people come into the sport because it's an opportunity to try to get your Cup team started and try to make it work," Harvick says. Do those people include KHI, which has competed in the Truck series since 2002 and in Nationwide since 2004? "You never can say no," Harvick says. "I don't have any interest in driving my own car, I know that for sure, but I think it's something that you always think about." If Harvick and his wife, DeLana, do opt to go Cup racing, they will keep the same philosophy they've used in building their organization. They won't field a program unless it has funding. Harvick did run some Truck races during the organization's first year just to get the company off the ground but has resisted the urge to field a car without financial support. "It's just going to take the right opportunity to get in [to Cup] from a sponsorship standpoint," Harvick said. "I think the Trucks and the Nationwide cars have built a foundation for us to do that if the right opportunity ever came about. With the people and our shop - all the things are there to do it. It just has got to be timing and I'm not going to do something that is not right [with sponsorship]. Right now, you might have to beef a couple of things up but the foundation is laid for all that stuff." For now, Harvick will listen to potential opportunities while also making sure that KHI continues to be run frugally.(SceneDaily)(1-25-2009)

2008 News

  • Races [2] that Pennzoil Platinum is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     All-Star Race, LMS, 5/17
    Bristol 8/23

  • Races [2] that Reese's/Hershey's is scheduled to be the primary sponsor:
     Phoenix 5/5
    Daytona 7/5

  • #29 team expects to test at least 10 times in 2009: Todd Berrier, crew chief for Richard Childress Racing's #29-Kevin Harvick, expects that his team will test at least 10 times next year despite NASCAR's ban on testing at all tracks that host its Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Truck, East and West series. Berrier expects his team will look at options such as the Virginia International Raceway and Heartland Park Topeka (Kan.) road courses, along with Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina and the half-mile Sandusky Speedway in Ohio. None of the facilities is covered by the ban. "The places you can test, you're going to test," Berrier said in a phone interview Monday. Berrier expects the #29 team to test several times throughout the season at non-NASCAR venues and possibly before the season begins, weather permitting.(SceneDaily)(12-17-2008)

  • Part of I-85 in NC named For Richard Childress: Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett joined N.C. Board of Transportation member Nancy Dunn and other state and local officials to dedicate a 5.5-mile section of I-85 from U.S. 64 to Lake Road (State Road 2085) in Davidson County as the Richard Childress Freeway, in honor of the former NASCAR driver and current team owner Richard Childress. A ceremony officially naming the highway for Childress was held at Richard Childress Racing in Welcome on Tuesday. "Richard has been a great contributor to the sport of automobile racing, North Carolina's growing wine industry and the economy of Davidson County," Tippett said. "Naming this stretch of I-85 for him is a fitting tribute to the many ways he has given back to this state and its communities." Childress is the president and owner of Richard Childress Racing. His race team, based in Welcome, has won 12 NASCAR championships including six Sprint Cup, five Nationwide Series and one Craftsman Truck series. Childress is also the owner of Childress Vineyards, located in Lexington. The vineyard, which opened in November 2004, has received several industry awards and was recently named one of America's Top 25 Tasting Rooms by Wine Enthusiast. Through his efforts and dedication to the local community, Childress has helped create more than 500 local jobs and made the Childress group of companies one of Davidson County's top five private employers. He has also directly invested more than $100 million into the local economy and recently donated $5 million to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center to initiate the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. The Davidson County Board of Commissioners requested the road naming, and the N.C. Board of Transportation passed a resolution dedicating the stretch of highway in Childress' honor in July, 2008. (RCR site)(12-17-2008)

  • Childress to have highway named for him: Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett will join local officials on Tuesday, Dec. 16th at Richard Childress Racing in a ceremony dedicating the segment of I-85 from Lake Road (State Road 2085) to U.S. 64 in Davidson County as the Richard Childress Freeway in honor of Childress and the work he has done for Davidson County and the Piedmont region of North Carolina.(RCR PR)(12-13-2008)

  • RCR Gets 20/20 Hindsight: Richard Childress Racing will utilize Monitoring Technology Corporation's 20/20 Hindsight system to improve the efficiency of its Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series over-the-wall pit crews. RCR, through its Human Performance department, and MTC have entered into a multi-year technical partnership. MTC, based in Fairfax, Va., provides products that monitor industrial equipment and processes utilizing high-speed cameras, vibration sensors, tachometers and other sensors. Its 20/20 Hindsight technology provides millisecond accuracy, portability and, as a result, increased efficiency.(RCR PR)(12-10-2008)

  • #29 to carry United Way logo at Homestead: Kevin Harvick and the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Racing team will carry the United Way logo on the deck lid of the #29 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Chevy in the season finale Sprint Cup Series race this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Shell Oil Company is an avid supporter of the United Way and participated in a "Day of Caring" at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club in Houston on October 30, 2008. Approximately 125 Shell employees along with #29 Shell-Pennzoil driver Harvick and members of his crew all took part in making improvements at the facility. Activities included re-tilling a baseball field, sprucing up landscaping, refurbishing the children's area, and painting and organizing storage rooms at the club. The logo that Harvick will carry on the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy is a way for Shell Oil to say thank you to the United Way and all they do in the greater Houston community.(Shell-Pennzoil PR)(11-14-2008)

  • Childress named NCMA Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award: Richard Childress will be the recipient of the North Carolina Motorsports Association's Tribute Award at the group's annual awards banquet on January 26, 2009, at the Embassy Suites Resort and Conference Center in Concord, NC. Childress is celebrating his 40th year as a NASCAR team owner in 2008, having amassed 11 championships, two Daytona 500 and two Brickyard 400 victories in addition to a lifetime of achievements on and off the track in his home state of North Carolina. As both a driver and team owner, Childress has been an integral part of NASCAR's highest level of racing for five decades. His career as a driver spanned from 1969 to the middle of 1981 when he made the tough decision to step down as a driver but to remain a team owner with driver Dale Earnhardt. He built up his team and achieved his first Cup Series victory in 1983 with driver Ricky Rudd. Then in 1984, Earnhardt returned as Childress's full-time driver, and together they went on to win six championships between 1986 and 1994. Still competing for championships to this day and continuing to grow, as Richard Childress Racing (RCR) will expand from a three-car to four-car operation in 2009, Childress is truly one of the most accomplished professionals in motorsports.
    An avid hunter and outdoor conservationist, he contributes annually to the North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation and has been a longtime supporter of the Winston-Salem Soap Box Derby. In July, he teamed up with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center to form the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma - creating what will become the nation's most comprehensive institute for pediatric trauma. In 2004, Childress was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Jim Hunt, the state's highest honor, and in May he was inducted to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. His passion for fine wine led to the founding of Childress Vineyards, a Napa Valley-influenced winery that produces quality North Carolina wines in Lexington, N.C. -- not far from his RCR race shop. Other winner's of the NCMA's Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award include Richard Petty and Benny Parsons. Additionally, winners of awards in 10 distinct categories will be determined by an NCMA member vote.(NCMA PR)(11-12-2008)

  • RCR Reorganizes its Business Unit: Richard Childress Racing has reorganized its business unit to help strengthen the overall performance of the 11-time NASCAR championship-winning organization. Ben Schlosser has been promoted to the position of senior vice president, business operations. Schlosser joined RCR in April 2002 as director of corporate sales and sponsorships and was named vice president of marketing in 2004. In his newly expanded role, departments reporting to him will include partnership marketing, business development, communications, licensing, the RCR Racing Museum, and show car and promotions. "The purpose of this reorganization is to be more efficient for our sponsors and everyone involved in making RCR a success," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "Ben has a very good understanding of the business side of RCR so bringing the communications, licensing and show car departments under his supervision, along with the partnership marketing department, will allow all of those units to work together more seamlessly."
    Bill Patterson has been named executive vice president, support services. Patterson began his fulltime tenure at RCR in 1983 and has been a part of all 11 of its NASCAR championships. The departments now under his direction will include finance and accounting, human resources, aviation, and facilities and maintenance. Additional responsibilities will include capital and major expenditures, driver contracts and other contract issues. "Bill has been an asset to RCR since the early 1980s and will continue to be moving forward," said Childress. "His new responsibilities will allow him to focus more on RCR's finances and accounting, which has always been important but is even more so in the current economic climate."(RCR PR)(11-5-2008)

  • RCR Names DiCio Director of Business Development: Michael DiCio has been named managing director of business development for 11-time NASCAR championship-winning Richard Childress Racing. DiCio comes to RCR with nearly 30 years' experience in marketing and business development with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation. His day-to-day responsibilities will include overseeing overall business development, including sponsorship opportunities across RCR's teams and new corporate and technical partnerships. He will also explore new strategic partnerships, potential B2B opportunities for RCR and its partners, and incremental revenue opportunities. "We are excited about Mike becoming a key member of our marketing team at RCR," said Ben Schlosser, RCR's vice president of marketing. "Mike's energy and his nearly 30 years of strategic planning, business development, brand management and international business experience will make him a valuable asset to RCR and our partners." DiCio earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He was the 1978 NCAA Division III Springboard Diving Champion and a six-time All-America in both one-meter and three-meter competition (1977-79).(RCR PR)(10-28-2008)

  • Harvick Donates Van to Former NASCAR Nationwide Champ Ard: Kevin Harvick presented former NASCAR champion driver Sam Ard [see samard.com] with the van that was used in the Shell fuels commercial featuring the #29 Shell-Pennzoil driver and the "Passionate Experts" from Shell at Atlanta Motor Speedway today. Ard, who won the NASCAR Nationwide Series title in 1983 and 1984, has been battling Alzheimer's disease and facing financial woes. The former champion was 66 years old when he was first diagnosed with the disease. Doctors believe that that the onset of the disease was likely quickened by severe head injuries Ard sustained in a career-ending accident in 1984. Despite missing the final event of that season, he still won the championship by more than 400 points. In addition, Ard's wife Jo has been diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease that is slowly taking her vision. "Sam Ard has been a huge part of NASCAR and an inspiration in my career," said Harvick. "A lot of people don't understand how hard those guys raced and how different it was back then. Those guys spent everything they won on racing and I am just happy that we are able to help Sam because none of us would be able to do what we love to do if it weren't for guys like Sam Ard."
    In just three seasons as a competitor in the Nationwide Series, Ard recorded an astonishing 22 wins, 24 poles, 67 top-five and 80 top-10 finishes. He had 10 wins in the 1983 season alone. Ironically, in 2006, Harvick chased Ard's record for most wins in a season but fell one victory short before the season ended as he went on to claim his second Nationwide Series championship. The donated Chevrolet van was used in the Shell fuels commercial that has run throughout the 2008 season. The commercial featured the driver of the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet and the Shell "Passionate Experts." The Shell pit crew along with the experts, were trying to pull a prank on Harvick by disassembling what they thought was the two-time Nationwide Series champion's van. The experts realize the vehicle they tore apart wasn't Harvick's as he drives away in another van identical to the one they dismantled. After the commercial shoot was completed, professional mechanics put the van back to its original state and Shell, along with Harvick, decided to present it to Ard.
    The NASCAR Foundation and Motor Racing Outreach have partnered together for an online auction to raise additional funds for the Sam Ard Fund more info on my Racing Charities page.(RCR PR)(10-26-2008)

  • Harvick/Edwards confrontation: UPDATE 2: hearing there was a confrontation in the Nationwide Series garages at Lowe's Motor Speedway between Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick over last Sunday's Talladega wreck. Details as they are found will be posted.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(10-9-2008)
    UPDATE: Witnesses said Edwards approached Harvick in the garage stall housing Harvick's #33 Chevy and engaged in conversation. Following what a witness called a heated discussion, Harvick turned to walk away and Edwards grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around. According to reports Harvick then shoved Edwards in retaliation, forcing Edwards onto the hood of the #33 Chevy. #33 crew chief Rick Ren pointed to a dent in the hood where he said Edwards landed. Others on site then proceeded to separate the drivers, and witnesses said Edwards was grabbed around the neck in a headlock by Harvick's motor-home driver, Jeff Smith. No punches were thrown, witnesses said. NASCAR did not immediately comment on the issue. Edwards and Harvick were not immediately available to comment. Witnesses claim the verbal exchange Thursday was in reference to a handwritten note Edwards left in a seat on Harvick's airplane following the AMP Energy 500 last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. The note facetiously thanked Harvick for disparaging comments he made toward Edwards on ABC following a multi-car wreck on Lap 174 of 188, which was triggered when Edwards tapped teammate Greg Biffle. Harvick was collected in the incident.(ESPN)(10-9-2008)
    UPDATE 2: Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick were warned before Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway not to let the physical confrontation they had on Thursday spill over onto the track. Edwards and Harvick met with NASCAR president Mike Helton, vice president of competition Robin Pemberton and series director John Darby following the drivers' meeting. There will be no fines and neither was placed on probation.(ESPN.com)(10-12-2008)

  • Harvick "Driven to the Outdoors" at LMS: In cooperation with RCR sponsors Realtree, Chevrolet, Shell Oil Company and Motorsports Authentics, Kevin Harvick's #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy will feature a camouflaged-based Shell-Pennzoil paint scheme at Lowe's Motor Speedway, as part of the first ever Chevy Driven to the Outdoors program. In addition to a full line of NASCAR camouflage merchandise and memorabilia, the Chevy Driven to the Outdoors program will feature a unique sweepstakes that will ultimately reward one fan with a 2009 Chevy Silverado LTZ. Fans interested in learning more about the Chevy Driven to the Outdoors program and the rules associated with the sweepstakes can visit www.chevy.com/driven.(RCR PR)(10-7-2008)

  • RCR has never won a Cup race at Kansas: Surprisingly enough, in 20 starts at Kansas Speedway, RCR has only two top-five and just five top-10 finishes. Clint Bowyer finished second last year while Kevin Harvick went on to finish sixth. In 2006, Burton captured his career-best finish at the 1.5-mile oval by finishing fifth while teammate Bowyer finished ninth. Harvick notched a sixth-place effort in October 2003. All told, RCR's three-car team has a 22.6 starting average and a 17.6 average finish at the metropolitan Kansas City race course. The only other tracks on the current schedule where RCR hasn't earned Cup Series wins are Auto Club Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(RCR PR)(9-26-2008)

  • Ricky Carmichael to attempt ARCA 'Dega race: Ricky Carmichael, a 10-time AMA national motocross champion from 1997 - 2006, will attempt to make his ARCA RE/MAX series debut at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 3. Carmichael, a rookie on the Camping World East Series this season for Ken Schrader Racing, has been entered into the event at the 2.66-mile speedway by Kevin Harvick Inc. With three top-5 finishes and six top-10's Carmichael, 28, is eighth in the Camping World East Series standings after 11 of 13 events this season.(Hartford Courant)(9-17-2008)

  • Congrats: Josh Mick, front tire carrier for Richard Childress Racing Sprint Cup team #29 for Kevin Harvick, and wife, Kelly Mick are the proud parents of a baby girl. Taylor Grace Mick was born Thursday, August 21, 2008 weighing in at 6lbs, 1.5oz. She is the first child for Josh and Kelly.(9-13-2008)

  • Special scheme for Harvick at BMS: #29-Kevin Harvick is going platinum for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, transforming his bright yellow and red Shell-Pennzoil Chevy into a shining platinum colored paint scheme in recognition of his sponsorship from Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic motor oil. Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic motor oil has adaptive molecules to manage the constant mechanical stresses inside an engine. Along with its additive package, Pennzoil Platinum motor oil is designed to survive the searing heat, intense pressures and shearing forces of today's precision-made engine parts. For more information visit: pennzoilplatinum.com.(RCR PR), see images of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(8-20-2008)

  • DEI names Hutchens VP of Competition: Dale Earnhardt Inc. has named NASCAR veteran Bobby Hutchens vice president of competition. Hutchens, who previously served as general manager of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines after a long tenure with Richard Childress Racing, will oversee all competition efforts at Dale Earnhardt Inc., including its four Sprint Cup teams. Hutchens' new position came as the result of a joint decision between DEI and RCR. The championship-winning NASCAR racing organizations have a long history of successful collaboration including, among others, ECR Engines and the RAD aerodynamics program that also included Andy Petree Racing. Hutchens, who graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1982, is highly regarded in Sprint Cup racing for his research, development and computer testing accomplishments. Hutchens has managed and developed all facets of RCR's R&D program, while overseeing RCR's engineering, engines, engine R&D, manufacturing, chassis R&D and aerodynamics programs. He was named general manager of ECR Engines when the program was put together in May 2007.(DEI PR)(8-12-2008)

  • Driven to the Outdoors schemes to be run: The timing for the "Driven to the Outdoors" program is the third quarter ...which aligns with the launch of hunting season. A program targeted towards the outdoors enthusiasts is a solid, strategic fit with the NASCAR fan. Four drivers will run special "Driven to the Outdoors". At Bristol three drivers will run the schemes: #1-Truex Jr., #07-Bowyer and #15-Menard. And #29-Harvick will run the scheme at Lowe's Motor Speedwat in October. See images of the schemes on my Paint Scheme Gallery.(8-5-2008)

  • Childress Champions Pediatric Trauma Research: Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and the Richard Childress family announced at a press conference Wednesday [July 30, 2008] today that they have teamed up to form what will become the nation's most comprehensive Institute for Pediatric Trauma.
    The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma will focus on key areas in treatment, education and training, research and prevention of pediatric trauma. The Institute's goal is to help pave the way for others in the nation searching for ways to help save the lives of severely injured children and help those who survive on the road to recovery.
    "Accidental injury and death is the number one killer of children in this nation," said J. Wayne Meredith, M.D., Chief of Surgery at Wake Forest Baptist, Medical Director of Trauma Programs for the American College of Surgeons and the Interim Director of the Institute. "This Institute will have a national impact and bring much more attention and awareness to this issue. We need a better way to treat children and there is not enough research being done."
    The Childress family has donated $5 million to the Medical Center to initiate the project, which will get underway later this year. Wake Forest Baptist and the Childress family are currently working with a number of corporations and individuals to raise the additional $20 million to establish the Childress Institute.
    "Most people don't know that traumatic injury is the biggest killer of our children," said Richard Childress. "The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma will be the focal point of a national movement to improve the level of pediatric trauma care available across the country. We will assemble the right team to conquer this national crisis in pediatric trauma. The Childress family is committed to making the Childress Institute the leader in pediatric trauma care."
    Because of significant programs and infrastructure in place at Wake Forest Baptist, the Institute will be able to devote most of the monies to research, education, treatment and prevention and to raising the national awareness about childhood injuries. The project will also help expand our state-of-the-art pediatric emergency department for the Triad region.
    This institute has a goal to become the most comprehensive research center in the country as it develops new research initiatives and partners with other investigators throughout the nation. For example, the Institute will investigate pediatric devices to be used in treating pediatric trauma victims and will study issues including researching the best way to detect, prevent and minimize the effects of a serious injury in a child once it has occurred, Meredith said. The Institute also plans to offer four fellowships in pediatric trauma to help train the next generation of pediatric trauma surgeons.
    "There is no one in the country presently studying this issue in a comprehensive manner as this institute is targeted to become," Meredith said. "We won't find a cure for pediatric trauma. You are always going to have injuries, despite our desire to prevent them, and some can't be fixed. But for the kids who do get hurt, we'd like to find a better way to help them and reduce their disability. I think we can make the most difference here."
    The Institute will also work with national and regional research groups to pool knowledge and data that can be shared with healthcare providers nationwide. Charles L. Branch, Jr., M.D., Chair of Neurosurgery at Wake Forest Baptist, is one of the visionaries behind the formation of the Institute. "Our goal is to find the best possible way to care for children who have experienced traumatic injuries and then share that information with other trauma centers," Branch said. "We want to help realize the Childresses' vision to help children everywhere to get out of the hospital and back at play or in school and living normal lives as soon as possible."
    For more information about the institute, visit www.childresspediatrictrauma.com or www.wfubmc.edu, or call 866-635-8190.(RCR PR)(7-31-2008)

  • Harvick rain delayed at Oxford: UPDATE: he wins The TD Banknorth 250 featuring Kevin Harvick against a field of top local and regional drivers was postponed Sunday because of rain. Race officials said qualifying heats would resume Monday afternoon, weather permitting. Rain remained in the forecast and there was a flash flood watch in effect through Monday evening. Taking advantage of an off week for Sprint Cup drivers, Harvick chose to spend the weekend at Oxford Plains Speedway. He finished second in his qualifying heat to earn a spot in the feature race.(Associated Press)(7-21-2008)
    UPDATE: Monday Kevin Harvick added the winner's trophy from the Super Bowl of short track racing to his collection. The Bakersfield, Cal. native drove away from the field in the late stages to win the TD Banknorth Oxford 250 Monday at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Me.(Hartford Courant)(7-22-2008)

  • Reese's on the #29 at Daytona: Reese's, a major associate sponsor of RCR's #29 Chevy of Kevin Harvick kicks into high gear this weekend in Daytona as Harvick and the #29 team transform their bright yellow-and-red Shell-Pennzoil Chevy into a bright orange Reese's racing machine for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Reese's has become the No. 1 selling candy bar in the United States and the Reese's brand is the most successful brand owned by The Hershey Company. On Thursday, July 3, Harvick will officially wave the green flag on the Pennzoil Clean Change Challenge, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the need to properly dispose of used motor oil. Harvick will join Pennzoil and Wal-Mart's finest team members in an attempt to collect 200 gallons of used motor oil in just two hours. The two-hour event, which will kick off at 10 a.m. at the Wal-Mart located at 1101 Beville Rd, in Daytona Beach, Fla., is designed to help ensure that used motor oil is properly recycled and that Florida's drinking water stays clean. In honor of Harvick's commitment, and to help motivate the local residents to participate Pennzoil is proud to donate $29 to the Central Florida Boy Scouts Council for each gallon of used oil collected.(RCR PR), see images of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(7-3-2008)

  • Childress Honored by Davidson County Chambers of Commerce: NASCAR champion car owner and Davidson County (N.C.) businessman Richard Childress was presented with the "Are You With Me" Exemplary Award by the Davidson County Chambers of Commerce. The honor was bestowed upon Childress as part of the chamber's fourth annual Davidson County Business Showcase, held at Davidson County Community College. The award is presented annually to a Davidson County business that believes in the principles of good business, doing business locally whenever possible, job creation, innovation, and community involvement. In addition to Richard Childress Racing (RCR), Davidson County is also home to Childress Vineyards and Yadkin River Angus, Childress' Black Angus cattle ranch.(RCR)(5-22-2008)

  • Childress Inducted into N.C. Sports Hall of Fame: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) president and CEO Richard Childress and six others were honored in Raleigh last night at the 45th Induction Banquet for the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. The evening's event, which took place at the North Raleigh Hilton, was a who's who of some of the greatest sports figures in North Carolina history. Those inducted in addition to Childress, who was the 258th inductee of the now 260-member group, were former Duke University Athletic Director Tom Butters, former Duke University quarterback Leo Hart, sportswriter and promoter Bill Hensley, former UNC and NFL offensive lineman Ken Huff, former Guilford College men's golf and basketball coach Jack Jensen, legendary former Harlem Globetrotter Fred "Curly" Neal, and current University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill men's basketball head coach Roy Williams. "It was a very humbling experience and an honor for me to be nominated and inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame," said Childress. "Only in America can a kid with a dream to drive a race car be fortunate enough to be inducted into the hall of fame of his home state. I'd be remiss if I didn't give Dale Earnhardt a lot of credit for my induction. I also have to thank all of the long-time team members at RCR and the current team members who are keeping the RCR heritage strong. Racing is a team sport and I've been fortunate to have been able to surround myself over the years with people who are committed to success." Childress, an 11-time NASCAR championship-winning team owner, including six Cup Series titles with the legendary Dale Earnhardt (1986-87, '90-'91, '93-'94), is the ninth member of the motorsports fraternity to be honored by the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. The others include Lee Petty (1966), Richard Petty (1973), Ned Jarrett (1990), Buck Baker (1992), Junior Johnson (1992), Herb Thomas (1992), Dale Earnhardt (1994), and H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler (2004).(RCR)(5-17-2008)

  • Harvick goes Platinum for All-Star race: #29-Kevin Harvick is going platinum for the Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The defending All-Star champion winner will transform his bright yellow and red Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet into a shining platinum colored paint scheme in recognition of his sponsorship from Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic motor oil. Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic motor oil has adaptive molecules to manage the constant mechanical stresses inside an engine. For more information visit: www.pennzoilplatinum.com. Harvick also will switch his existing racing seat to a Hendrick Motorsports Carbon Fiber seat this weekend during the Sprint All-Star Race. The Bakersfield, Calif., native spent two days at the HMS complex to get fitted for his new seat that will make him safer and more comfortable in the cockpit of the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy. The HMS seat will cost approximately $10,400 for the main section and $1,200 for the headrest. The Carbon Fiber seat is designed to withstand 90G which is 10G more than NASCAR requires for certification.(RCR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(5-14-2008)

  • Harvick's DNF Record Remains in Tact: #29-Kevin Harvick was forced to bring his Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet to the garage mid-way through the Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway after hard contact with the outside retaining. Despite the heavy damage, the #29 crew was able to get Harvick back on the racetrack and grabbed two positions in the running order and gained six valuable championship points. Additionally, the hard work by the Shell-Pennzoil crew allowed Harvick to extend his streak of races without a Did Not Finish (DNF) to 55 consecutive races, the longest active streak in the Sprint Cup Series. Harvick holds the modern era record with 58 consecutive races without a DNF (10/3/02-8/1/04).(RCR)(5-13-2008)

  • Harvick approaching DNF record: #29-Kevin Harvick has not recorded a DNF in 54 consecutive races, which is the longest active streak. Harvick holds the modern era (1972-present) record with 58 consecutive races without a DNF (10/3/2002-8/1/2004).(RCR)(5-7-2008)

  • Harvick Visits Shell Oil Company Off-shore Platform "Brutus": #29-Kevin Harvick made a unique stop in route to this weekend's Sprint Cup Series event at Talladega Superspeedway. Harvick visited the Shell off-shore oil and gas production platform, Brutus, on Thursday [April 24th]. Brutus, the largest of five Shell signature deepwater tension lake platforms, is located 160 miles off the shore of New Orleans, Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. The 35,000 ton platform is home to as many as 150 Shell staff members who spend two weeks at a time at the facility. Located in over 3,000 feet of water, the platform is used for the initial processing and transportation of oil and gas to shore. "After today's visit I have a whole new appreciation for the Gulf of Mexico and "America's Energy Coast (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama) and the importance this Region plays to our US Energy Supply", commented Harvick. During his visit Harvick had the opportunity to meet and greet the staff of Brutus and joined them for lunch in the galley. A comprehensive tour of the facility followed before heading back to New Orleans. "I was impressed with the focus and attention to safety that is part of the Shell culture", continued Harvick. "The staff has great pride in their facility and what they do. These are very focused employees that use extremely advanced technology to get energy out of the ground and deliver it to people across the country every day. " Harvick was joined by Shell executives along with local radio sports talk show host, Bobby Hebert, former NFL/Saints QB.(PR)(4-29-2008)

  • Kevin Harvick Inc. implementing drug testing: Kevin Harvick Inc. has implemented a different type of testing the past couple of weeks. The racing team has started a random drug testing program since recent revelations that former Nationwide and Craftsman Trucks driver Aaron Fike had used heroin on some race days. "The whole company will be tested within the next week," Harvick said. "We've got most of them done. We haven't had any failures yet, so that's a good thing." An outside company was hired to administer the tests, and he said all the drivers and crew chiefs volunteered to go to the drug-testing facility. Harvick is hoping NASCAR will adopt a similar policy to help keep the sport clean. He initially approached officials pushing that idea last season. NASCAR's substance abuse policy is based on "reasonable suspicion" and allows drug tests anytime.(Associated Press)(4-26-2008)

  • Dickies to be associate sponsor of #29 Team: Dickies, the leading global workwear brand, and Richard Childress Racing (RCR), are expanding their partnership to include an associate sponsorship position on the #29 Shell-Pennzoil team with driver Kevin Harvick in the Cup Series. Dickies and RCR began their partnership in 2006 as the official provider of work apparel for RCR. The opportunity to increase their involvement into team partnership with RCR was the next logical step in a successful relationship.(RCR PR)(4-18-2008)

  • Harvick exploring options in drag racing as an owner: #29-Kevin Harvick and his wife DeLana have teamed with NHRA drag racing veteran Bob Vandergriff Jr. to explore the option of fielding a Top Fuel dragster in NHRA competition. The proposed Harvick-Vandergriff Motorsports will specialize in offering its sponsors marketing opportunities in NHRA, NASCAR Sprint Cup, Craftsman Truck, and the Nationwide Series. "I think we have a unique opportunity to provide unprecedented reach for companies looking to achieve their objectives through motorsports," Vandergriff said. "As this deal evolves, we want to offer the companies aligned with Harvick-Vandergriff Motorsports the chance to use the best of NHRA and NASCAR through the same program. We'll have the capabilities to provide something no other team can offer." Vandergriff and Harvick plan to begin assembling a race team and all of the necessary components and people within the next two months as they prepare for a 2009 debut. Announcements regarding the driver and sponsors will be forthcoming. See full story at NHRA.com.(4-14-2008)

  • Childress Vineyards named one of America's Top 25: Wine Enthusiast magazine has selected Childress Vineyards as one of America's Top 25 Tasting Rooms. In the May issue, the magazine asked its editors and contributors to suggest tasting rooms that were memorable to them for a number of reasons. Wine quality was the top criteria considered, followed by décor, staff savvy, amenities and overall uniqueness. Reporter Lynn Seldon wrote that Childress Vineyards, founded by NASCAR team owner Richard Childress in 2004, has "quickly become a stand-alone destination in the Yadkin Valley American Viticultural Area." The write up encourages readers to "go for the Signature Tasting to reveal winemaker Mark Friszolowski's best work to date. The Reserve Syrah and the Signature Meritage are both sublime, as is the setting - a stone and stucco building, terra-cotta style roof and large tasting room, shop and The Bistro restaurant, all reminiscent of Tuscany." Childress Vineyards is open daily for tours, tastings and lunch at The Bistro. Tastings range in price from $10 to $15 and include a souvenir glass. Free tours are conducted at Noon, 2 and 4 p.m. each day.(RCR)(4-14-2008)

  • Orange colors for Harvick at Phoenix: Reese's, a major associate sponsor of RCR's #29 Chevy, kicks into high gear this weekend in Phoenix as Harvick and the #29 team transform their bright yellow-and-red Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet into a bright orange Reese's racing machine for the Subway Fresh Fit 500. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are peanut butter-filled chocolate cups. They were created in 1928 by H.B. Reese, a former dairy farmer and foreman for Milton S. Hershey. The H.B. Reese Candy Co., established in the basement of Reese's house in Hershey, Pa., went on to merge with The Hershey Company in 1963 due to the popularity of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Today, Reese's has become the No. 1 selling candy bar in the United States and the Reese's brand is the most successful brand owned by The Hershey Company.(RCR), see an image of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(4-9-2008)

  • Harvick leads March Madness Picks: #29-Kevin Harvick currently leads the washingtonpost.com celebrity NCAA tournament pick challenge. Harvick has a one-point lead over second place Byron Mouton (former University of Maryland Basketball player) and a five-point lead over third place Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards All-star Forward). Harvick has the University of North Carolina (UNC) and University of Memphis meeting in the finals with UNC winning the National Championship.(RCR PR)(4-2-2008)

  • Stewart getting waxed on Monday - "Operation Wax Smoke": After almost a year, Tony Stewart will finally be getting his back waxed on Monday night [March 17th] at an undisclosed top secret location. Kevin Harvick will fill-in for Stewart through out much of the show [8:00pm/et Sirius Satelitte NASCAR Radio Channel 128]. At some point during the show Kyle Petty will receive a check for $100k for the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Some of the folks scheduled to appear or call-in: Kevin and Delana Harvick, Ford Martin, Kyle Petty and Darrell Waltrip, plus you never know who may call in to check on Stewart's condition. Also Jimmie Johnson told Ford Martin, TSL's National Motorsports Correspondent, that if Ford pulled a piece of wax off Stewart's back, Jimmie would donate an extra 10k to Stewart's foundation.(3-14-2008)

  • Special Pennzoil scheme for Harvick: #29-Kevin Harvick is scheduled to run a Platinum Pennzoil scheme at the Sprint All-Star race in May and the August race at Bristol. See am image of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(3-10-2008)

  • Harvick to honor students: #29-Kevin Harvick will recognize students from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Friday, February 22 at 2:05 p.m. in the California Speedway media center. These students designed and built a prototype vehicle that traveled 1,902.7 miles per gallon using conventional fuel to win the 2007 Shell Eco-marathon Americas competition. The Shell Eco-marathon Americas challenges college teams to travel the farthest distance using the least amount of fuel. Teams compete using prototype vehicles fueled by conventional or alternative fuels or energy sources. The winning team receives a grand prize of $10,000 that is awarded to the team's educational institution. The winning vehicle will also be on display at the California Speedway media center.(RCR PR)(2-20-2008)

  • RCR missing California win: Richard Childress Racing has earned a Cup Series victory at 18 of the 22 tracks on the 2008 schedule. The only tracks on the current schedule where RCR hasn't earned wins are California Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. Additionally, RCR has Cup Series wins at 21 tracks, the three defunct tracks being North Wilkesboro (N.C.), Riverside (Calif.) and Rockingham (N.C.).(RCR PR)(2-20-2008)

  • Pinnacle Foods Joins RCR to as Assoc Sponsors for Cup Teams: Pinnacle Foods, a leading producer, marketer and distributor of high-quality branded food products has joined Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) family of partners in a multi-year sponsorship agreement for all three of the 11-time championship winning racing organization's Cup Series teams. Pinnacle Foods will showcase its Hungry-Man meals, Armour canned meat and Vlasic pickles, peppers and relish brands on, the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy (driver Clint Bowyer), the #31 AT&T Chevy (driver Jeff Burton) and the #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy (driver Kevin Harvick), respectively.(RCR PR)(2-9-2008)

  • Reeses back on the #29 in 2008: Reese's/Hershey's will be the primary sponsor for #29-Kevin Harvick for two races; at Phoenix in May and at Daytona in July. See images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(1-22-2008)

  • Childress auctioning 'Intimidator' Camaro: UPDATE: A highlight on the auction block of the 2008 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event will be "The Intimidator," a one-of-a-kind Richard Childress '69 Series 3 Camaro that honors the accomplishments of Childress with NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt. The Intimidator '69 Series 3 Camaro is scheduled to roll onto the main stage Jan. 19 at approximately 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The bidding for this one-of-a-kind vehicle can be seen live on SPEED. To pay homage to the #3 Chevy made famous by Dale Earnhardt Sr., Richard Childress joined forces with Total Performance, Inc. to build the '69 Series 3 Camaro. The car crossing the block in Scottsdale will be Serial #3 and the only one with the official title of "The Intimidator" - a total of 50 '69 Series 3 Camaros will be built over the next three years. The black, red and silver muscle car commemorates the dynamic relationship forged between Childress, Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and Earnhardt.(RCR PR)(1-18-2008)
    UPDATE: "The Intimidator," a one-of-a-kind RCR Series 3 Camaro with direct ties to Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and the legendary Dale Earnhardt, sold Jan. 19 at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., for $575,000. The RCR Series 3 Camaro (www.rcrseries3.com) is a joint venture between RCR and Total Performance Incorporated (TPI) of Wichita, Kan. "The Intimidator," serial No. 3 of the 50 which will be produced through 2010, is equipped with the actual engine block and other engine components that powered Earnhardt and the #3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevy in the 2000 Daytona 500. The buyer, Jimmy Richardson, principal of Colson Park Capital, Inc., in Hickory, N.C., also has ties to the famed No. 3 GM Goodwrench teams. His Mom 'N' Pop's Old Fashion Sugar Cured Country Ham was an associate sponsor of the team for six years (1991-96), three of which resulted in championship seasons (1991, '93, '94).(RCR PR)(1-21-2008)

  • RCR reaches agreement with Garage company: Richard Childress Racing has agreed to licensing terms with garage interiors and home storage market leader, Slide-Lok, for the categories of garage cabinets, garage flooring, Slat-Wall storage and closet systems for a multi-year term. Slide-Lok's most recent licensing agreement with Richard Childress Racing, which comes in the wake of their latest announcement with NASCAR, Inc. and Roush Fenway Racing, includes the signing of Richard Childress Racing's drivers #29-Kevin Harvick and #31-Jeff Burton. The RCR drivers will be notably featured in Slide-Lok's new "Racing Garage" product line which will brandish the names, numbers, color schemes and signature logos of the top drivers of NASCAR integrated into Slide-Lok's patented plywood garage cabinets, Slat-Wall storage, closet systems and garage floor coatings. The unveiling of the new Slide-Lok Racing Garage line is set for early 2008. For more information on Slide-Lok garage cabinets, garage floor coating systems, garage storage and their patented, innovative design advantages, contact Slide-Lok directly at 800-835-1759 or visit them on the web at www.slide-lok.com.(Marketwire)(1-10-2008)

2007 News

  • Harvick To Star In Shell's Anti-Gunk Campaign Return: The Shell "Stop Gunky Build-Up" campaign returns in January, this time featuring #29-Kevin Harvick. In February, the gasoline retailer will add the "Un-Gunk Your Car" promotion. The focus continues to be the company's commitment to fuel quality. The campaign will continue the current TV spots as well as adding two new spots, says a Shell spokesperson. One features Harvick, and the other spot brings back the "Shell Passionate Experts," the two serious Shell engineers in their white lab coats. The media buy includes network TV and national cable networks. In conjunction with TV, Shell will also introduce a new online campaign, enhanced point-of-purchase materials, radio advertising, outdoor billboards and all-new promotions designed to drive traffic to Shell stations. All marketing components will reinforce last year's successful Passionate Experts program and educate motorists that "All gasolines are not the same." Beginning Feb. 11, the "Un-Gunk Your Car" promotion will aim to drive traffic to stations and inside convenience stores. Through March 30, Shell customers who purchase a minimum of 10 gallons of gasoline will receive one free microfiber cleaning cloth specially formulated to help "un-gunk" the interior of their car (no fuel purchase required in New Jersey). While supplies last, consumers will be encouraged to collect all three limited-edition versions of the cloth--"Shell V-Power Cleans Up Gunk," "Un-Gunk Your Car" and "I Hate Gunk" with Harvick's #29 logo. Each of the 23 million cloths will be accompanied by a 2008 Sprint Cup Series race schedule in support of the Shell relationship with Richard Childress Racing, Kevin Harvick and the 29 Shell-Pennzoil car.(MediaPost)(12-23-2007)

  • MLB team owner Hicks to join RCR? Nextel Cup team owner Richard Childress hasn't joined the trend of adding an individual partner to his organization. Not yet, anyway. Childress paused and had a big smile on his face when asked if Texas Rangers team owner Tom Hicks might become a future partner of Richard Childress Racing. "Tom's a friend of mine," Childress said with a grin. "We talk a lot about different things." Hicks, who also owns the Dallas Stars NHL team, attended the Cup race at California Speedway on Labor Day weekend as Childress' guest. Hicks also is a business partner with George Gillett, who bought majority ownership in Ray Evernham's Cup team earlier this year. Gillett, who owns the Montreal Canadiens NHL team, partnered with Hicks to buy the Liverpool, England, soccer team earlier this year for $430 million. Childress said he has been approached this year by several corporations wanting to invest in RCR, but he already has a relationship with the New York firm of Chartwell Investments. "I brought Chartwell in here in 2002," he said. "They're still involved in a small percentage of the company. At this time, we still want to go in the direction we've been going."(ESPN.com)(11-17-2007)

  • Blaney, Harvick and Bodine to pull triple duty at Homestead: Dave Blaney will attempt to qualify a fourth entry for Bill Davis Racing in the Ford 200 at Homestead Miami Speedway. Blaney will be driving the #22 Toyota and will carry the familiar yellow-and-black colors of Caterpillar this weekend. Caterpillar also sponsors Blaney's #22 Nextel Cup Series Camry. Not only will Blaney attempt to qualify a fourth BDR truck this weekend, he will also continue his quest to stay locked into the top 35 in the Nextel Cup Series owners' points standings and compete in the Busch Series as well [in the #10 Braun Racing Toyota](Bill Davis Racing PR)
    AND Kevin Harvick will also run all three races at Homestead, in the #29 Shell Chevy in Cup, #21 Chevy in the Busch Series and the #2 Truck in the Craftsman Truck Series race; and Todd Bodine will run all three races: #4 Chevy in Cup, #03-Toyota in Busch and #30-Toyota in Trucks.(11-13-2007)

  • Kevin Harvick Day in Houston: The City of Houston has declared November 1, 2007 as Kevin Harvick Day. The proclamation honoring the RCR driver and the # 29 Cup Series team, sponsored by Houston-based Shell Oil Company, will be delivered by Mayor Bill White. A full day of events across the city with personal appearances by Harvick, team owner Richard Childress and many members of the #29 Shell-Pennzoil team are scheduled for Houston's Kevin Harvick Day. The event will kick off with a public event at City Hall when the proclamation will be read. This event will begin at 11 a.m. local time.(RCR PR)(10-31-2007)

  • NASCAR studying how Hamlin, Blaney had water in fuel: MORE Denny Hamlin, who thought he had enough gas while leading when his car sputtered and didn't start with three laps remaining in the Pep Boys Auto 500, actually had water in his fuel cell at the time. Whether that caused him not to accelerate and get hit from behind by Martin Truex Jr. is uncertain, Joe Gibbs Racing Senior Vice President Jimmy Makar said Sunday night at Atlanta. But what is certain is that Hamlin and Bill Davis Racing's Dave Blaney had water in their fuel cells, and Roush Fenway Racing's Greg Biffle also might have had a similar situation. NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Director John Darby said that no water was found in the Sunoco pumps following the race. Darby said all of the Sunoco documentation from the weekend shows no water in the tanks.(SceneDaily.com)(10-28-2007)
    UPDATE: Water found in the fuel tanks of cars driven by #11-Denny Hamlin and #22-Dave Blaney during Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Atlanta was not isolated to those teams, a NASCAR official said Monday. Water also was discovered in the fuel of the Penske Racing cars driven by #2-Kurt Busch and #12-Ryan Newman after returning to Charlotte, N.C. In addition, water was found in the fuel cell of all three Richard Childress racing team cars belonging to #29-Kevin Harvick, #07-Clint Bowyer and #31-Jeff Burton. #16-Greg Biffle believes his car may have had water in its fuel, although no evidence was found. NASCAR Nextel Cup Series director John Darby said the problem is more widespread than originally thought and that NASCAR has issued bulletins to all Cup and Truck Series teams to check for evidence of contamination so they can locate the source. Darby said everything from the underground fuel-holding tank at the track to the fuel trucks that deliver the gas to the individual gas cans are being analyzed. He said the underground tank is the least likely source because there is an alarm system located that can detect the slightest amount of contamination. Darby dismissed sabotage as a possible explanation, saying too many teams were affected for anyone to have been singled out.(ESPN.com)(10-30-2007)

  • Holiday Inn Renews with RCR: Holiday Inn has exercised the option in its current contract with Richard Childress Racing by signing a multi-year contract extension as the Official Hotel of RCR and the primary sponsor of RCR's #29 Chevy in the Nationwide Series with co-drivers Scott Wimmer and Jeff Burton. At the same time, Wimmer has reached agreement with RCR on a contract extension with the 10-time NASCAR championship-winning organization. The 2008 season will once again feature Wimmer and Burton as co-pilots of the #29 Holiday Inn Chevy [in the Nationwide Series]. Wimmer will also run a limited schedule of Sprint Cup Series events next season.(RCR PR)(10-25-2007)

  • Childress likely sticking to three full-time teams: Richard Childress said Friday he would likely not expand to four Sprint Cup entries for 2008 because he can't find the "right situation." Childress fields three Nextel Cup cars - for #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton and #07-Clint Bowyer - and wanted to add a fourth team next year. But the lack of sponsorship appears to be the main issue. Busch Series driver Scott Wimmer would "probably" be the driver of the fourth team, Childress said. Cars were already built for the fourth Cup team, Childress said, but those would be used among the three current teams.(SceneDaily.com)(9-28-2007)

  • Sports Teams Owner is Childress' Guest at California: [MLB's Texas] Rangers and [NHL's Dallas] Stars owner Tom Hicks and members of his family were scheduled to attend the Sharp Aquos 500 Nextel Cup race at California. Hicks said it was a social invitation by team owner [#s 07, 29, 31] Richard Childress. He wouldn't comment on whether he has any interest in investing in a NASCAR team. But his sports empire has grown this year. In February, he became co-chairman of the Liverpool Football Club, one of the most storied soccer franchises in the English Premier League. Hicks' partner in that purchase was George Gillett, the owner of the NHL's Montreal Canadians and now a major investor in Ray Evernham's NASCAR team.(Dallas Morning News)(9-3-2007)

  • Chevy and RCR continue partnership: Chevrolet, the winningest nameplate in NASCAR, will continue its partnership in NASCAR competition in 2008 with one of racing's elite organizations, Richard Childress Racing (RCR). "2008 marks Richard Childress's 39th year as a team owner and his cars proudly carry the Chevy bowtie," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "At Chevrolet and GM Racing, we are very excited to continue a long and successful relationship with one of the best racing organizations in NASCAR, both on and off the track." RCR's lineup includes #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton and #07-Clint Bowyer in the Cup Series and Harvick and Tim McCreadie in the #21, Burton and Scott Wimmer in the #29 and #2-Bowyer in the Buscg Series.(GM Racing PR)(8-18-2007)

  • Harvick vs. Montoya....still brewing: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya and #29-Kevin Harvick were asked to pay a courtesy visit into the NASCAR hauler Friday, to make sure there were no lingering effects between them following last Sunday's contretemps at Watkins Glen. NASCAR's interest may have been piqued by comments made by the two. "He drives like he doesn't know what he's doing, to be honest with you," Harvick opined about JPM. "He goes out, he can run fast but he's all over the place and every week it seems like he runs into a different person."
    "You know, I think he's a great guy, he's a great racer and it's a shame the position he's in," Montoya said of Harvick. "I think we're mature enough and big enough being in the sport, I haven't been in this sport long enough but I've been racing all my life and I learned to get over things like this because we're going to meet again and again and again in the race track and it's a lot nicer and better when you have a good relationship."(Ford Racing)(8-18-2007)

  • Harvick wins first dirt race: In front of a packed house, Dale Blaney notched the victory in the 50-lap, $5,000 to win sprint race, but Kevin Harvick stole the show as he outdueled the field of local e-mod drivers as well as NASCAR stars Tony Stewart, Dave Blaney and Clint Bowyer to score his maiden dirt win in the 25-lap, $1,000 to win e-mod feature at Sharon Speedway on Tuesday night. Harvick scored his very first victory on dirt after just eight starts. The rest of the NASCAR stars in the field also drove strong races. Bowyer rolled off last in the feature, and put his dirt modified experience to good use, as he drove all the way to seventh. Blaney rolled off 14th and crossed the finish line ninth. Stewart retired with a mechanical problem, and finished 22nd in the feature. Behind Sharp in second was Joel Watson, who drove a stellar race. Watson started 21st before finishing third. Hess came home in fourth, with Turner rounding out the top five. Following the race, in a very classy move, Harvick donated his $1,000 winnings to second place finisher Sharp. Harvick was commended by his fellow NASCAR competitors for running a nearly-perfect race. Stewart, Bowyer and Blaney applauded Harvick's savvy drive despite his limited experience in the ranks of dirt racing.(RCR site)(8-16-2007)

  • No fines planned for Harvick-Montoya: On the first turn after a restart [lap 72 at Watkins Glen on Sunday], #1-Martin Truex Jr. got into the back of #42-Juan Montoya, who climbed the track and got into the side of #29-Kevin Harvick to send both into a spin. As Montoya's car came to a rest, Harvick drove the front of his car to block him from continuing to the garage. Harvick, unaware that Truex instigated the incident, then gave Montoya an inappropriate gesture that Montoya obviously didn't appreciate. The two climbed out of their cars and met on the track, with Montoya grabbing the bottom of Harvick's helmet like a football player would an opponent's face mask. The two then had an in-your-face verbal exchange that continued until Montoya shoved Harvick in the chest. NASCAR officials and Harvick's teammate, #31-Jeff Burton [also involved in the wreck when he couldn't avoid the #42 car], eventually separated the two. "I went to Kevin and said, 'It wasn't my fault. I got hit from behind,'" Montoya said. "He started shouting and grabbing me and I don't appreciate that. I have a little respect for the guy. Well, I used to have a little respect for the guy like that, because he helped me out a lot to start with." For the record, neither is expected to be fined. "I don't think they were fighting," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition. "They were discussing things." Said series director John Darby, "I thought it was cool as hell."(more at ESPN.com)
    AND Harvick will not be fined for saying 'kick his a**' as that is a word that is allowed on network TV by the FCC.(8-13-2007)

  • Harvick still ticked at Stewart: #29-Kevin Harvick is still upset with good friend #20-Tony Stewart, who ran into him in the closing laps at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and ruined what should have been a second-place finish. "He's called. I just haven't answered," Harvick said Thursday between practice sessions for the inaugural Busch Series race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The contact between the two cars with 10 laps to go in Sunday's race damaged Harvick's front fender and ruined his Chevrolet's handling. Stewart drove off to victory, Harvick faded to seventh, and the difference cost him 24 points in the standings and $116,439 in prize money. As they head to Pocono Raceway for this weekend's Nextel Cup race, the duo will have to work through Harvick's hard feelings. Stewart admitted right after Sunday's race that he'd made a mistake by running into Harvick while attempting to retake the lead. "If I'm going to preach about give and take, it's stupid for me to not do the same thing," Stewart said. "If I want people to race me with respect, I'm going to race people with respect. I didn't mean to get into Kevin. That wasn't my intention. There was no logical reason to get into him. That was a mistake on my part." It's particularly awkward because Harvick and Stewart are good friends, and Stewart regularly drives Harvick-owned cars in the Busch Series. Stewart even drove Kevin Harvick Inc. cars to a pair of victories at Daytona. Harvick said he just needs some time. "I don't think you let anything on the track affect your relationship off the race track," he said. "For me, it's better to just take some time and think about things and just realize where we are and go from there. I'll get over it. At some point. And we'll still be friends."(Associated Press)(8-3-2007)
    UPDATE: from a GM Racing PR, #20-Tony Stewart was asked if had spoken to #29-Kevin Harvick:
    Q) Have You and Kevin Harvick Talked Since Indy? "Yeah, we talked last night. And I know what he was disappointed about. He should have run second. He had the second best car for sure. Kevin and I are good friends and we talked about it last night. I would have been upset if the roles were reversed too. I can't blame him for that. I made a mistake. I let the car get too high. I've heard differences of opinions from people watching the tape but I still take responsibility for it. I would never race Kevin like that on purpose. I don't race anybody like that on purpose because I'm big about racing guys clean and having them race me clean. But the thing is, when I make a mistake I fess up to it right away and I did it right in victory lane when we won the race. We had more to lose there then to gain in that situation. So it shows how big a race it is to everybody. Finishing second there would have been a heck of a lot better for him than seventh, for sure."(GM Racing PR)(8-4-2007)

  • Harvick summoned to NASCAR Hauler; no penalty expected: #29-Kevin Harvick was summoned to the NASCAR principal's office following the Allstate 400 to clarify post-race contact on the backstretch with race winner #20-Tony Stewart. Harvick said it was a standard congratulatory love tap, not retaliation for racing contact his team felt might have cost him the race. Thus he won't be penalized, NASCAR said.(ESPN.com)(7-30-2007)

  • RCR to honor Prosser at Indy, run Wake Forest decals: Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) Nextel Cup Series teams will honor Skip Prosser, the former Wake Forest University men's basketball coach who died unexpectedly on Thursday, with Wake Forest decals in Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. RCR's three Chevys driven by Kevin Harvick (#29 Reese's), Jeff Burton (#31 AT&T) and Clint Bowyer (#07 Jack Daniel's) will carry a Wake Forest decal on the B-Post of each machine. Scott Wimmer will also attempt to qualify the #33 Holiday Inn Chevy for this weekend's Nextel Cup race. If the Wimmer makes the race, the #33 machine will also display the decal. "I grew up in Winston-Salem and have spent my entire life living and working in the area," said RCR president and CEO Richard Childress. "We just want everyone in the Wake Forest Community to know that we're thinking about them during this difficult time." Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, N.C., just 14 miles north of RCR's campus in Welcome, N.C.(RCR PR)(7-28-2007)

  • Elvis, Reese's & Harvick at Indy: #29-Kevin Harvick is scheduled to run a Elvis-themed #29 Chevy that will introduce Reese's Peanut Butter & Banana Creme Cups featuring Elvis Presley and the Reese's "Live Like The King" promotion. The Collector Edition Reese's include a thin layer of banana creme, a flavor combination made famous by Elvis' love of peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Look for an announcement at Indy on July 28th.(7-20-2007)

  • Harvick and Burton Say NASCAR Needs More Drug Testing: #29-Kevin Harvick questioned NASCAR's drug testing policy after Craftsman Truck Series driver Aaron Fike was arrested and charged with possession of drugs last weekend. "I believe that every driver and every national series should be drug tested a couple of times a year randomly regardless of who you are, what you are doing," Harvick said on Friday at Chicagoland Speedway. "We owe it to the sponsors and the fans to 100 percent know this is a clean environment. It would eliminate a lot of those problems of the younger guys that disrespect the sport and the system."(ESPN.com)
    AND: Jeff Burton said he would like to see series officials do even more drug testing. "I honestly wish that we would test more than we do," Burton said. "I wish that we would have a random number of drug tests throughout the year - you know you're going to do five or six every year, or whatever the number is. There's too much at stake for this sport, too much at stake for the drivers, the racetrack, the crew members on pit road," Burton said.(Associated Press/Fox Sports)(7-14-2007)

  • RCR-DEI Engine Debut at Daytona: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies will debut the new common engine package this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. All six Richard Chiledress Racing [#07,#29,#31] and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) cars [#1,#8,#15] will run the new engine.(RCR PR)(7-4-2007)

  • Childress interested in Kyle Busch: Car owner Richard Childress was unable to sign Dale Earnhardt, Jr., but his team is hardly hurting as is. The car owner said Saturday that like a lot of car owners in the garage, he's very interested in talking with newly minted free agent Kyle Busch, possibly for a long-rumored fourth Richard Childress Racing car. "Anybody would look at Kyle right now - any team in here," said Childress. Childress, one of the most independent minds in the Nextel Cup garage, is not someone even remotely daunted by Busch's reputation as a hot head. "I can name you eight or 10 guys in here at his age that were a handful. He's learning." Of Busch, Childress added, "He's the hottest property on the market right now." In fact, some in the garage believe that Busch's driving talent is equal to or even ahead of that of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.(SPEEDtv.com)(6-17-2007)

  • Some teams looking to add 4th team: The season is not even half over and several teams say they want to expand for next season. Officials from Dale Earnhardt Inc., Evernham Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing have said they'd like to expand to four cars next year. There have been hints other teams might look add a team. How many actually do will depend on what kind of sponsorship they can find.(Greensboro News and Record)(6-16-2007)

  • Burton says RCR 'likely' to add fourth team next season: #31-Jeff Burton thinks Richard Childress Racing will add a fourth Nextel Cup Series team in 2008, citing much recent discussion about the subject as partial evidence. "I think it's likely," Burton said of adding a fourth full-time team to the RCR stable. "Obviously we can't divulge what's on our minds but we have some exciting things that could happen." Burton wouldn't divulge details, rather said "there's a lot up in the air right now that we don't 100 percent know what's going to happen." The addition isn't a no-brainer, Burton said. He was quick to point out the negatives of adding another program: 25 percent more challenges, 25 percent more problems. The chief benefit of adding a fourth team is the additional knowledge added to the resource pool.(ESPN.com)(6-9-2007)

  • #29 Pit Crew wins 1st Qtr MVP Crew Award: Start the year with a Daytona 500 victory, two top-5 and five top-10 finishes in the first 10 races of the Nextel Cup Series season and your competitors will pay attention. Nextel Cup Series crew chiefs have noted the handy work of the #29 RCR Shell-Pennzoil Pit Crew by naming them the First Quarter Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew. The Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award is given quarterly throughout the Nextel Cup Season. At the end of each quarter, the winning pit crew is determined by a vote of each team's crew chief. The four quarterly winners are eligible for the year-end Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award and a check for $100,000 awarded at the 2007 Nextel Cup Series Awards Banquet at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.(Mechanix Wear PR)(5-21-2007)

  • Harvick wins Nextel Challenge: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Nextel Challenge All-Star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway for his first ever win in the All-Star race and winning the $1 million+. #48-Johnson finished 2nd followed by #01-Martin, #31-Burton [with AT&T logos], #20-Stewart, #70-Sauter [was 2nd in the Nextel Open], #17-Kenseth [won segment 1 & 3], #12-Newman, #8-Earnhardt Jr. and #1-Truex Jr. [won the Nextel Open]. #5-Kyle Busch won the 2nd segment and took out his brother #2-Kurt Busch on lap 62 of the final segment. #78-Wallace finished 16th after winning the fan vote to get in the race. Harvick is the 4th driver to win both the Daytona 500 and All-Star race in the same year, joining #48-Jimmie Johnson [2006], #24-Jeff Gordon [1997] and the late Davey Allison [1992]. Johnson and Gordon also won the Cup championship in the same year. For the race rundown, see my 2007 All-Star Page.
    See the results on the 2007 Nextel Challenge/Open Race Results page.(5-19-2007)

  • Harvick and Childress off to Iowa Speedway on Sunday: #29-Kevin Harvick [who won the Nextel Challenge Saturday night] and owner Richard Childress will head to Iowa Speedway where Harvick will compete in the NASCAR Grand National Division combination race between the Busch East Series and the West Series. The Featherlite 200 will be the first NASCAR-sanctioned race at the track located in Newton, Iowa. Harvick will compete in the race while Childress serves as the Grand Marshal. Richard Childress Racing also has two development drivers in NASCAR's Grand National Division, with Ryan Foster and Tim McCreadie in the West Series. Other Grand National Division drivers with development ties to the Nextel Cup Series are Joey Logano and Marc Davis (Joe Gibbs Racing), Jeffrey Earnhardt (DEI), Chase Austin (Rusty Wallace Inc.), Jamie Hayes (Ken Schrader Racing), Ruben Pardo and Pierre Bourque (Fitz Racing), and Jesus Hernandez (Ginn Racing). Rusty Wallace played a key role in designing the Iowa Speedway.(LMS Pit Notes). The race be aired live on HDNet at 4:00pm/et.(5-20-2007)

  • DEI and RCR team up to build engines: One of NASCAR's greatest partnerships - Childress and Earnhardt - has been expanded with the creation of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies. Richard Childress and Teresa Earnhardt announced today that the joint venture partnership will combine the Chevrolet engine departments of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), with engine development work to begin immediately. Construction of a permanent stand-alone facility located between RCR and DEI will begin later this summer with completion expected by mid 2008. A specific site has not been announced, although a location has been identified pending zoning approval. Until that facility is complete, all work will be divided between the RCR's engine shop in Welcome, N.C. and DEI's shop in Mooresville, N.C. It is anticipated that all six RCR and DEI cars will run the first common engine at Daytona in July. Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies will develop and build engines for the Chevrolet Nextel Cup Series and Busch Series teams campaigned by the two companies. A long-term goal of the joint venture will include an engine leasing program for teams in NASCAR's top three divisions. The partnership also has long-term plans to diversify and expand beyond NASCAR by providing race engines to teams competing in series such as the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, various off-road and stock car series, sports car series, etc. This is not the first time RCR and DEI have worked together in a technology partnership. RAD, an acronym for the three teams owned by Richard Childress, Andy Petree and Dale Earnhardt, was formed in the late 90's as an aerodynamic consortium between the programs. The partnership was considered wildly successful with the three teams dominating the aerodynamically sensitive restrictor plate tracks Daytona and Talladega for the next few years.(DEI PR)(5-18-2007)

  • Harvick goes Platinum for All-Star Challenge: #29-Kevin Harvick will transform his bright yellow-and-red Shell-Pennzoil Chevy into a shining platinum colored paint scheme for the Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway in recognition of his sponsorship from Pennzoil Platinum Full synthetic motor oil. Pennzoil Platinum full synthetic motor oil has adaptive molecules to manage the constant mechanical stresses inside an engine.(RCR PR)(5-16-2007)

  • Reese's 2007 debut on the #29 at RIR: Reese's, a major associate sponsor RCR's #29 Chevy, kicks into high gear this weekend in Richmond as Kevin Harvick and the #29 team transform their bright yellow-and-red Shell-Pennzoil Chevy into a bright orange Reese's racing machine for the Crown Royal 400.(RCR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(5-4-2007)

  • Childress running the #3.....in Late Models with grandson: NASCAR fans often ask Richard Childress when he'll bring back the black #3 Chevrolet made famous by the late Dale Earnhardt. Fans who attended last Saturday's dirt-track races at 311 Speedway know the answer. And they know that Childress, who has said since Earnhardt's death that it would take a unique situation to bring back the best-known number in NASCAR, stayed true to his word. The driver he chose to run #3 is young and talented, clean-cut and polite and thinks the world of Childress. He's Childress' oldest grandson, Austin Dillon. Based on the way he drove in his first Super Late Model race, there may come a day when Dillon is behind the wheel of a similar-looking car in NASCAR. In his first try in dirt racing's elite division, Dillon qualified fifth from a field of more than 30, then drove like a veteran, broad-sliding through the corners, stepping on the accelerator to make the car turn and challenging the drivers in front of him on almost every lap. Childress watched from the top of the team hauler, just as he has done for decades during Nextel Cup races. Every pass brought a big smile to his face. "He's driving the heck out of it," Childress said. "He's doing good for a 16-year-old kid." Childress dotes on his grandsons, Austin and Ty, who is two years younger than Austin and beginning his own racing career. They are the sons of Mike Dillon, a long-time Busch Series driver, and Childress' daughter, Tina.(see full story at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and an image of the car at tommysracingphotos.com(4-14-2007)

  • Harvick and Martin to race at Iowa: #29-Kevin Harvick and #01-Mark Martin will race at Iowa Speedway this year. Harvick, driving for Richard Childress Racing, will race in the track's first NASCAR race, the NASCAR Grand National East-West Sunday, May 20. Martin, driving for Ginn Racing, will race Friday night, July 13, in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series race. The announcement was made by Iowa Speedway Vice President and General Manager, Craig Armstrong.(Iowa Speedway site)(4-12-2007)

  • Harvick's helmet taken.....but recovered UPDATE: don't have a ton of details on this, but heard from sources at the track that someone broke into the #29 RCR garage this morning at Atlanta Motor Speedway, taking Kevin Harvick's helmet and was supposedly caught climbing a fence with the helmet on, no word on any other items taken or any damage by the person.(3-18-2007)
    UPDATE: Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick's helmet was stolen from the #29 hauler in the Nextel Cup garage Sunday morning. But the caper was quickly foiled by speedway security. "[NASCAR] was notified early this morning that track security had come across and apprehended two individuals in the garage who were in the possession of Kevin Harvick's racing helmet," NASCAR spokesperson Kerry Tharp said. "The police were notified, the individuals were arrested and the helmet was returned safe and sound."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(3-19-2007)

  • Childress to Speak March 8 at Neurosurgeon Convention: Richard Childress will give a speech March 8 to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (AANS/CNS). The speech, entitled "The Importance of Teamwork," is part of the 2007 AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves Annual Meeting at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix. The 10-time NASCAR championship team owner and winning team owner of the 2007 Daytona 500 was invited to speak to the group by his friend, Charles L. Branch Jr., MD, chair of the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, and a practicing neurosurgeon at Wake Forest University Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.(RCR PR)(3-8-2007)

  • Harvick's Shell Logos to be scaled down UPDATE: #29-Kevin Harvick likely won't be wearing his Shell sponsorship logos quite so prominently this weekend at California Speedway. Harvick's team has been asked to utilize logos representing the Pennzoil automotive lubricant part of the company more prominently instead of the dominant Shell logo associated with the company's gasoline in an effort to play down any perceived competition with Sunoco, the official fuel of NASCAR. Sunoco has exclusive rights to the fuel category at a NASCAR track, and company officials raised the logo matter after Harvick won both the Busch and Nextel Cup series races wearing prominent Shell logos at Daytona International Speedway. As a result, Harvick will apparently be sporting smaller Shell logos at this weekend's events at California Speedway. "Obviously we've got a lot of partners and constituencies in the garage area that are important to the entire industry, and when these things come up we want to work through them as best we can," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Thursday morning.(SceneDaily.com)(2-22-2007)
    UPDATE: #29-Kevin Harvick isn't the only participant to have a new racing uniform for the Auto Club 500 today at California Speedway. His crew has new uniforms, too. The crew uniform, which had the Shell logo as the prominent display on the front and back of the uniform and "Shell" down the pant leg, now has the word "Pennzoil" on the front and back in addition to the Shell logo and now has Pennzoil written down the pant leg. The new uniform is similar to the new one of Harvick's. According to NASCAR Vice President Steve O'Donnell, the Shell sponsorship is supposed to focus on the motor oil Pennzoil and not the gasoline so as not to interfere with official fuel supplier Sunoco's marketing agreement. Shell received incredible exposure with Harvick's Daytona 500 victory last week. NASCAR, which is responsible for enforcing Sunoco's exclusivity deal, required the change in the Richard Childress Racing team's uniforms as well as Harvick's helmet.(SceneDaily.com)(2-26-2007)
  • Harvick's Winning Daytona 500 car inducted Into DAYTONA USA: Kevin Harvick and his #29 Richard Childress Racing team had an early wake-up call on Monday morning for Daytona 500 car induction ceremonies at DAYTONA USA. After celebrating their triumph in the 49th annual Daytona 500 victory on Sunday night, Harvick, owner Richard Childress and crew chief Todd Berrier inducted their winning racing machine into DAYTONA USA as part of the Banquet Brown 'N Serve Champion's Breakfast. The #29 Shell Chevy will rest inside Gatorade Victory Lane at DAYTONA USA for the next 364 days and will be returned to the team before the start of the historic 50th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, 2008. Harvick also autographed artist David Arrigo's DIRECTV Speedweeks mural painting and the entire #29 team including Harvick signed the winning #29 car.(DIS PR)(2-19-2007)

  • Harvick wins Daytona 500: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway for his 1st ever Daytona 500 win on the 6 year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's death. It was the 2nd Daytona 500 win for car owner Richard Childress, who won in 1998 with Earnhardt. Harvick is the 31st driver to win the Daytona 500 in 49 races and it was his 11th career win. Harvick won $1,510,469. With a green-white-checker finished after a wreck on lap 196. Martin was leading when the green-white-checker flew and was holding off the field until #5-Busch got loose and caused a large wreck at the very end. NASCAR chose not to throw a caution and let Martin and Harvick race to the start-finish line, with Harvick nipping Martin by 2/100ths of a second. Martin held onto 2nd followed by #31-Burton, #09-Wallace, #6-Ragan [the highest finishing rookie], #19-Sadler, #9-Kahne, #38-Gilliland [pole sitter], #13-Nemechek and #24-Gordon.. Harvick had also won the Busch race Saturday, becoming the 4th driver to win both races [Bobby Allison 1988, Darrell Waltrip 1989, Dale Earnhardt Jr 2004]. #2-Kurt Busch led the most laps with 95, but while running 2nd, got into a wreck with then leader #20-Tony Stewart, ending both of their days. #07-Clint Bowyer had a wild ride on the final lap wreck, crossing the s/f line on his roof, the car turned back over, caught fire and Bowyer got out ok. There were 7 cautions for 25 laps [and approx a 15 minute red flag during the 6th and final caution] and 9 drivers lead the race with 13 lead changes.
    For race results see my Daytona Race Results page
    For points standings see my Drivers/Owners Points Standings page after Daytona page.(2-18-2007)

  • 2007 Daytona 500 Champion's Schedule:
    (Tentative and Subject to Change)
    Monday, February 19th
    7:50am - ABC's Good Morning America LIVE via satellite 8:00am - Daytona 500 Car Induction Ceremony Daytona USA 9:00am - Daytona 500 Media Breakfast, Bill France Room - Daytona USA 9:45am - One on One Interviews:
      ESPN Cold Pizza
      INSIDE Nextel Cup
      The Morning Drive on SIRIUS
    10:30am - FOX Sports Radio Out of Bounds
    12:00pm - Wheels up to New York, NY
    4:00pm - The Late Show with David Letterman [guest: Jim Carrey], airs 11:35pm/et
    Tuesday, February 20th
    9:00am - Live with Regis and Kelly [guest: Heather Graham]
    11:00am - Luncheon with New York Media, Waldorf=Astoria Peacock Alley
    1:00pm - Nextel Cup Series Teleconference
    3:00pm - Various Interviews at ESPN Headquarters
    Wednesday, February 21st
    1:00pm/pt - California Speedway Day in LA Hollywood and Highland
    4:00pm/pt Mason and Ireland Radio Show
    7:00pm/pt ABC's Jimmy Kimmel LIVE
    Thursday, February 22nd
    7:20am/pt - Rick Dees Radio Show
    TBA - Various TV and Radio Morning Shows.(NASCAR PR)(2-18-2007)

  • Childress Inducted into Oceanside Rotary Club Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame: NASCAR champion team owner Richard Childress was inducted into the Rotary Club of Oceanside Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame last night in ceremonies at The Shores Resort and Spa in Daytona Beach Shores. The 18th annual event also saw the induction of legendary NASCAR executive Les Richter. The Hall of Fame is located inside The Shores Resort & Spa. Past inductees include Richard Petty (1990), Bill France (1993), Benny Parsons (1998), Bill France, Jr. (2001), and Dale Earnhardt (2004).(RCR PR)(2-14-2007)

  • Chevy offering Free Premiers of 'Dale' to race fans: Chevrolet and GM Goodwrench will support the premier of the highly anticipated documentary "DALE" as presenting sponsors and by hosting exclusive screenings in 40 markets across the U.S. mirroring the Nextel Cup schedule. Chevrolet and GM Goodwrench dealers will hold over 100 premiers of "DALE," a documentary showcasing the life of Dale Earnhardt. The first Chevrolet/GM Goodwrench showing will take place in Clearwater, Fla. on Jan. 28 with 23 additional Florida screenings to be held throughout Daytona, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and West Palm Beach prior to the Daytona 500. Go to www.dalethemovie.com or see your local Chevy Dealer for details? Race fans can find a list of participating dealers, relive their favorite memories of Earnhardt, express their relationship with the #3 team, view exclusive interviews and fresh content on the film, as well as Earnhardt's racing career at www.Goodwrench.com.(GM Racing PR)(1-25-2007)

  • Teresa a 'deadbeat' owner per Harvick; Dale Jr. says "That's ridiculous": #29-Kevin Harvick knows the odds of #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaving the company his father built for the company his father raced for are very long. But Harvick would understand if NASCAR's most popular driver left Dale Earnhardt Inc. for Richard Childress Racing after the 2007 season if contract negotiations broke down. He can't imagine how difficult it is for Earnhardt Jr. to work in a company where the owner, stepmother Teresa Earnhardt, seldom comes to the track. "It's hard when you have what I call a deadbeat owner that doesn't come to the racetrack," Harvick said during Tuesday's visit to RCR on the second day of NASCAR's 2007 media tour. "Richard [Childress] is one of the best owners in the garage. You always see Richard Childress. You always see Chip Ganassi. All these owners, they all come to the racetrack. It's not just a money pit that somebody says, 'Well, I can make money off of Dale Jr. I can make money off of Dale Earnhardt.' " Harvick, who owns a Busch Series team, said race teams can't be run from home. "You have to be at the racetrack and you have to play the politics of the sport and you have to be a part of your team and you have to understand what's going on," he said. "To me, from the outside looking in, it doesn't look like that's happening."
    Earnhardt Jr., at a dinner Monday night in Concord, said, "You're killing me. That's ridiculous," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I don't think there is a comment for that remark." Earnhardt Jr. said with everything his stepmother has dealt with since the death of his father in 2001 on the last lap of the Daytona 500, "she had a full plate. We're successful on the racetrack, the people are in the right place." Earnhardt Jr. said negotiations are ongoing for a contract beyond 2007, and he expects to settle in the next couple of months.(ESPN.com)(1-24-2007)

  • Rheem Manufacturing to be a major associate sponsor on #29 RCR Chevy: Rheem Manufacturing Company announced its sponsorship of the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) #29 car for the 36-race Nextel Cup Series season. Rheem will be featured prominently on the lower rear quarter panels of RCR's #29 car driven by Kevin Harvick. Rheem becomes the major associate sponsor of the car, while Shell is the primary sponsor. The new Rheem-RCR relationship takes to the track for the Nextel Cup Series opener at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. According to Rheem President J.R. Jones, Rheem will fully leverage its sponsorship through numerous business-driving initiatives, with a main emphasis on reward, recognition, and new business development programs for heating, cooling and plumbing distributors and contractors. In addition to a fully-integrated sales and marketing communications program that will be rolled out throughout the year, Jones says Rheem will also explore new business and marketing relationships with other motorsports sponsors. More info about Rheem at www.rheem.com.(RCR PR)(1-23-2007)

  • RoadLoans.com to be an associate sponsor on #29: Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) announced a partnership with RoadLoans for the 2007 season. The internet direct-to-consumer auto lender will sponsor the #33 Chevy for 14 Busch Series races. RoadLoans.com will also be an associate sponsor on the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) #29 Shell Chevy driven by Kevin Harvick in the Nextel Cup Series.(KHI PR)(1-18-2007)

  • Congrats: Cooper Berrier was born early Saturday, December 30th at 1:44am to Todd and Ginger Berrier. Cooper weighed 8lbs 9oz.(1-4-2007)

2006 News

  • Neighbors not happy with RCR engine noise, RCR working on problem: Until a few months ago, racing the engines at the Richard Childress Racing [#'s 07,29,31,33 in Nextel Cup] garage in Welcome, NC was never a problem, according to residents. Then, the team cleared 10 acres of forest between its buildings and nearby neighborhoods for its expansion. Those trees served as a muffler for the noise. Now that they're gone, people say the noise is unbearable. Some neighbors said the noise rattles their windows. Monday night, the Davidson County Commissioners granted RCR a zoning request that green lights the expansion. While the neighbors were disappointed with the decision, RCR spokesman Bill Patterson said the racing team will plant cypress trees along the back property line to create a buffer. Patterson also said the team has spent $500,000 on reducing noise and will do more. Neighbors said they'd like to see a sound reduction wall.(wxii12.com)(12-12-2006)

  • Harvick wins at Phoenix: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Checkers Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway to sweep both Cup races there in 2006, his 5th win of 2006 and 10th of his career. Harvick led the most laps with 252 of 312. #48-Johnson finished 2nd [for the 3rd race in a row] to increase his points lead over #17-Kenseth to by 63 points. If Johnson finishes 12th or better at Homestead-Miami he will win the 2006 Nextel Cup Championship. The rest of the top-10 were #11-Hamlin, #24-Gordon, #99-Edwards, #6-Martin, #9-Kahne, #2-Busch, #8-Earnhardt Jr. and #31-Burton. Only two Chasers out of the top-10: #17-Kenseth 13th and #5-Busch 38th after getting involved in a late race crash. There were 10 cautions for 58 laps [a ~9 minute red flag during the last caution] and 7 drivers lead the race with 12 lead changes.
    Race Results on my Phoenix Race Results/Awards Page.
    Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Phoenix page
    Race Rundown: see my Phoenix Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race penalties, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(11-12-2006)

  • Harvick Victory at Phoenix Awards 29 Lucky Race Fans an All-New 2007 Chevy Avalanche: #29-GM Goodwrench driver Kevin Harvick powered to victory in the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway to complete the #29 Goodwrench Expertise Challenge and award 29 lucky Expertise Challenge grand prize winners with an all-new 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche. With the win at Phoenix and a victory at Richmond International Raceway in September, Harvick and the GM Goodwrench team successfully completed the #29 Goodwrench Expertise Challenge, a unique promotion designed by GM Service and Parts Operations (GMSPO) to award a total of 29 lucky fans with an all-new 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche, a $1,000 GM vehicle maintenance certificate from Goodwrench and a trunk full of Reese's products, if Harvick won 2 of 12 selected Nextel Cup races. As part of the Expertise Challenge promotion, GM Goodwrench also will establish a $200,000 scholarship fund to provide tuition assistance to AYES high school students who choose to continue their automotive technical education by attending GM ASEP colleges. Beginning in May, the Expertise Challenge promotion offered GM customers and race fans the chance to win a variety of prizes, including an all-new 2007 Avalanche, by visiting a Chevrolet dealership or a Chevy display at select NASCAR events to obtain a ticket with an official promotion code. They also could visit goodwrench.com/expert to obtain a promotion code and complete the registration process.(GMSPO PR)(11-14-2006)

  • Cookies Scheme for Harvick at Phoenix: Kevin Harvick will get behind the wheel of the #29 Reese's Milk Chocolate Layered Cookies Chevy. Reese's Milk Chocolate Layered Cookies have the candy taste you love with a big cookie crunch.(RCR PR)(11-9-2006)

  • #10 crew member/Harvick scuffle UPDATE 3: reported on Speed Channel's SPEED Report by Bob Dillner, per FoxSports.com: Emotions definitely flowed over to the postrace activities as the guys walked to the garage area. After the Dickies 500, the #10 and the #29 teams were coming down the entrance way to the garage area where all of the teams bring their pit boxes. There was an altercation between the #10 team and Kevin and DeLana Harvick. Apparently, Kevin and DeLana both got knocked down. NASCAR's Jim Hunter told me they are investigating the situation wholeheartedly and expects that there will be fined and penalties either Tuesday or Wednesday. "After the fact, right out of the moment, everybody's pretty hot-headed (and) got to running their mouth a little bit," Richard Childress Racing Director Mike Dillion said. "That's about all it was. Somebody got shoved, and they're sorting it out now. But they shoved Kevin and his wife down in front of the pit box is what was bad. Everybody out here has done it in their racing career at some point in time. It's just unfortunate. The guys need to let the drivers handle it. One of the NASCAR officials got hurt trying to stop the box," Dillion continued. "That's pretty bad, too. Hurt his ankle so they took him to the infield care center." A lot of people were called to the NASCAR trailer after this race, including Rodney Childers, the crew chief for Scott Riggs and the #10 team. He's responsible for the actions of everybody. DeLana and Kevin Harvick were both brought in as well. Several eyewitnesses were brought in. In fact, Roger Penske was up there talking to NASCAR President Mike Helton and Nextel Cup Series Director John Darby and everybody that was looking at the incident.(11-5-2006)
    UPDATE: been told the #10 Crew Member has been suspended for the rest of the season.(11-7-2006)
    UPDATE 2: Sirius Speedway has learned that NASCAR will announce later today that it has indefinitely suspended Craig "C.C." Curione, the front tire carrier for Scott Riggs' #10 Dodge, for his role in a postrace altercation Sunday night at Texas Motor Speedway. Curione was identified as the member of Riggs' Evernham Motorsports crew who shoved Kevin Harvick from behind while he and his wife, DeLana, were walking to the infield media center following the Dickies 500. The Harvicks and NASCAR official John Sacco all fell, landing in the path of the #10 team's war wagon, which hit Sacco and left him with a sprained ankle. The Harvicks were not hurt. Spokesman Kerry Tharp said earlier today, "NASCAR has been looking into this postrace incident since it occurred. It's something we take very seriously. An announcement regarding a course of action could come as early as Tuesday." A spokeswoman for Evernham Motorsports said the team has cooperated with NASCAR's investigation, and will have no comment until a final determination has been made.(Motorsports Soapbox)(11-7-2006)
    OFFICIAL Penalty: NASCAR announced today that Craig Curione, a crew member for the #10 Dodge team, has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR and fined $10,000 for a rule violation he committed following last Sunday's race at Texas Motor Speedway. The action resulted from violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing; involved in an altercation with another Competitor) of the 2006 NASCAR Rule book.(NASCAR PR)(11-7-2006)
    MORE: Statement from James Rocco - Valvoline Evernham Racing, Designated Team Owner: "After a comprehensive internal review of the post-race incident between Kevin Harvick and a member of the #10 team, Valvoline Evernham Racing supports NASCAR's decision to indefinitely suspend the involved crew member. We apologize to Kevin and DeLana Harvick, NASCAR, our partners and our fans for this incident. The behavior demonstrated by the involved crew member was in violation of the Valvoline Evernham Racing Employee Code of Conduct and will not be tolerated. We concur with NASCAR's ruling and will not appeal the suspension or fine."(Evernham Motorsports/Clear!Blue PR)(11-7-2006)

  • Harvick to skip Memphis Busch Race? There may be a slim chance newly crowned Busch Series champion Kevin Harvick will skip the October 28th race at Memphis. Harvick and the US Coast Guard Chevy team locked up the title this past weekend at Charlotte. "I haven't even looked at the schedule yet" said Harvick during a break at the Homestead-Miami Speedway test. "I don't foresee that happening. We didn't plan to do anything but racing there at the beginning of the year anyway. We'll sit down and look at it for sure after Martinsville and go from there."(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(10-17-2006)

  • Sponsor change on the #29? UPDATE 4 Shell/Pennzoil to be sponsor: hearing that GM Goodwrench will not return as the primary sponsor of Kevin Harvick's #29 RCR Chevy in 2007, supposedly Reese's/Hershey's will return as a co-sponsor and a gasoline and lubricant supplier would be the other co-primary.(9-16-2006)
    UPDATE: During the PRN's "Fast Talk with Benny Parsons" radio show Monday night car owner Richard Childress commented briefly on rumors that GM Goodwrench would not be back to sponsor Kevin Harvick's Chevy in 2007. "There's always rumors out there swinging around. We're talking about 'em right now...we're looking at what we're going to do next year and right now our plans are Goodwrench and Hershey for next year but who knows what can happen in the sport...things change."(PRN's "Fast Talk with Benny Parsons" radio show)(9-19-2006)
    UPDATE 2: hearing the new co-primary sponsor for the #29 RCR Chevy will be Shell Oil, no idea how many races. Hershey's/Reese's will return in 2007, supposedly in a simliar number of races as 2006.(10-5-2006)
    UPDATE 3: RCR is scheduled to make some sort of annoucement at Talladega regarding some 2007 plans, not sure if the Shell announcement will be made. Also the Shell site has a link to a shell announcement webcast.(10-6-2006)
    UPDATE 4: UPDATE 4: it was announced on Saturday, Oct 7th at Talladega Superspeedway that Shell/Pennzoil will sponsor the #29 RCR Chevy in 2007 for a unspecified number of races, Hershey's will still sponsor some races and GM Goodwrench will be aboard as a sponsor for a couple of races. The 2007 car was unveiled using the Car of Tomorrow painted in Shell/Pennzoil colors, mostly yellow with a white roof, the word Pennzoil and the Shell logo on the hood, Shell and the Shell logo on the quarter panels.
    PRESS RELEASE: Shell Oil Company announced the brand's return to NASCAR today through a multi-year primary sponsorship of Richard Childress Racing (RCR). Through the sponsorship both Shell and Pennzoil brands will be featured on the #29 Chevy to be driven by Kevin Harvick in the 2007 Nextel Cup series. Shell will also be the associate sponsor on other RCR cars including the #31 Cup car driven by Jeff Burton and the #07 Cup car driven by Clint Bowyer. "We're proud to have Shell come on-board as the primary sponsor of RCR's #29 team with Kevin Harvick," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "Shell has a long history in motorsports throughout the world and we look forward to adding to that winning tradition. We're fortunate to once again have a sponsor for the #29 team that is committed to supporting its racing program in a lot of exciting ways. We're also proud to be continuing our relationship with GM Goodwrench and the winning tradition we've had together for more than two decades."
    The company's technological leadership and its innovative products have helped position Shell as the "preferred partner" both on and off the track for some of the auto industry's top companies including General Motors (GM), Ferrari and Audi. The new alliance with Richard Childress Racing and Kevin Harvick bring together the market share leader in fuels and lubricants with a #1 team, which makes a formidable combination. "Our plan with RCR and Kevin Harvick is pretty simple; have fun with our employees, wholesalers, retailers, distributors and customers through a sport we all love," said John Hofmeister, president, Shell Oil Company. "It's also about aligning the leading fuels and lubricants brands with a winner on the track so we can create innovative marketing platforms and products that drive business. NASCAR fans and Shell customers are one in the same, and rejoining Shell with the NASCAR family is the next logical step in our global motorsports platform."
    Shell lubricant brands, Pennzoil, Quaker State and ROTELLA T, have all been collectively active in NASCAR for several decades. Additionally, Pennzoil has maintained a variety of sponsorships and technical partnerships with DEI and Roush Racing, while Quaker State has been with Hendrick Motorsports since 1995. This season, ROTELLA T and Morgan Dollar Racing with Dennis Setzer are partners in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. GM Goodwrench, currently the primary sponsor of Harvick's #29 car, will also continue to support RCR racing and Kevin Harvick as an associate sponsor. "We're pleased that GM Goodwrench will continue to have a presence on the car," added Hofmeister. "To be associated with a sponsor with a strong history in motorsports is really the icing on the cake. This new relationship on the track will complement the many programs we have with General Motors off the track. We're working together to make hydrogen available to consumers through a local Shell station in Washington, D.C; in Chicago we have a joint test pilot to gauge consumer interest in E85, and we provide supply for some of GM's lubricants needs." While no immediate plans were shared with regard to the company's marketing efforts in NASCAR, Shell officials said more news will be forthcoming on activations plans surrounding Richard Childress Racing and the #29 Shell car. For more information about Shell, visit www.shell.com.(RCR PR)(10-7-2006)

  • DeLana Harvick honored: DeLana Harvick, wife of Nextel Cup driver #29-Kevin Harvick, was honored by the Hershey Co. on Saturday morning. Harvick was chosen as a "Sensational Woman" by the company for her efforts in helping the first against breast cancer. Today marks the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She was the first of four women to receive the honor from the chocolate company. Harvick, who lost her father to cancer last year, had $5,000 donated in her honor by Hershey. "It's important that people get behind this all year long," Harvick said. "It's more than just a one-month-a-year cause."(Kansas City Star/GM Racing PR)(10-1-2006)

  • Hershey Honoring Delana Harvick at Kansas: The Hershey Company and Young Survival Coalition will be honoring DeLana Harvick, this Saturday at 11:0am at the Sprint Fan Walk Stage. DeLana will be recognized as one of four "Sensational Women" on behalf of The Hershey's Company and YSC. YSC is the only international, non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer. Limited edition pinkYork peppermint patties, Hershey's Kisses and Hershey's Nuggets will hit the shelves this Fall to raise breast cancer awareness across the country. The Hershey Company is also supporting the campaign by contributing $250,000 to the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), the only non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to addressing the concerns and issues unique to young women and breast cancer. The donation doubles Hershey's 2005 financial contribution and will be supported by the York peppermint pattie, Hershey's Kisses and Hershey's Nuggets brands.(RCR PR)(9-27-2006)

  • RCR Forms Partnership with Metris: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) is investing in a multi-million dollar partnership with Metris to utilize the Belgium-based company's integrated metrology solutions for use in the production of the nine-time NASCAR champion racing organization's engines and race cars. Metris, with U.S. operations in Detroit, California and Virginia, will supply RCR with proven high-technology metrology systems, both contact and optical, and the expertise to improve the aerodynamics and boost the performance of its engines. The partnership is another strategic move in RCR's continuing bid to boost the performance of its cars with winning technology. "We're partnering with Metris because of its impressive range of advanced metrology products," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "We're confident that the expertise its engineers have demonstrated will help us to push the performance of our race cars to the next level. The technology involved in NASCAR today continues to grow and RCR's partnership with Metris will put us on the cutting edge in both the engine and fabrication shops." Metris provides integrated solutions for automotive and aerospace metrology. The portfolio comprises Coordinate-Measuring Machines (CMM), Optical CMM, 3D Laser Scanners, Laser Radar and iGPS systems along with Focus, the leading inspection and reverse engineering software. "Having Metris' equipment on-site at RCR will help facilitate our engine and body fabrication sides of the business," said Bobby Hutchens, RCR's vice president of research and development. "On the fab side, it will provide us with the technology to more precisely duplicate our bodies and, on the engine side, will ensure that both the parts we purchase from outside sources as well as those produced by RCR's Okuma Technology Center meet our current specifications." More info about Metris at www.metris.com. (RCR PR)(9-22-2006)

  • Ex-employee's lawsuit claims improprieties in engine shop at RCR UPDATE Statement by Childress: .A lawsuit filed by a former Richard Childress Racing employee includes specific allegations that engines the team used in events at 2006 Speedweeks at Daytona were designed to defeat NASCAR rules. The team denies the allegations. Anthony Corrente, who lost his job as assistant manager for engine research and development for RCR earlier this year, filed his suit Wednesday in Mecklenburg County superior court. It alleges wrongful termination, defamation and breach of contract against the team, which fields Nextel Cup cars for #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton and #07-Clint Bowyer. Corrente said he inspected an engine from Harvick's #29 Chevy after the Budweiser Shootout and found it had been altered to allow more air to enter, which would be contrary to the purpose of carburetor restrictor plates used at the Daytona track. "Inserts were placed in the four outside corners of the cylinder head where the manifold is attached," the lawsuit says. When tightened, the bottom of the bolts hit these inserts, leaving room for air to get in between the intake manifold and the cylinder head. Such air would get to the engine beneath the restrictor plate, which is designed specifically to limit the flow of air. More air means more power, at least in theory. The suit also says that Burton won the pole for this year's Daytona 500 with another engine that had the same modifications. Burton's engine passed NASCAR inspection following the qualifying session. David Hart, a spokesman for Richard Childress Racing, said Thursday that Corrente's allegations are untrue. "We will deal with them in the courts," Hart said. Corrente left Joe Gibbs Racing in July 2005, signing a three-year contract with a two-year renewal option at RCR. He said he was fired after a conversation with Harvick in May during a test at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where Harvick's team had tested an engine built to Corrente's specifications that differed from what the team had been doing. See full story by David Poole at ThatsRacin.(9-21-2006)
    UPDATE Statement by Richard Childress: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing (RCR), regarding allegations made in a lawsuit filed by a former employee: "The allegations made about RCR in a lawsuit filed by a disgruntled former employee are absolutely untrue. Specifically, our cars passed NASCAR inspection both before and after qualifying for the 2006 Daytona 500. Additional allegations made are also untrue. We will make no further comments until after the issue is resolved in a court of law."(RCR PR)(9-22-2006)

  • More on the Speed Channel/RCR Wheels Report: per NASCAR Live with Eli Gold, Kevin Harvick comments, "We have an inspection process that happens every week. The ironic part about it is that our wheels are taken to the racetrack by a wheel company every week. Really, the only thing you can touch is the valve stem. And the report was, that, you know, I don't even know, laser cut holes in the wheels. So, there's really no possible way that you could even wind up knowing what corner that the wheels are going to be mounted on, because the tires are already mounted when you get to the race track. If somebody would have just done their homework for thirty seconds or a couple of minutes and just figured out exactly what they were doing, they would have realized they would have realized that it's virtually impossible to do what they reported. So, it's just unfortunate that we've spent the whole week talking about Bob Dillner instead of talking about our win, and that's unfortunate for the Speed Channel that they are where they are in their journalism state of reporters."(MRN Radio)(9-21-2006)

  • Coast Guard will not return to RCR #21 Busch car in 2007: The United States Coast Guard will not return in 2007 as the primary sponsor of Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) #21 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series. Budget restructuring allocated the proposed funding for the team sponsorship to other areas of the Coast Guard. "It's been an honor for RCR to have the Coast Guard sponsor the #21 team Busch team this season," said Richard Childress, president and CEO. "We have been fortunate to spend some time with the brave men and women of the Coast Guard who are serving their country by keeping its maritime borders safe. While we hoped they would return in 2007, we understand the Coast Guard's decision and will do all we can to win them the NASCAR Busch Series championship." Team Coast Guard, with drivers Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton, currently leads the Busch Series point standings with seven wins (six with Harvick; one with Burton), and 19 top-five and 25 top-10 finishes in 28 races. Harvick has a 619-point lead in the driver standings with seven races remaining and is on track to have the largest season-ending point margin in series history. "Richard Childress Racing has been a terrific partner. They have represented the Coast Guard extremely well both on and off the track, with numerous promotional events and an unprecedented level of success in the Busch Series this year," said Adm. Thad W. Allen, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, "We thank Richard, Kevin and Jeff for all they've done to raise the awareness of the Coast Guard with the legions of NASCAR fans everywhere. I congratulate the entire organization for what has truly been an unforgettable year."(RCR PR)(9-20-2006)

  • Issue with #29 and #31 cars after race at NHIS UPDATE's NASCAR denies; RCR & Speed's statements: FoxSports/Speed's Bob Dilner reports: have learned that there was an issue with the winning car of #29-Kevin Harvick and also his teammate, #31-Jeff Burton, in postrace tech [at New Hampshire Intl Speedway in the Cup race]. That issue surrounded the actual [wheel] rim of the race car. The team apparently manipulated that rim to act as a bleeder valve to release air pressure from that rim. In English, it was performance advantage for the RCR team. Now, it was not against anything in the rule book so there won't be any fines or points penalties later on this week, but they have been told not to do it again.(more at FoxSports)(9-18-2006)
    UPDATE: Race winner Kevin Harvick and his teammate, Jeff Burton, did not have any problems in post race tech Sunday night at Loudon. Late Sunday night, it was reported that the Richard Childress Racing teams had manipulated their rims to act as a bleeder valve to release air pressure from the rim. According to NASCAR however, the issue of the rims never surfaced during post race tech. "We've been checking valves and valve stems for about 4 months now," said Jim Hunter Vice President of Corporate Communications for NASCAR said Monday. "What it was, was one reporter trying to make something that wasn't there. Then another reporter went on TV and reported it as fact, when it was actually totally untrue. It was one reporter's unsubstantiated fantasy,"(Cupscene.com)
    AND The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing (RCR), regarding allegations in the media after the Sept. 19 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway that two of RCR's teams had manipulated the rules: "Reports in the media, specifically on SPEED TV, that one or more of our NEXTEL Cup Series teams was found by NASCAR to be manipulating the rules yesterday at New Hampshire International Speedway are false and misleading. Our cars passed post-race inspection and officials at NASCAR assured us last night and again today that no one from RCR was told at any time not to bring a part back to the race track. The reported events and conversations did not happen. Our focus remains on two of our teams competing for the championship and the other finishing as high in the points as possible.(RCR PR) SPEED statement: SPEED issues the following response to statements made by NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing regarding a story filed by SPEED reporter Bob Dillner during the Sept. 17 LIVE broadcast of The SPEED Report. "SPEED reporter Bob Dillner has a strong record of solid reporting from the NASCAR garage; so there is no rational reason for us to consider that the events and conversations he related to SPEED viewers are anything other than the truth," said Chris Long, SPEED Executive Producer for NASCAR programming.(SpeedTV.com) AND Kevin Harvick told Sirius Speedway that he believes a rival team was behind Sunday's SPEED TV report alleging that NASCAR had discovered issues with the team's right-front wheels. "I absolutely think it was a plant from another team," said Harvick. "NASCAR didn't say anything, so it's pretty obvious to me where it came from. It's an attempt to try and distract us from what we're doing, but they're going to have to do a lot better than that." Harvick said he knows who planted the story, but declined to name names. (Sirius Speedway/MRN Radio)(9-18-2006)
    UPDATE 3: Car owner Richard Childress told Benny Parsons during Monday night's PRN's "Fast Talk radio show" that a Speed Channel report that RCR manipulated a rim giving the 29 car a performance advantage at New Hampshire was not true. Childress said reporter Bob Dilner "Got some bad information and he talked about it before he knew all the facts." Childress fielded many phone calls from various sponsors about the story, but he did not chastise Dilner. "I've got to say something for Bob Dilner. He did not report that on purpose. He didn't do it out of anything derogatory to RCR or Jeff or Kevin. Its part of you guys (the media) job sometimes...you report things and maybe you don't get the whole story." Meanwhile the incident brought back some fond memories to the long-time car owner who won six championships with Dale Earnhardt. "All it did was made me think back to the days when Dale and RCR was winning and running good. You know, nobody ever loses...if you've ever heard that story...it's because somebody's doing something wrong to win. So, naturally with Kevin's performance the last few weeks and RCR's performance this year, people are going to say things."(PRN's "Fast Talk with Benny Parsons" radio show)(9-19-2006)

  • Peters to RCR? UPDATE: Dodge released Timothy Peters as driver of the Craftsman Series #4 truck, Bobby Hamilton Racing announced Tuesday. However, Peters shouldn't be without a ride for long. After racing for two seasons with Bobby Hamilton Racing, Peters is expected to sign with Richard Childress Racing as early as this weekend in New Hampshire. Phone messages left with Richard Childress Racing were not immediately returned, and Peters said he couldn't comment on his future. "I'm not at liberty to say anything," he said. In 17 Truck Series races this season, Peters has one top-10 finish - placing sixth on June 23 at Milwaukee. He has three career top-10 finishes in 33 Truck Series starts, and is currently 19th in the points standings. "We brought Timothy Peters in as a rookie, and with some seat time under his belt he has proven to be a hot commodity," team owner Bobby Hamilton said in a release. A potential deal with RCR would join Peters with Danville native Peyton Sellers, who is in RCR's development program, and South Boston native Jeff Burton. For now the plan is to team back up with his Bailey's South Boston team for the Bailey's 300 late model race at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 1.(Danville Register Bee)(9-15-2006)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing has signed Timothy Peters as a driver for its 2007 NASCAR Busch Series program. Peters raced the past two seasons in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Bobby Hamilton Racing. A determination is forthcoming as to which of RCR's Busch teams he will drive for. RCR is also scheduled to field a car for Peters in the Oct. 7 ARCA race at Talladega.(RCRRacing.com)(9-19-2006)

  • Harvick wins at Richmond; Stewart Misses Chase: #29-Kevin Harvick backed up his Busch Series win on Friday night by taking the win in the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 on Saturday night. He led on 6 different occasions, for 54 laps. He took the lead for the final time on lap 399, passing #5-Kyle Busch, who dominiated most of the race, leading 248 laps. #9-Kasey Kahne raced his way into the Chase for the Championship with a third place finish. #22-Dave Blaney finshed fourth and #6-Mark Martin fifth. The rest of the top ten were #16-Greg Biffle, #21-Ken Schrader, #17-Matt Kenseth, #31-Jeff Burton, and #10-Scott Riggs. It was a tough night for many of the chase contenders. #20-Tony Stewart battled an ill-handling backup call all night, finishing 18th, and falling out of the top 10 in points by 16 points. He will not be able to defend last year's championship. #11-Denny Hamlin had engine problems but managed a 15th place finish. #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. had brake problems and finished 17th. #48-Jimmie Johnson was involved in 2 accidents but stayed on track and finished 23rd. #24-Jeff Gordon finish 31st, two laps down. There were 8 leaders with 16 lead changes and 7 cautions for 48 laps.
    Race Results: on my Richmond Race Results/Awards Page.
    Points Standings: on my Drivers/Owners Points after Richmond page
    Race Rundown: see my Richmond Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown, laps lead, top 10, race penalties, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(9-9-2006)

  • Barenaked Ladies featured on the #29 at RIR: GM Goodwrench driver Kevin Harvick's #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet will sport a special paint scheme with the music group Barenaked Ladies at Richmond International Raceway for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 and the seventh #29 Goodwrench Expertise Challenge race Founded in 1988 by singer-guitarists Steven Page and Ed Robertson, the Toronto-based Barenaked Ladies includes Tyler Stewart, Jim Creegan and Kevin Hearn. The band has sold more than 14 million records worldwide, with hits such as "One Week," "Pinch Me" and "Brian Wilson." Along the way, they have developed a dedicated following and a reputation as one of North America's best-loved live acts [one of Jayski's fave].(RCR PR), see images of the scheme on the #29 Team Schemes page.(9-6-2006)

  • #200 for Harvick: #29-Kevin Harvick will make his 200th career Nextel Cup Series start this weekend during the running of the AMD at The Glen on Sunday, August 13th. Among active drivers to reach this feat, Harvick will be the 26th driver to do so behind Kurt Busch who has 204 career Nextel Cup Series starts.(RCR PR)(8-9-2006)

  • Hershey's scheme for Harvick at Daytona, to make S'Mores: The Hershey's Milk Chocolate brown will don the #29 RCR Chevy hood of Kevin Harvick this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. The Hershey Milk Chocolate bar is one of five special paint schemes The Hershey Company will run throughout the 2006 season. Hershey's driver Kevin Harvick and members of the Richard Childress Racing Team will light up the infield on Thursday, June 29, at Daytona with a S'mores campfire event. Celebrating this quintessential summertime snack, Hershey's will distribute more than 2,000 S'mores kits complete with graham crackers, marshmallows and Hershey's Milk Chocolate bars to fans staying in the infield to celebrate race week at Daytona International Speedway. Randomly selected kits will contain invitations to join Harvick and the Team for "s'more" fun around the campfire. Local Boy Scout Troops will get the campfire started; while Smoky the Bear looks on to ensure a safe party in the Fan Zone.(RCR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(6-28-2006)

  • Childress interested in Gilliland: [#07,#29,#31] team owner Richard Childress said Sunday [at Infineon Raceway] that he is among those interested in signing David Gilliland to a contract. Gilliland, currently driving without a contract for a part-time, unsponsored entry in the Busch Series, has seen his stock skyrocket since winning the June 17 Busch race at Kentucky, then getting a weak car into Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Sonoma. "He's probably the hottest young commodity out there today," said Childress, who currently fields three Cup cars and won six Cup championships with the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. "There are several teams here that will be after him, but he'd definitely be a good fit for us." Childress noted that Gilliland's good character and family background (his father Butch was also a NASCAR driver) play into the 30-year-old's favor. Childress didn't shy away from expressing his interest in Gilliland, but said the driver might be better served to get more time in the Busch Series. Gilliland has just seven career Busch starts and made his Cup debut Sunday. "I think he has all it takes to become a Cup driver, I'll put it like that," Childress said. "I think he could win races in the Cup Series. I believe if I was him, I'd run a few more Busch races (first)."(Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)(6-26-2006)

  • Harvick & Bowyer skipping Happy Hour: #29-Kevin Harvick and #07-Clint Bowyer will skip Saturday morning's final 45-minute Nextel Cup practice session at Infineon Raceway to give them a little extra time to get to The Milwaukee Mile for the Busch Series race that night. The first practice for NASCAR's Cup teams ends at 10:15 a.m. Pacific - 12:15 p.m. in Milwaukee - and Harvick and Bowyer will leave after that. Four other drivers doing the double - #11-Denny Hamlin, #99-Carl Edwards, #18-J.J. Yeley and #5-Kyle Busch - all plan to stay for the final 45-minute session, which ends at 1:55pm/ct. All of the drivers have substitutes ready to practice and qualify: Harvick has Randy LaJoie, Bowyer has Brandon Miller, Hamlin has Aric Almirola, Yeley has Casey Atwood, Edwards has Hank Parker Jr. and Busch has Dennis Setzer.(SceneDaily.com)(6-24-2006)

  • RCR to Sponsor Local Soap Box Derby: Richard Childress will lend support to his racing roots June 3 at Hobby Park in Winston-Salem for the Winston-Salem Area Soap Box Derby presented by Richard Childress Racing. The winner of this All-American Soap Box Derby "local race" will advance to the 69th annual All-American Soap Box Derby presented by Levi Strauss Signature, July 22 in Akron, Ohio. Childress was a teenager in the late 1950s when he and his brother, Larry Childress, went door to door in downtown Winston-Salem soliciting shop owners for funding to purchase a soap box derby kit. Nearly 50 years later, the wheels and axles from that soap box derby racer are on display in the RCR Racing Museum on the RCR campus. For further information, visit the web site of the Winston-Salem Area Soap Box Derby at wsasbd.com.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(5-18-2006)

  • DeHart splits with Harvick: Gene DeHart, former Fabrication Manager/Director with Kevin Harvick Inc., has parted ways. He is currently in the final stages of re-establishing DeHart, Inc., which formerly was DeHart Racing Inc., where his expertise was hanging bodies and building Chassis for various Nextel Cup, Busch and Truck Teams.(5-13-2006)

  • Childress to Receive Honorary Degree: NASCAR Team Owner Richard Childress will be awarded an honorary degree from the board of trustees of Davidson County Community College (DCCC) during tonight's commencement ceremony on the school's campus in Lexington, NC. Childress' wife, Judy, will accept the award as he will be busy directing his NASCAR Busch Series teams' efforts in tonight's Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway. "I'm honored to receive this recognition from Davidson County Community College and I'm sorry I won't be there to accept it in person," said Childress, President and CEO of Richard Childress Racing (RCR). "Davidson County Community College provides its students with a great opportunity to continue their education and prepare for better jobs in the future. It's also an honor to be rewarded at the same time as my friend Bob Timberlake." Childress and Timberlake, a world renowned artist, are only the fourth and fifth community leaders to receive such recognition from DCCC.(Richard Childress Racing)(5-12-2006)

  • #29 Team Takes PIt Crew Honors at Richmond: Kevin Harvick's race team scored its first win of the season in the weekly Checkers / Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge competition by spending the least amount of time on pit road in Saturday night's Nextel Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. The GM Goodwrench crew, which spent 164.225 seconds on pit road during the Crown Royal 400, helped propel its driver to a third-place finish in the event. Harvick also led the most laps, 272 of 400. "It was a great race for our entire GM Goodwrench crew," said Todd Berrier, crew chief for the #29 Chevrolet. "Our guys did an excellent job on pit road. We had good, clean, fast pit stops all night that helped keep Kevin up front." Harvick's over-the-wall crew consists of: Nick Terry (jackman), Josh Mick (front-tire carrier), Jason Pulver (front-tire changer), Matt Krueter (rear-tire carrier), Clint Pittman (rear-tire changer), Brian Englehart (gasman), Scott Naset (catch can), Rick Tulbert (2nd gas can) and John Goodwin (eighth-man). The team's pit crew coach is Corrine Mauldin. The #29 Richard Childress Racing crew will be awarded the weekly $10,500 prize. A bonus of $105,000 will be presented by Checkers/Rally's to the team with the most pit crew challenge wins at the completion of the 36-race schedule. After 10 Nextel Cup races, the pit crews for Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and Elliott Sadler are tied for first place in the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge standings with two wins each. Checkers/Rally's is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com.(DMF Communications PR)(5-10-2006)

  • Why didn't Harvick pit at Richmond late in race? Kevin Harvick's #29 Chevy was so good out front during the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway that crew chief Todd Berrier didn't want him to pit on lap 289 with Harvick leading the Nextel Cup race. While Harvick stayed out, the rest of the field pitted. Running on older tires, Harvick eventually lost the lead and was sixth when everyone pitted again under caution with about 50 laps remaining. Harvick, who led 272 laps of the race, wound up third. Berrier figured if Harvick pitted on lap 289, other drivers would stay out. "When you're leading the race, they're going to do the opposite of what you're going to do," Berrier said after the race. "That's kind of the way it works. ... I didn't want to come back and be 10th on the race track." If there were no cautions after the pit stops on lap 289, only Harvick would have had to pit. But Berrier was confident that everyone would pit again. "I knew everybody would [pit again]," Harvick said. "Not that they had to. I knew they would. And they did." Harvick's car got tighter over the final 100 laps. "We weren't aggressive enough [with changes]," Berrier said. "It's awful easy to play it a little bit different when you're chasing somebody instead of getting chased. It's just a bad position to be in." The crew chief obviously was disappointed. "We had a good car, but at the end of the day we didn't win the race," Berrier said. "It hurts."(SceneDaily.com)(5-8-2006)

  • RCR, Harvick Agree to Contract Extension: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and Kevin Harvick have agreed to terms on a contract extension that will see Harvick as an RCR driver through the 2009 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. Harvick drives RCR's #29 GM Goodwrench/Reese's Chevy in the NEXTEL Cup Series and RCR's #21 Coast Guard Chevy in the Busch Series. Harvick's career statistics include six victories and 70 top-10 finishes in the NEXTEL Cup Series and 19 victories and 98 top-10 finishes in the Busch Series. "Kevin is an important part of the RCR organization and we're happy that will continue," said Richard Childress, President and CEO of RCR. "He has done a great job in both the NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series and we look for that to continue over the next several seasons." Harvick is currently seventh in the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Series point standings with one win and four top-10 finishes. He leads the Busch Series standings by 274 points, ahead of RCR teammate Clint Bowyer in second place, with two wins and nine top-10 finishes. "I'm looking forward to the next three years at RCR," said Kevin Harvick. "We've made a lot of changes over the past year that have really helped point the organization in the right direction. The chemistry feels right between the drivers, the crew chiefs and the teams. Above all else, there is a long relationship at RCR that Richard and I have. I feel like it would take time to recreate what we've built over the last seven years."(RCR PR)(5-5-2006)

  • Harvick/Childress close to a deal UPDATE: Richard Childress and #29-Kevin Harvick are close to a deal that would keep the driver with Richard Childress Racing well beyond the 2006 season. "I think (a deal) is real likely," Childress said Friday at Talladega Superspeedway. "We hope to get it done in the next couple of weeks." Harvick, in the final year of his contract with RCR, was considered a major target for Toyota, which is entering NASCAR's Nextel Cup series in 2007, especially after he voiced concerns late last season that his current team was not capable of winning a championship. Childress said he met with Harvick earlier this week and got most of the deal worked out.(Associated Press)(4-29-2006)
    UPDATE: look for an announcement soon that Harvick has signed to stay with RCR thru 2009.(4-30-2006)
    UPDATE 2: announcement could come as soon as Friday as RCR has a press conference scheduled at Richmond.
    AND As Kevin Harvick and car owner Richard Childress continue their contract talks, teammate Jeff Burton hopes Harvick will stay at RCR. "I want Kevin to stay. Kevin is valuable to our effort. Obviously his talent speaks for itself. Kevin to me has proven to be a good teammate and I don't want Kevin to go anywhere." Burton says he hasn't been the middle of the discussions because "It's about what they want to do, it has nothing to do with what I want to do. I think Kevin's only hang up is...can we do as a company what we need to do to be successful and to compete for championships. It's nothing personal, it's all just about performance. Kevin is talented enough and good enough he deserves to have a chance at the very best equipment he can get his hands on because if he has it he can be highly successful. I can speak from experience...he won't go somewhere else and see a whole lot more than what he can see right here."(PRN's Garage Pas Radio Show)(5-3-2006)

  • Childress Vineyards Set to Release Racing Collection: Childress Vineyards is set to release its first collection of race-related wine sets celebrating the championship style of RCR Racing, one of NASCAR's most winning franchises owned by Richard Childress. The Collector's Edition sets will feature "Champion's Blend" Meritage Red Wine individually boxed with two etched crystal Childress Vineyards logo wine glasses. Each of RCR's car numbers, #29, #31, #21, and #2, will have its own label while a special bottling, called "Legendary," is planned for the #3. The "Legendary" Limited Collector's Edition will come in a boxed set along with two etched crystal wine glasses, featuring the number 3. Members of Childress Vineyards Fast Track Wine Club will have the first opportunity to order the Collector's Edition boxed sets until April 30. Remaining supplies will go on sale to the general public on Monday, May 15 with a limit of 3 per person. The sets will be sold exclusively at the winery in Lexington, N.C. Each will retail for $99.99. Wine club members will receive a discount of 15%.(RCR)(5-3-2006)

  • 4th RCR team,,,with Mears? denied: RCR team sources tell [Marty Smith - NASCAR.com] the organization would like to add a fourth team with [Casey] Mears [current driver of Ganassi's #42 Dodge] as driver, but RCR spokesman David Hart discounted the speculation Wednesday. "No decisions have been made to add a fourth team with Casey Mears or any other driver," Hart said.(NASCAR.com)(4-27-2006)

  • Berrier Wins WypAll Wipers Crew Chief of the Race: Team owner Richard Childress may have been the one on a hunting trip this weekend, but it was his driver Kevin Harvick who came home with the trophies. Harvick won both the Busch Series and Nextel Cup Series races at Phoenix International Raceway, bringing each of his crew chiefs, Shane Wilson and Todd Berrier, the WypAll Wipers Crew Chief of the Race award. Following each race, a panel of voters; including Tony Eury Sr., Robbie Reiser, a member of the local media and a WypAll Wipers representative; cast their vote for the crew chief they thought made the biggest impact on his team. Wilson and Berrier were voted the WypAll Wipers Crew Chief of the Race for their solid runs. In the Subway Fresh 500 on Saturday, it wasn't until lap 304 that Harvick cruised into the lead, putting him at the point for the final nine laps. For winning the Crew Chief of the Race award, WypAll Wipers gave Berrier $1,000. At the end of the season, the Nextel Cup crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000 and be crowned the WypAll Wipers Crew Chief of the Year. This was Berrier's first Crew Chief of the Race award in 2006, which ties him with Darian Grubb and Roy McCauley for second-place in the standings. Robbie Reiser and Kenny Francis are tied for the lead, each with two wins.(Wypall PR)(4-26-2006)

  • Reese's back on the #29: The #29 Reese's Chevy that Kevin Harvick will drive is sporting Reese's Caramel Cups once again this weekend in Talladega. Last time Reese's Caramel Cups were on the #29 Chevy, Reese's Caramel Cups is one of six special paint schemes Reese's will run throughout the 2006 season. Harvick teamed up with 2004 IRL Champion and Hershey's driver Tony Kanaan to film a commercial promoting the new Reese's Caramel Cups. Race fans can see what is going on with the #29 Reese's Racing team at www.reesesracing.com.(RCR PR)(4-26-2006)

  • Harvick wins at Phoenix: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Subway Fresh 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, leading the final 10 laps [of 312], blowing by #16-Greg Biffle [who was saving fuel and eventually ran out, finishing 16th] on lap 303 to win his first race of 2006, first since Bristol last April and 6th career win. Harvick swept the Nextel Cup and Busch Series races at Phoenix. #20-Tony Stewart, who was to start 3rd, but had to start last due to a tire infraction [drivers qualifying in the top-10 must start the race on the tires they qualified with] finished 2nd, followed by #17-Kenseth, #99-Edwards and #07-Clint Bowyer [his first career top-5]. The rest of the top-10 were #9-Kasey Kahne, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #43-Bobby Labonte, #31-Jeff Burton and #24-Jeff Gordon. Only ten drivers finished on the lead lap with #6-Martin, #16-Biffle, #1-Truex Jr. among the lead lap cars who ran out of fuel. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. hung around the top-10 all day until a late accident [he admitted it was his fault] relegated Earnhardt to a 23rd finish, 2 laps down. #5-Kyle Busch, the pole sitter, sped entering pit road while leading early in the race, got sent to the end of the longest line. Busch then got into #42-Mears then spun and with another wreck behind them which caused a 9 minute red flag. Busch then rammed Mears car and headed to the garage for repairs and refused interview requests from FOX or MRN. When Busch's team fixed the car and he went back on the track, Busch was black flagged and penalized five laps for ramming Mears, he finished 36th. #17-Kenseth takes over the points lead by 9 points over former leader #48-Johnson. There were 7 cautions for 29 laps and 11 leaders with 20 lead changes.
    Race Results on my Phoenix Race Results/Awards Page.
    Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Phoenix page.
    Race Rundown: see my Phoenix Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(4-22-2006)

  • Toyota to buy out Robby? Harvick? Jarrett AND UPS? #7-Robby Gordon declined to comment on the latest reports that Toyota and sponsor Red Bull are making an offer to buy him and his entire team. General Motors executives are still hopeful of keeping Gordon in their fold and point to the extensive work they've done to help Gordon become more competitive as an independent owner-driver. #29-Kevin Harvick, also said to be on Toyota's wish list, is still negotiating with GM and owner Richard Childress for a contract renewal, and the yes or no could come in the next few days. Harvick has set a package and price, and the ball is in Childress' court. But team sources indicate that Childress isn't willing to meet Harvick's demands. Childress has been unavailable for comment, and Harvick has declined to comment. According to sources, Dodge owner Ray Evernham may be interested in hiring Harvick.
    And Toyota apparently wants not only Dale Jarrett but also his sponsor, UPS. That situation is unclear, but it appears to mean that if car owner Robert Yates wants to keep UPS on his quarterpanels, he would also have to re-sign Jarrett for two more years.(Winston Salem Journal), note: supposedly UPS is signed thru 2007 with Yates and Jarrett is signed thru 2006.(4-22-206)

  • Harvick says no excuse DeLana Harvick, who takes an active role in the career of husband Kevin and heads up his race team, tried to be understanding when asked about the recent confrontation between Nicole Lunders, Greg Biffle's girlfriend, and Eva Bryan, Kurt Busch's fiancée, at Texas Motor Speedway. But Mrs. Harvick, who grew up in a racing family, stressed that disputes between wives and girlfriends are indefensible. "The thing is, we as wives or girlfriends hear a lot of things in the motor-home lot that you guys, the media, never see," she said. "Because of that, I think there are things on the race track that you see in a different light. "However, there's absolutely no reason to confront another spouse. They absolutely have nothing to do with what happened on the track, period. It's inappropriate and it's unacceptable. It's a double-edged sword. You're so emotionally attached to everything that happens. Someone's safety is at stake. However, there are people there. There are cameras. That's not acceptable."(Gaston Gazette)(4-16-2006)

  • Toyota and...Jarrett? UPDATE 3 Allmendinger? Gibbs?: The new NASCAR Nextel Cup Toyota operation that is being backed by Red Bull "has opened the checkbook," according to one top Ford man, who points to Red Bull's hiring of John Propst, a top Ford Motor Company vehicle dynamics specialist, and the hiring of a top Dodge engineer from the Ray Evernham camp for its new stock-car racing team. General Motors executives are anxiously watching their own key engineers for any similar defections. Elsewhere on the Toyota-NASCAR front, Toyota has made a bid to sign a two-year contract with Dale Jarrett, the tour's 1999 champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. Jarrett's contract with car owner Robert Yates is up at the end of this season. While it has been unclear for several months if Yates and Jarrett could come to new terms, Ford officials said Yates is offering Jarrett a contract similar to the Toyota deal.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-8-2006)
    UPDATE - Red Bull Drivers? When Red Bull Racing debuts their two Toyota teams at Daytona in February of 2007, rumor has it the organization is looking to pair a rookie with a veteran, taking an approached used by Evernham Motorsports with Dodge. Veterans on the Red Bull list are said to be Kevin Harvick and Dale Jarrett. No word on a rookie, but it could easily be an accomplished veteran from another of the Motorsports arenas.(CircleTrackPlus)(4-9-2006)
    UPDATE 2 Allmendinger? Murmurs in Champ Car circles say Red Bull, which carries a personal services contract with AJ Allmendinger, might like to see the young American in Nextel Cup, where it hopes to strike big in 2007 in partnership with Toyota. With so much money and fame up for grabs in NASCAR, it has become a challenge to keep promising open-wheel drivers away from the France family circus. It could prove difficult for Owner Carl Russo and Champ Car to hold onto Allmendinger, especially if he starts winning.(Autoweek)(4-9-2006)
    UPDATE 3 Gibbs? There is still no word on which drivers Toyota might back, but Toyota may be making a run at car owner Joe Gibbs, with hopes of persuading the veteran Chevy man, and his three-man team of #20-Tony Stewart, #11-Denny Hamlin and #18-J. J. Yeley, to jump to the Camry brigade, according to sources. Chevy's Kevin Harvick continues to be a focal point of Toyota speculation. However, there is word that Harvick may be under consideration by Ford's Jack Roush for a driving job next season, though Harvick insists "I've not talked with Jack Roush, and I don't know Geoff Smith (Roush's contract attorney)." Smith was not here to discuss the situation, and Roush demurred: "I hear Toyota goes with Kevin Harvick, and there's not a Toyota in my future. What I do know, is Toyota just hired (engineer) John Propst from Ford, and that gives Toyota access to everything all the Ford teams have known about the engineering of the cars, and that's a cheeky move by Toyota, and it's certainly a coup for Toyota. The thing that is more distressing is Toyota is in position to make their own tires, with its relationship with Bridgestone....And I've heard Toyota has acquired 100 acres of land in Charlotte to put together a test track."(Winston Salem Journal)(4-10-2006)

  • Sadler's old crew chief leaves RYR: Kevin Buskirk, formerly head engineer at Robert Yates Racing and Elliott Sadler's interim crew chief at the end of 2005, has gone to work at Richard Childress Racing as the engineer for driver Kevin Harvick's #29 GM Goodwrench/Reeses Chevy. "Kevin joined the organization a couple of weeks ago, and he's a great talent and a great find," Richard Childress said Saturday. "Him and [crew chief] Todd Berrier think and work a lot alike, and I think he'll do a lot of things. I'm excited to see how that will work out."(NASCAR.com)(4-9-2006)

  • Harvick not to own Cup team; leaning toward RCR? While rumored to be the top choice of Toyota when that auto maker ventures into NASCAR Nextel Cup Series competition in 2007, driver #29-Kevin Harvick says none of the future moves he makes will entail the role of owner/driver. In fact, Harvick's comments Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway sounded more like the five-year Cup veteran would rather remain with current car owner Richard Childress than either exit to start his own Cup program - he already fields Busch and Truck entries through Kevin Harvick Inc. - or leave to drive for another owner. Harvick is in the final year of his contract with Richard Childress Racing, although there are contract options available to Childress to re-sign the driver. And while the two have mutually agreed to discuss their future later this year, Harvick said Friday that there was no specific date set to have any issues resolved. The talk of Toyota, he said, is speculation. "... As far as [Toyota] courting me, I don't know what would fall into that category. Everything up to this point is speculation of what's happening. Right now, there's nothing done or nothing happening anywhere from any manufacturer or anything."(SceneDaily.com)
    AND There was also a new report, from usually reliable sources, that Harvick is also entertaining a job offer from a current rival team on the tour, possibly Ford's Jack Roush, although Roush wasn't here to discuss that.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-25-2006)

  • Harvick's price tag too high for GM? #29-Kevin Harvick has set too high a price tag in his contract renegotiations with General Motors, and it now seems unlikely that car owner Richard Childress will renew the deal, according to sources. The two have set an early April deadline. Harvick drives Nextel Cup [and Busch] cars for Childress, and also fields a Truck for Ron Hornaday and two Busch cars, for Burney Lamar, Ron Fellows, Tony Stewart and himself, all under Kevin Harvick Inc. Toyota would likely be willing to support Harvick with a full Nextel Cup-Busch-Truck package, but it is unclear if GM is willing to match that. And it's unclear if Harvick would back down on his price in order to stay with Chevrolet. That is all raising speculation about who Childress might hire to replace Harvick if Harvick does move on.(Winston Salem Journal); Harvick has been rumored to the Red Bull Toyota team and to Michael Waltrip Racing's 2nd team.(3-20-2006)

  • Harvick/RCR up in the air: Whether #29-Kevin Harvick returns to Richard Childress Racing next season will not be totally up to the 2001 Nextel Cup rookie of the year. A source close to the organization said there is concern over whether Harvick is focused enough on his Cup career to be given a long-term contract. Harvick already owns teams in the Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series, and is believed to be a target of Toyota as a driver and perhaps owner when the Japanese-based manufacturer enters NASCAR's top series in 2007. Harvick and team owner Richard Childress have set an April deadline for determining whether they will remain together past this season. Childress has maintained he would like Harvick back. He also admitted the decision is not one-sided. "It's got to be right for both of us,'' said Childress, who attended Sunday's race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. "It can't be right for just one. It has to be a deal that both of us believe we can win races and win championships.(NASCAR.com)
    AND The Ltn Hour ( Let's Talk Nascar ) Radio Show reported on this weeks show that Robert Yates Racing is also looking at Kevin Harvick to take over the #88 UPS Ford in 2007 as current driver Dale Jarrett's contract ends at the end of 2006. Jarrett has said he would like to driver at least thru 2007. UPS is signed thru 2007.(LTN Radio Show)(3-7-2006)

  • Special Scheme for Harvick at Calif: #29-Kevin Harvick will drive a specially wrapped #29 Icebreakers Ice Cubes gum NEXTEL Cup race car in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway.(California Speedway PR)(2-20-2006)
    IMAGE: see images of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(2-23-2006)

  • Teresa doesn't expect to see #3 run again: [DEI Team owner] Teresa Earnhardt doesn't believe anyone -- including her stepson, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- will bring the #3 the late Dale Earnhardt made famous back to Cup racing."Contrary to popular belief, everyone cannot be replaced," Teresa Earnhardt said. "Legends live on forever. I don't think the #3 will ever be driven by anyone else." The rare public comment from Teresa Earnhardt comes from a one-hour television show, "NASCAR Five Years Later," that will air tonight on Speed Channel at 8:00pm/et. The #3 has not been used in the Cup series since Earnhardt's death. NASCAR controls car numbers and assigns them to team owners on an annual basis. Richard Childress has maintained control of the #3 since Earnhardt's fatal crash. Earnhardt Jr., who drives the #8 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc., the company his father formed and his stepmother now runs, said again recently he would like to drive the #3 before the end of his Cup career. "I really think that'll happen," Earnhardt Jr. told NASCAR.com. Earnhardt Jr. said his desire to drive the #3 does not mean he has any short-term plans to leave DEI. At the Speedweeks media day on Thursday, Earnhardt Jr. said he'd like to run DEI one day. "I'd love to take over at DEI," he said. "Teresa and I will talk about that when the time comes, but that's not in the near future." Earnhardt Jr. started JR Motorsports, which owns a team that plans to run in the Busch Series this year.(Thatsracin)(2-14-2006)

  • Harvick comments on Gordon: #29-Kevin Harvick, who stepped into his seat at Richard Childress Racing the week after Dale Earnhardt died in a crash during the 2001 Daytona 500, says no one has been able to replace Earnhardt as a voice for the drivers in the NASCAR Nextel Cup garage area. Speaking Thursday during NASCAR's annual Media Day, Harvick said longtime Cup star Rusty Wallace filled some of that void until he retired last year. "With him gone, I can't tell you who is going to step up," Harvick said. "It's like our biggest stars are involved in a lot of other things and not taking 100 percent interest in the sport now." Without saying his name, Harvick made it clear that he believes four-time champion Jeff Gordon should be filling Earnhardt's role as the unofficial drivers' representative to NASCAR. "There are people who should be more involved and you know who I mean," he said. Gordon shrugged off the apparent criticism, saying the sport has changed and no one can really replace the charismatic and often enigmatic Earnhardt. "I know people have asked me, `Why haven't you done that? Why haven't you done that?' I've never really felt like it was my place to do that," Gordon said. "I feel like over the years that I've been here that I've earned more respect, but I don't know if I'll ever have the type of respect that Dale had. I think we all play a certain role in doing it together as drivers. It is our responsibility to bring up certain issues and try to do our best to keep the sport growing. But the sport is growing. It's been doing good."(ESPN.com/AP)(2-10-2006)

  • Emerson Climate Technologies partners up with RCR: Emerson Climate Technologies has been named an official partner of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and will be an associate sponsor of the #29 GM Goodwrench/Reese's team in the NEXTEL Cup Series and #2 ACDelco team in the Busch Series. Emerson Climate Technologies, a business of Emerson, is a provider of technology solutions for the global heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industries serving residential, industrial and commercial markets. Key products of Emerson Climate Technologies include Copeland Scroll compressors, White-Rodgers thermostats and controls, and Emerson motors. Emerson Climate Technologies will use its RCR program as a relationship-building tool with industry-leading HVAC and refrigeration contractors through point of purchase and internet promotions, driver appearances at industry events, show car appearances, bringing contractors to race events, and events at the team's race shop. For more information, visit www.EmersonClimate.com.(RCR PR)(1-29-2006)

  • Three Teams to field Camry's in 2007 Cup Series: hearing that Bill Davis Racing [#22,23], Michael Waltrip Racing [#55] and Team Red Bull will run the Toyota Camry in 2007 when Toyota enters the series. In addition to Red Bull, other sponsors that will be associated with the Toyota teams are Caterpillar (Bill Davis Racing) and NAPA (Michael Waltrip Racing). Team Red Bull will be based in Mooresville, NC, and stock car veteran Marty Gaunt [Penske] will serve as the team's general manager. Who will drive for Red Bull? how many teams/cars? not sure, Robby Gordon, who owns his own team has been sponsored by Red Bull. And have heard that Kevin Harvick, who drivers the #29 RCR Chevy, could be one of the drivers for Red Bull team. Expect these teams, but doubt the Red Bull drivers, in part to be announced at Toyota's Press Conference at Lowe's Motor Speedway tonight.(1-24-2006)

  • RCR Personnel Moves: Mike Brown has been named director of licensing for Richard Childress Racing (RCR), replacing Chuck Spicer who has assumed the new position of director of competition business operations. Brown is responsible for all aspects of RCR's licensing programs. He has been involved in the sales, marketing and licensing end of the NASCAR industry for more than a decade, most recently in a three-year stint as director of sales and marketing with Team Caliber. Prior to that, he spent more than four years as director of licensing for International Speedway Corporation (ISC), establishing and then supervising the sales, marketing, licensing and purchasing activities of its Charlotte office. Spicer's new responsibilities include RCR's driver development and diversity programs, team travel, engine department business opportunities, and to serve as the liaison between the competition and business sides of the company. He served as RCR's licensing director since moving from Bill Davis Racing in December 2000.(RCR PR)(1-22-2006)

2005 News

  • Harvick joins "The Kelly's": #29-Kevin Harvick will appear on the 2005 series finale of The Kellys, the first animated series depicting the experiences of a stock car racing team. The final episode, "Harvick Dusts Team Kelly" will be available exclusively on www.nascar.com beginning Friday, November 18th leading into the season finale of the Nextel Cup Chase and the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "I'm thrilled to be the first Nextel Cup driver featured on The Kellys," Harvick said. "I am a big fan of the show. I always wanted to be a cartoon when I grew up."
    The Kellys is an animated series, optimized for broadband viewing, about a dedicated racing family who are the most popular underdogs on the racing circuit. Harvick, appearing as himself, was chosen by NASCAR fans as one of the five most popular drivers in 2004 and a winner of the prestigious Brickyard 400, among his career accomplishments. The Kellys features other highly regarded voice-actors such as Nancy Cartwright (The Simpsons; Rugrats; Kim Possible), Rob Paulsen (Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain; Land Before Time), Jess Harnell (Alf; Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Kath Souci (Rugrats; Winnie the Pooh) and Corey Burton (101 Dalmations; Toy Story 2).(NASCAR)(11-15-2005)

  • Sad News: After a long and courageous fight, John Paul - DeLana Harvick''s father - has lost his battle with cancer. He passed away on Tuesday, November 1, 2005. In lieu of flowers or gifts, they are asking that donations be made to Victory Junction Gang Camp in memory of John Paul Linville. Donations should be sent to: Victory Junction Gang Camp, 4500 Adam's Way, Randleman, NC 27317.(Kevinharvick.com)(11-1-2005)

  • Reeses to take larger role on #29 in 2006? UPDATE 3: hearing Reeses/Hershey will take a larger sponsorship role [up to a 1/3rd of the races?] on the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy that Kevin Harvick drivers for Richard Childress Racing in 2006. This is not seen on the 2006 Paint Scheme Vote winner at gmgoodwrench.com, where the Black & Silver paint scheme won the vote with 61% favoring, over 53,000 votes were tallied.(10-13-2005)
    UPDATE: GM Goodwrench/REESE'S Press Announcement...Richard Childress Racing will hold a press conference on Saturday, October 29 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.(10-27-2005)
    UPDATE 2: nothing official yet..but on Speed Channel's NASCAR Live, it was reported that Reeses will be the primary sponsor for 12 races in 2006.(10-29-2005)
    UPDATE 3: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) announced that GM Goodwrench and The Hershey Company have joined forces as co-primary sponsors of RCR's #29 Chevy driven by Kevin Harvick in 2006. GM Goodwrench will be the primary sponsor for 24 races, including the Daytona 500. The Hershey Company, through its Reese's brand, will be the primary sponsor for 12 races, including the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "We see this as a great opportunity to extend our NASCAR program with a brand like REESE'S," said Jim Moloney, General Director, GM Service and Parts Operations Marketing. "We have had a relationship with The Hershey Company through our involvement with Richard Childress Racing for five years now and it continues to grow and prosper. When we analyzed our GM Goodwrench sponsorship program, we saw a great opportunity to reach a much larger demographic audience by teaming up with The Hershey Company. While it may be strange for fans to see the #29 Chevrolet without GM Goodwrench as the lone primary sponsor, the opportunity for additional exposure generated by REESE'S is too good to pass up."(RCR PR)(10-29-2005)

  • Martin on the #29 pit box at AMS: RCR's ACDelco Chevrolet Busch Series crew chief Gil Martin will spend his Busch Series bye week calling the shots on the #29 GM Goodwrench Monte Carlo for driver Kevin Harvick at Atlanta. Martin was the team's crew chief last Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.(RCR)(10-29-2005)

  • Hussey takes over for Berrier UPDATE: For the second time in 2005, #29 GM Goodwrench driver Kevin Harvick will be without his long time crew chief, Todd Berrier. Richard Childress Racing lost their appeal Wednesday after Berrier was suspended by NASCAR for two races after a rules violation in qualifying at Talladega Superspeedway last weekend. Despite the loss of their leader, Harvick and the entire GM Goodwrench team are prepared for "business as usual" in Martinsville, Va. Chris Hussey, a former Cup Series crew chief at Petty Enterprises, will take over for Berrier.(RCR PR)(10-20-2005)
    UPDATE: Chris Hussey will be unable to serve as #29 Kevin Harvick's interim crew chief this weekend because of a family obligation. Car owner Richard Childress said that Rick Viers, a crew chief for one of Childress' teams, might make the pit calls for Harvick today.(Roanoke Times)(10-23-2005)

  • Berrier's penalty upheld: On October 19, 2005, the National Stock Car Racing Commission [Brad Daugherty, Richard Gore, and George Silbermann, Chairman] heard and considered the appeal of Todd Berrier, crew chief for the #29 car. The appeal pertained to a penalty issued by NASCAR under Section 12-4-A of the Rule Book "Actions detrimental to stock car racing" and Section 12-4-Q "Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the car, car parts, components and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform to NASCAR rules: Unapproved aerodynamic modifications and unapproved fuel cell vent mounting." The penalty stemmed from post-qualifying inspection at Talladega Superspeedway for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event on September 30, 2005.
    The penalty assessed was:
    * $10,000 fine; suspension from NASCAR until October 19, 2005; probation until December 31, 2005.
    * Upon the request of the Appellant, the Commission deferred the original penalty until the hearing could be conducted.
    Taken individually, each of the components that failed to conform to the rules had plausible explanations, but taken collectively, constituted a serious violation of the rules. Therefore, it is the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission to uphold the original penalty issued by NASCAR. The period of the suspension will be adjusted to commence from the date of this hearing. The Appellant has the right under Section 15 of the Rule Book to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Commissioner.(NASCAR)(10-19-2005)

  • Harvick's father-in-law ill: Kevin Harvick will be leaving the Kansas Speedway as soon as he qualify's his Busch car later this afternoon to be at his wife's side. Delana Harvick's father, John Linville, is nearing the end of a long battle with cancer. Harvick plans on being back tomorrow. However, if he doesn't come back Jeff Burton will drive the #21 Reese's Chevrolet in the Busch race. RCR Busch Series driver Clint Bowyer will practice a few laps in the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy this afternoon in case he has to be Harvick's qualifying stand-in tomorrow.(10-7-2005)
    UPDATE: Harvick is back at the track and plans to at least qualify and may run the Busch Series race.(Speed Channel's NASCAR Live program)(10-8-2005)

  • Hearing set for RCR Appeal: Car owner Richard Childress said the team's appeal of NASCAR penalties issued to crew chief Todd Berrier has been set for Oct. 19. NASCAR suspended Berrier, crew chief for Kevin Harvick, two races, fined him $10,000 and placed him on probation until Dec. 31. Officials found that Harvick's car had an unapproved aerodynamic modification and fuel cell at Talladega.(Roanoke Times), while the penalty is being appealed, Berrier can serve as the #29 Crew Chief on Sunday at Kansas.(10-8-2005)

  • Harvick's father-in-law ill: Kevin Harvick will be leaving the Kansas Speedway as soon as he qualify's his Busch car later this afternoon to be at his wife's side. Delana Harvick's father, John Linville, is nearing the end of a long battle with cancer. Harvick plans on being back tomorrow. However, if he doesn't come back Jeff Burton will drive the #21 Reese's Chevrolet in the Busch race. RCR Busch Series driver Clint Bowyer will practice a few laps in the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy this afternoon in case he has to be Harvick's qualifying stand-in tomorrow.(10-7-2005)

    Richard Childress Statement Regarding NASCAR Penalty The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing (RCR), regarding NASCAR's penalty to RCR crew chief Todd Berrier for a rules infraction Sept. 30 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway: "After several discussions with the crew of the #29 team, we have decided to appeal NASCAR's ruling. We feel we have a responsibility to GM Goodwrench and all of our sponsors, as well as all of our fans, to stand up for what we think is right. Regardless of the outcome, we can't let it get in the way of what the #29 team is trying to accomplish this season. The goal is to finish 11th in the point standings. That's where they are now and that will remain their focus."(RCR)(10-5-2005)

  • #29 Crew Chief Berrier Suspended: NASCAR announced today that NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series crew chief Todd Berrier has been suspended, fined and placed on probation because of rule violations this past weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Berrier, crew chief of the #29 Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick, was suspended from NASCAR competition until Oct. 19, fined $10,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. During post-qualifying inspection last Friday, the #29 was found to have an unapproved aerodynamic modification and an unapproved fuel cell vent mounting - violations of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components, and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules) in the series rule book.(NASCAR PR)(10-4-2005)

  • Harvicks time tossed, fails post-qual inspection UPDATE Berrier tossed: #29-Kevin Harvick WAS to start 2nd at Talladega Superspeedway in the UAW-Ford 500 but the overflow tube for the fuel tank was missing along with venting problems and NASCAR disallowed Harvick's run and he will start from the rear of the field on Sunday.(Speed Channel's Trackside show)(9-30-2005)
    UPDATE - NASCAR comment on Harvick's qualifying run being disallowed at Talladega: NASCAR spokesman, Jim Hunter, addressed the media following qualifying with the following comment: "The No. 29 car's qualifying time has been disallowed. He (Harvick) will start Sunday's race from the rear. There were a couple of things in the rear area of the car did not comply with post-qualifying inspection. The trunk area was not sealed properly. It was not vented to the outside as prescribed in the rulebook. The shock doors inside the trunk area were opened and not secured. So there were several violations in the trunk area of the car. So there will probably be penalties coming out the first of the week. But that's why."(GM Racing PR)(9-30-2005)
    UPDATE 2: hearing that crew chief Todd Berrier, already on probation for the infractions at Las Vegas in March, has been escorted from Talladega Superspeedway and will not be calling the shots for the race on Sunday, no word on who will be the acting crew chief for Harvick.
    AND For the second time this year, Kevin Harvick will be without his regular crew chief after NASCAR found violations with the #29 Chevrolet. Crew chief Todd Berrier was removed from the track by NASCAR on Saturday, one day after NASCAR found multiple violations in post-qualifying inspection. Gil Martin, crew chief for Clint Bowyer in the Busch Series, will serve as Harvick's crew chief on Sunday in the UAW-Ford 500. Team owner Richard Childress will be atop the pit box with Martin. Childress declined comment on the situation. In March, Berrier was suspended for four races after NASCAR found an unapproved fuel filler and unapproved fuel cell vent in post-qualifying inspection at Las Vegas.(NASCAR.com)(10-1-2005)
    AND II: Crew chief Todd Berrier was suspended for Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway after Kevin Harvick's car failed inspection. Harvick qualified second for the race, but his Chevrolet was disqualified after NASCAR found three violations in the trunk area. Car owner Richard Childress was called into the NASCAR office Saturday morning and informed Berrier was ordered from the track. It's not clear how long the suspension will last. Berrier sat out four races at the beginning of this season when he was caught rigging Harvick's fuel tank. He also was fined $25,000 and the team was docked points. Childress spent an hour arguing with NASCAR on Berrier's behalf. "If I said what I wanted to say right now I'd probably be in bigger trouble than Todd," Childress said. "All I can say is it's a new era in NASCAR."(ESPN.com/AP)(10-1-2005)
    AND III PLEASE GIVE US YOUR OPINION ON THE SITUATION AND BERRIER BEING ESCORTED OFF THE PREMISES: [Childress] "Well, I don't think he was escorted. He was just told he needed to leave, to clarify that. The next thing is, I gave my opinion to NASCAR this morning. They know my feelings on the situation that's happened over the past few weeks and I'm going to leave it at that. Let you all figure it out."
    SOME THINGS HAVE HAPPENED WITH OTHER TEAMS LATELY WHICH HAVE NOT RESULTED IN A PENALTY. CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT: "I was very outspoken with NASCAR this morning and I'm going to leave it at that. I'm biting my tongue."(GMRacing PR)(10-1-2005)

  • NASCAR comment on Harvick's qualifying run being disallowed at Talladega: NASCAR spokesman, Jim Hunter, addressed the media following qualifying with the following comment: "The No. 29 car's qualifying time has been disallowed. He (Harvick) will start Sunday's race from the rear. There were a couple of things in the rear area of the car did not comply with post-qualifying inspection. The trunk area was not sealed properly. It was not vented to the outside as prescribed in the rulebook. The shock doors inside the trunk area were opened and not secured. So there were several violations in the trunk area of the car. So there will probably be penalties coming out the first of the week. But that's why."(GM Racing PR)(9-30-2005)

  • Harvick rumors won't die....to #11? UPDATE: #29-Kevin Harvick and car owner Richard Childress have said they intend to team again next season, the last year of their current contract, but that hasn't stopped speculation that car owner Joe Gibbs has been looking at Harvick for a full-time ride with his #11 FedEx-sponsored team.(Winston Salem Journal)
    BUT been told that there was a 'trade' discussed not too long ago, Harvick to Gibbs and Bobby Labonte to RCR, but it all fell thru and was never really serious.(9-26-2005)
    MORE: hearing talk was pretty strong that the Harvick-Labonte trade was moving along until the night of the Bristol race, and Gibbs decided he didn't want Harvick. Think both drivers are still looking to go to other rides but Harvick's comments at Bristol ended the Gibbs possibilities. So don't expect Harvick to go to the #11 car.(9-27-205)

  • RCR Joins The Motorsport Industry Association: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has been accepted as the newest international member of the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA), and the UK association's first US-based NASCAR stock car racing team organization. The MIA works tirelessly to strengthen its network of contacts within the worldwide motorsport industry, including the NASCAR sector, and the membership for RCR will open up the world market through the MIA's membership on all continents.
    Chris Aylett, CEO of the MIA, said "North Carolina, USA and Motorsport Valley in the UK are far closer than geography suggests. The culture of the motorsport businesses in both of these highly successful business communities is based on success. RCR's decision to join the MIA and become the first NASCAR team to do so cements the closeness of those relationships. The MIA will offer access to a truly global motorsport business network from which RCR will gain commercial and competitive advantage. I am delighted that this outstanding company has chosen to join our membership, and we look forward to helping them succeed in whatever way we can."
    "RCR is honored to be the first NASCAR team to be accepted into the Motorsport Industry Association," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "The process began when we hired Nick Hayes (former technical director for Cosworth) earlier this year to head our engine research and development program. Gaining a competitive edge in racing is very important, whether it's NASCAR, Formula 1 or at the local dirt track. Being an MIA member will provide RCR with the opportunity to build relationships to achieve that edge and we hope to be able do the same for other members."
    The MIA is a truly global network and has a strong presence in both the UK and the US as well as a liaison office in the Far East. The MIA offers a wide range of motorsport-specific services including market research, conferences, networking events and exhibitions, as well as a number of trade missions to events in the US, the Gulf, and the Far East. For more info on the MIA and its international events, see the-mia.com.(RCR PR)(9-24-2005)

  • Harvick staying at RCR in 2006 UPDATE but?: Kevin Harvick will be back behind the wheel of Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet for the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Series season. Speculation has fueled rumors that the 2001 NEXTEL Cup Series Rookie of the Year would move to another team at the end of this season. RCR President and CEO Richard Childress hopes to put that speculation to rest. "Kevin will be the driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy next season," said Childress. "He and I have committed to moving forward together in fulfilling our current agreement, which runs through 2006, and we anticipate being together for many years beyond that. Our focus is on continuing to improve our performance this year and being a championship contender in 2006." Harvick is in his fifth year of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition, all with RCR, and has five victories, 30 top-five and 63 top-10 finishes, and four poles. He is currently 14th in this season's point standings with one victory, three top-five and seven top-10 finishes. In his sixth season of driving in the NASCAR Busch Series for RCR, he has 16 victories, 60 top-five and 85 top-10 finishes, and 13 poles. "Richard has made key additions to RCR that will benefit the organization," said Harvick. We are both committed to make 2006 a successful season. I've always intended to fulfill my obligations to Richard, RCR and all of our sponsors."(RCR PR)(9-16-2005)
    UPDATE the Winston Salem Journal reports.....Kevin Harvick has been noticeably unhappy this season. And even Friday's unusual announcement by car owner Richard Childress that he and Harvick would be living up to their contract and sticking together through the 2006 season hasn't diminished speculation that Harvick has something in the works. There's speculation that he might have a 2007 game plan with car owners Roger Penske or Chip Ganassi. The Ganassi option seems logical. Jamie McMurray has signed a 2007 contract to take Mark Martin's place with Jack Roush, so Ganassi has that hole to fill. So this year's version of NASCAR's annual game of musical chairs has taken on an unusual tone. Now, might Ganassi release McMurray to Roush for 2006, if Ganassi could get Harvick from Childress, and would that be enough inducement for Roush to release Kurt Busch to Penske for 2006?(Winston Salem Journal)(9-18-2005)

  • New Hires at RCR: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has hired Tom Knox as its managing director of business development and promoted Jason Garrow to the director of sponsor services. Knox will be responsible for evaluating and pursuing new business opportunities, leading the efforts to add to RCR's family of sponsors and technical partners and working with RCR's sponsor services group to bring additional opportunities to its partners. The Wayne, N.J., native comes to RCR from Rusty Wallace, Inc., where he had been since 1999 and last held the position of vice president of business development. From 1997-99, he was a sales account manager with NASCAR's New York office. Knox earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Fairfield University in 1994 and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from Seton Hall University in 1997.
    Garrow will oversee day-to-day business activities and client activation with current sponsors, manage sponsors' event and at-track activities, work with RCR partners to leverage their sponsorship assets and help develop new marketing activities and services for RCR. The Marshall, Minn., native had been RCR's senior sponsorship manager since February 2003. A 1992 graduate of Augustana College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration/Economics, he earned a Master of Science degree in Sports Management in 1996 from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.(RCR)(9-15-2005)

  • DEI and RCR...merge? a merger between RCR and Dale Earnhardt Inc. is rumored to be in the works. Although DEI vice president Richie Gilmore says the partnership will involve nothing more than promotional plans, the two organizations enjoyed a beneficial aerodynamic alliance several years ago. Considering the strength of powerhouses Roush and Hendrick Motorsports, a marriage between RCR and DEI would move their programs up a level. Another benefit? Dale Earnhardt Jr. could follow in his late father's footsteps in an RCR car.(Sporting News)(9-5-2005)

  • Harvick to the #42? No Comment: Childress: Rumors here [California Speedway] are widespread that Kevin Harvick may be headed to Ganassi's #42 Texaco Dodge, thus freeing Jamie McMurray to move to Roush Racing [#6] a year early [he signed for 2007]. Richard Childress, who owns the cars Harvick currently drives, wouldn't comment directly on speculation that the team might be breaking up. Childress did, however, reminisce on the longstanding relationship between him and the late Dale Earnhardt. "He (Earnhardt) had a chance to leave," said Childress. "I told him in 1985 after we had blown 11 engines that year and run horrible. I told him on the way back from Pocono, we met out by my pool, and I said, 'Dale, you're too good of a race driver to be here.' He said, 'We made a commitment commitment together, and we're going to finish it together.' That was 1985 and we came back next year and won 11 races and the championship, and the same thing in 1987, and the rest is history."(Gaston Gazette)
    AND Kevin Harvick apologized to his team during Speed Channel's broadcast of qualifying for the critical comments he made about them at Bristol last weekend.(News and Record)(9-4-2005)

  • Claification - Harvick: some reports/articles/columns report that Kevin Harvick's contract with Richard Childress Racing ends at the end of the 2005 season. That is not true. As reported many times, Harvick himself has said [6-15-05 and 8-30-05] his contract with RCR is through 2006. Back in March 2003 when the contract was signed, the terms were 3 year extension [2004-2006] with an additional 2-year right of first refusal. Back then GM Goodwrench, sponsor of Harvicks #29 Chevy in Nextel Cup, signed thru 2006.(8-31-2005)

  • Harvick tests at Milwaukee: Kevin Harvick and the #29 team tested at The Milwaukee Mile on Monday. While missing the Chase might have been a good reason to cancel the test, GM Goodwrench crew chief Todd Berrier continues to work to improve the team's program for the final races and get a head start on next years season.(RCR PR)(8-31-2005)

  • Snap-on scheme for #29 at Charlotte in Oct: This year marks the 85th anniversary of Snap-On Tools, the global leader in professional tools. For the past 85 years Snap-On Tools has been providing its customers with their favorite hand tools, power tools, industrial tools, tool storage products, tool boxes, automotive diagnostics, and shop equipment. To commemorate this exciting anniversary, #29-Kevin Harvick will be drilling into the competition in a special Snap-On 85th Anniversary special paint scheme on October 15th at the Charlotte Nextel Cup event.(Action), see image of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes page.(8-30-2005)

  • Harvick putting the pressure on RCR UPDATE to the #42? #77?: #29-Kevin Harvick, saying he's putting pressure on [Richard] Childress to improve the team and could leave next year if his things don't go the way he wants. "I'm checking things out and really just trying to see how it all goes," Harvick said Friday. "We'll race to the end of the year and see what happens." Queried about his relationship with his car owner, Harvick added, "I think I've been leaning on him pretty hard ... I just want to see some improvement in the whole organization."(Speed Channel)(8-27-2005)
    UPDATE: After Kevin Harvick was caught up in the Jarrett-Newman [2nd] wreck, he got out of his car and ripped his team and his spotter on camera. "Happy" has been increasingly vocal in his public criticism of his RCR team, leading to speculation that he's angling to leave for what he perceives to be greener pastures. The buzz is that he wants to replace Jamie McMurray next year in Chip Ganassi's #42 Texaco Dodge, which would free McMurray to replace Mark Martin in Jack Roush's #6 Ford in 2006, which in turn would mean Roush might allow Kurt Busch to leave to join Roger Penske's team next year, replacing Rusty Wallace. And with Scott Riggs leaving MB2 Motorsports to drive Ray Evernham's third [#10] car next year, soon-to-be-former-Ganassi-driver Sterling Marlin might take Riggs's spot with MB2 next year.(Speed Channel), plus hearing Harvick could end up at Penske Racing, but in the #77 Dodge. Harvick was rumored to be going to the #2 a few months ago, but denied it saying he was getting ready to announce something special with RCR....obviously things have soured between Harvick and RCR.(8-30-2005)

  • Harvick waiting before re-upping with RCR: #29-Kevin Harvick is one of the biggest-name drivers who is not signed up for 2007. Harvick says his contract with Childress is up at the end of the 2006 season - the same as Busch and Jamie McMurray. Harvick says he wants to see some improvements in the Childress camp before he resumes contract renegotiations with Childress. Harvick has General Motors ties through Childress and through his own Busch and Truck programs, and those GM sponsorships are also at stake [not returning to his Truck Series team]. "Richard and I have a deal and I will fulfill that, and hopefully into the future, so there's no point in talking about doing anything different, because this is what I'm doing," Harvick said. However Harvick has not been pleased with his performance this season and says he wants to see improvements before he signs any new contract with Childress: "It's not that I'm unhappy, I just want to see some improvements. I want to see what all these changes do. I don't want to get into a situation where we make changes and it gets worse."(Winston Salem Journal)(8-15-2005)

  • Congrats: #29 RCR Engineer, Scott Miller and wife Suzette, welcomed an addition to the family on July 22 at 5:00pm when Eva Margaret was born at 5 pounds, 5 ounces, and 18 inches long. Everyone is doing great.(8-3-2005)

  • VOTE: GM Goodwrench has sponsored a race car for 20 years. Now, for the first time ever, they're letting fans decide what it's going to look like. So get in on the excitement by voting for the 2006 standard paint scheme on the GM Goodwrench #29 car, driven by Kevin Harvick. Go to gmgoodwrench.com to vote.(7-26-2005)

  • Childress says all 3 teams will remain intact for 2006: [Team owner Richard] Childress said his three teams will return intact next season: "We're pretty much set on everything right now." All three drivers, #31-Jeff Burton, #29-Kevin Harvick and #07-Dave Blaney, will be back with their current crew chiefs, Kevin Hamlin, Todd Berrier and Philippe Lopez? "Yes, as far as I know," Childress said.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-25-2005)

  • Reese's and Harvick at Bristol: #29-Kevin Harvick will run a Reese's Big Cup / GM Goodwrench scheme in the SHaroies 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in August. See an image of the scheme on my #29 Team Schemes pages.(7-21-2005)

  • RC Wine...the good stuff: A bottle of 2004 Childress Vineyards' Barrel Select Pinot Gris was chosen as one of the top wines produced by celebrity wine proprietors in today's USA TODAY. Legendary NASCAR championship team owner Richard Childress is also the proprietor of Childress Vineyards, located at the gateway of the Yadkin Valley in Lexington, N.C. In a "Food & wine" column ("Heard about stars through the grapevine", July 8, 2005), columnist Jerry Shriver wrote about celebrities involved in winemaking and the taste test USA TODAY entertainment reporter Donna Freydkin conducted with 11 wines having celebrity connections. Freydkin mentioned the Childress Vineyard selection first, commenting that she "preferred the smooth, easy-to-drink-while-sitting-on-your-porch character" of the North Carolina wine crafted by award-winning winemaker Mark Friszolowksi.
    The list of celebrities, other than Richard Childress, proprietor of Childress Vineyards president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, included: movie director Sofia Coppola; her father, director Francis Ford Coppola; the rock band Doobie Brothers, music legend Bob Dylan; golfers Ernie Els, Greg Norman and Arnold Palmer; Vince Neil, lead singer for Motley Crue; and acting legends Fess Parker and Fred MacMurray.(RCR PR)(7-10-2005)

  • RCR makes changes in the engine dept: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) continues to make personnel moves to improve its championship-winning engine department. Engine shop manager Spenny Clendenen, an RCR employee since 1985 and head engine builder from 1995 to 1997, has been named to the position of general manager in charge of the department's business and administrative responsibilities. He will also be the focal point for RCR's customer engine program, which furnishes engines for Kevin Harvick, Inc. (Busch and Truck), PPI Motorsports (NEXTEL Cup) and Morgan-Dollar Motorsports (Truck). Rick Mann has been named chief engine builder and will oversee all competition-related responsibilities. He brings 17 years of NASCAR engine building experience and nearly 30 years of overall engine building experience to his new position. Assistant engine shop manager Danny Lawrence, an RCR employee since 1985 and head engine builder from 1998 to 2001, has been named assistant chief engine builder. He will responsible for all at-track activities involving RCR's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series team engine tuners and will assist Mann at the shop. "I think the reorganization we've made is a positive new start to our entire engine department," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "We've had tremendous growth at RCR over the past couple of years and the workload we've asked our management group to be responsible for was keeping us from achieving the success I know we're capable of. These moves, in addition to bringing on Nick Hayes to head up our engine research and development department, have put RCR in a much better position to reach the goals we've set for ourselves." A new engine shop manager will be named at a later date.(RCR Site)(7-8-2005)
    AND Nick Hayes has been named by Richard Childress Racing (RCR) as its engine research and development director and will lead all RCR engine research and development activities from a newly-created R&D facility at the RCR complex. Hayes comes to RCR after a well-documented yet unique career at Cosworth, which is based in England, including spells in Formula One engine design, development and track support before rising through the ranks to lead its F1 program through the late 1990s. Recent years saw him leading all technical activities at Cosworth as Technical Director. The move to RCR marks the start of a new chapter in Hayes' illustrious and successful race engine career that has covered a wide variety of series but, until now, has not touched NASCAR significantly.(RCR PR)(7-10-2005)

  • Sad News: Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) fabrication shop manager Paul Wise passed away this morning after a brief illness. He was 58. Wise was employed by RCR since January 2003 after spending two-and-a-half years in a similar position with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. All six RCR cars competing this weekend at Daytona International Speedway, in both the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series, will carry "In Memory of Paul Wise" decals. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at Charity Baptist Church, 2420 Brantley Road in Kannapolis, N.C. The Rev. R.J. Hammond and the Rev. Gene Beaver will officiate. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. Internment will follow at Carolina Memorial Park in Kannapolis. The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday, June 29, at Charity Baptist Church.
    Born Jan. 6, 1947, in Cabarrus (N.C.) County, Wise was the son of C. Winfred Wise and Ethel Howell Wise of Kannapolis. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War and was a recipient of the Air Force Commendation Medal. He worked with many NASCAR teams during his career. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Paula Jean Wise, Feb. 14, 1975.
    In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Barbara Austin Wise; son, Jason Paul Wise and wife, Brittany Cromer Wise, and granddaughter, Jayleigh Austin Wise of Kannapolis; sister, Anne W. Watts and husband, Charles, of Raleigh; brothers, Phil Wise and wife, Lynda, of Kannapolis and Mark Wise and wife, Derlene, of Raleigh; along with 13 nieces and nephews.
    Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, Dancers for Cancer, c/o Carolina Dance, 2353 Concord Lake Road, Suite 110, Concord, N.C. 28025.(RCR)(6-28-2005)

  • Childress would welcome Dale Jr....if....UPDATE 2 denied: Richard Childress does not see Dale Earnhardt Jr. leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., after the season, but if that happens, his door is open. "Junior has his own deal working good at DEI, and I hope it all works out for him," said Childress, who won six Nextel Cup championship with the late Dale Earnhardt. "I think it will (work out), 'cause it's a really good organization. I also would say if he ever left there, I'd sure hope he'd come this way. I know what Dale Sr.'s vision and dream was with DEI," Childress said. "It was to build that operation for Dale Jr., (sister) Kelly and his family. Dale Jr. has done a great job of representing DEI and what they want to do, so it's a good deal."(The State)(6-24-2005)
    MORE......Does "Little E" ever wonder if it might be better if he had moved on out of the DEI team his father founded and went to the Childress team his father drove for? "Yeah!" he says, cheer suddenly rising in his hoarse voice, his eyes brightening. "And I think about that. And that's still -- that's always an option." As the only man alive who could carry "3" on his door panels with public approval and indeed celebration, and with his Bud sponsorship willing to follow him wherever he goes, it would seem he could pick up the phone and virtually be there. "Right," he confirmed. "Yeah. Richard and I haven't really sat down at a desk to talk about it, but he owns the number '3' and I want to drive the No. 3 race car before I retire. I've told Richard I want to finish my career in his race car, or in a No. 3 car if he and Teresa [Earnhardt] can come to some agreement or whatever." He means a transfer of ownership of the number. His stepmother, Dale's widow Teresa, owns Dale Earnhardt Inc. and has the ultimate say, although Richie Gilmore runs the company for her. She rarely comes to races or appears in public and doesn't speak with the media. Earnhardt Jr. is under contract to her through 2007. But could something be worked out? And how long would it take? "Oh, if everybody was for it, less than 24 hours, I would assume," Earnhardt said. "But I don't see that happening. I mean, not everybody's going to be cool about it. I don't think Teresa would want me to leave, in the first place."(See very large and interesting column at the Orlando Sentinel)(6-25-2005)
    UPDATE 2: DEI, founded by Earnhardt Sr. when he was driving for Richard Childress, is now run by Earnhardt's widow, Teresa. Earnhardt Jr. and his stepmother have had a rocky relationship. In an interview in Saturday's Orlando Sentinel, Earnhardt reiterated the notion that he might someday leave DEI. Reached Saturday at the track, Earnhardt said he was simply restating his desire to drive for Childress "years and years" down the road. "Nothing's going on, I promise you that," he said.(USA Today)(6-27-2005)

  • Harvick finishes 7th in final Mesa Marin appearance: Brian Richardson was the class of the 28 car Late Model 'McMillin Homes Firecracker 100' at Mesa Marin Raceway winning over Burney Lamar and Eric Richardson. After getting caught up in a lap 4 accident, Kevin Harvick came back to finish seventh, minus the front body parts and the left front shock of his #29 car. With Mesa Marin sold and closing at the end of its 2005 season, it is the final race Harvick will run at the track. Harvick had two consecutive NASCAR Late Model wins at Mesa Marin.(in part from the Mesa Marin site)(6-25-2005)

  • RCR and United of Omaha Reach Settlement: A settlement has been reached in the trial brought by Richard Childress Racing (RCR) against United of Omaha insurance company in a case that arose out of the death of Dale Earnhardt at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2001. The jury trial began May 23, 2005, in the Superior Court in Lexington, N.C. The parties reached a confidential settlement over the weekend of June 17. The settlement was reached after both parties had presented all of their evidence and had a full understanding of the intentions of the other party. By settling the case, both parties were able to avoid further prolonged litigation which would have included appeals to the North Carolina appellate courts. Also, the settlement precludes any further disagreements or litigation by both parties over the issues and subject matter of the lawsuit.(RCR PR)(6-20-2005)

  • Harvick cuts some grass: Kevin Harvick was in Hastings, MI Wednesday to mow the soccer fields at Tyden Park. Hastings resident Mary Parsons won the "I Can't Believe Kevin Harvick is Mowing my Lawn" promotion by Yard-Man, sponsor of the #33 Busch Series car owned Kevin Harvick, Inc. but chose to donate the lawn care to the town park. Harvick mowed the fields and then took pictures and signed autographs for many of the more than 300 fans who turned out to see the NASCAR star.(Edelman PR)(6-16-2005)

  • Sad News: Robert Ray "Bud" Hutchens, 63, father of Richard Childress Racing's Bobby Hutchen's, passed away Saturday, June 11, 2005, at his home. He was retired from Leaseway Motor Cars. Mr. Hutchens was an avid NASCAR fan and had cars that raced at Bowman Gray Stadium for over 40 years. Surviving are his wife of 46 years, Mrs. Carol Long Hutchens; two sons, Bobby Hutchens and wife Sharon, Kenny Hutchens and wife Robin, all of Winston-Salem. NC; a daughter, Lisa Thomas and husband Chris of Greenville, NC; seven grandchildren; and two sisters, Margaret Edwards and Nancy Tulbert, both of Winston-Salem. A graveside service will be conducted at 11:00am/et Monday, June 13, at Waughtown Cemetery with the Rev. Norwood Green officiating. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 this evening, June 12, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, 4A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407 or to the Bowman Gray Neurosurgery Dept., Medical Center Blvd. Winston-Salem, NC 27157.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-12-2005)

  • Harvick to the #2? UPDATE Harvick talks, denies and fumes: it was reported during Speed Channel's Texas Truck Series race that Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy was in negoatiations with Penske Racing to take over the #2 Miller Lite Dodge fielded by Penske Racing. This was reported as a rumor back in Febuary by NASCAR.com and the Winston Salem Journal. The big questions would be, Harvick is supposedly signed thru 2006 with a 2-year option, how does this effect Harvick's Chevy Busch and Truck programs [not gonna see Stewart in a Dodge Busch car] and if under contract can't image Richard Childress just letting Harvick go.(6-11-2005)
    UPDATE - denied by Harvick: from a GM Racing PR after qualifying at Pocono Raceway for he Pocono 500:
    KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 29 GM GOODWRENCH CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO - Responds to Craftsman Truck TV broadcast comment on 6/10 reporting that Harvick would be making a move to Dodge: "I think that Ray (Dunlap, SpeedTV on-air talent for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series) will probably be thoroughly embarrassed in the next couple of months there with everything we've been working on (contracts). The bad part about it is that I have another year on my contract with RCR and a couple of years with Chevrolet. I think if the facts would have at least been checked on and not just dreamed up over a couple of beers, we probably would have had a much better telecast on the Speed channel last night watching the Truck race. They need to worry about what the hell they're doing and things will be reported a little more accurately."
    (ARE YOU A WANTED MAN? ARE YOU GETTING CALLS?) "No, I haven't gotten calls from anybody because I'm not available. It's one of those things that's dreamed up. Richard and I are working on a lot of things to go forward in the future and there isn't any other home that's going to be available for me. It's unfortunate, but stuff happens. Like I say, in the next couple of months it'll be something that he'll probably regret. He'll be embarrassed about saying it."
    (WERE YOU WATCHING THE TELECAST LAST NIGHT?) "Yeah, the disappointing part about it is that I'm laying in my motor home and (Ron) Hornaday is pretty much annihilating them during the race. And they were talking about me driving another car and not even reporting on the race. That's the unfortunate part for GM Goodwrench and the race fans and everybody. They're not even worried about their own telecast. It's unfortunate. So I went to bed with a headache, to say the least. I was watching the race with the guys on my team and with Scott Wimmer, actually, and they all kind of looked at me and I (shrugged shoulders) said, 'Hey, you guys know how this world works.' So it was unfortunate. But like I say, it's pretty easy to put to rest and that's why I wanted to make sure that it didn't go any further. If all the facts were known with all the contractual stuff, it wouldn't even be reported."
    (WHAT ARE YOU AND RICHARD CHILDRESS WORKING ON LONG TERM?) "Oh, it'll be great. It'll probably catch you guys (media) off guard a little bit. But once we get it all done, it'll be awesome."
    (DOES IT INVOLVE OWNERSHIP?) "Oh, you never know."(GM Pocono Quotes/PR)(6-11-2005)

  • Crew Standby for the #29: Dan Blizzard, the front tire changer for RCR's Busch Series driver #2-Clint Bowyer, will be on standby to change front tires on Kevin Harvick's #29 Cup car. Regular front changer Jason Pulver cut his hand at home one week ago and is listed as doubtful.(USA Today)(5-29-2005)

  • No penalties for Harvick/Nemechek: NASCAR will not punish Kevin Harvick or Joe Nemechek, who had a televised shoving incident that included verbal assaults after Stewart, Nemechek and Harvick started a wreck with five laps remaining in the All-Star Challenge.(Rocky Montain News)(5-25-2005)

  • RCR Lawsuit Against United of Omaha Begins Today: Court proceedings in the lawsuit filed by Richard Childress Racing against the United of Omaha Life Insurance Company will begin on May 23, 2004, at 10:00 a.m., in Superior Court in nearby Lexington, NC. This case arises out of life insurance covering the death of Dale Earnhardt at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 18, 2001. It involves the three-year contract Earnhardt and Richard Childress signed in 2000 to cover the years 2001 through 2003. Richard Childress Racing agreed to insure Earnhardt for $7.2 million, to be payable to Teresa Earnhardt if he died during the first year of the contract. A $3.5 million life insurance policy was already in effect with National Life of Vermont and Richard Childress Racing purchased an additional policy worth $3.7 million through agents of United of Omaha, a subsidiary of Mutual of Omaha prior to Earnhardt's death.
    The insurance policy application with United of Omaha was completed and signed in January 2001 by all parties involved: Richard Childress Racing, Dale Earnhardt personally, and United of Omaha. Two premium payments were made by Richard Childress Racing to agents of United of Omaha.
    Within 24 hours of Earnhardt's death, United of Omaha declined payment on the $3.7 million policy and stated they had closed their file on the case. Shortly after that, National Life of Vermont sent a check for $3.5 million to Richard Childress Racing, which was delivered to Teresa Earnhardt. The lawsuit against United of Omaha is for violation of North Carolina laws dealing with bad faith and unfair and deceptive trade practices by insurance companies. Under those laws, insurance companies must conduct a reasonable investigation of all claims based upon all available information. Richard Childress Racing contends that United of Omaha did not conduct such an investigation and illegally refused to pay under the policy, thus violating the law and regulations applicable to insurance companies in North Carolina. He is pursing this case on behalf of Dale Earnhardt, Dale's memory, and Teresa Earnhardt.
    This trial is set for a special session of the Superior Court of Davidson County in Lexington, N.C., which will begin May 23, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. The case will be heard by a resident Superior Court judge in Davidson County, the Honorable Kimberly G. Taylor. This is to be a trial by jury that is expected to last for one to two weeks.(RCR PR)(5-23-2005)
    AND - MORE: But the insurance company, United of Omaha, argues the policy was never in effect. Part of the problem: Earnhardt died before taking a physical. There's also a dispute over whether Childress had paid enough of the premium. The team says it made an initial payment and got the bill for a second on Feb. 19, 2001 -- the day after Earnhardt's last race. It paid the bill. But the company says more money was owed before the policy would take effect. Richard Childress, who owned the No. 3 car that Earnhardt -- a Kannapolis native -- made famous, sat in front of the courtroom with his attorneys. He contends that United of Omaha didn't conduct a proper investigation of his claim, as required by N.C. law.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-24-2005)

  • Nemechek/Harvick altercation: in the garage after Joe Nemechek and Kevin Harvick came back from the infield care center at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Nextel All-Star Challenge, Nemechek walked up to Harvick's wrecked car and started to apologize to Harvick's crew when Harvick walked up and they went nose-to-nose. Here's what was said:
    Nemechek: "Hey, I'm sorry about that dude."
    Harvick: "I'm starting to get tired of you wrecking me."
    Nemechek: "I didn't start the deal."
    Harvick: "You called me out at Daytona."
    Nemechek: "Hey, if you wanna go at it..let's have at it big boy."
    Harvick: "But you know what, you need to take your old washed up [butt] out of here...that's what you need to do."(from a source in the garage at LMS)(5-21-2005)

  • Chevy Rock and Roll Schemes to be unveiled UPDATE 2 - IMAGES: Chevrolet will give race fans a taste of what they will see when they return to Richmond International Raceway in September for the Crown Royal IROC, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 200, Emerson Radio 250 NASCAR Busch Series and Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races. As an official partner and longtime race sponsor at Richmond International Raceway, Chevrolet plans to unveil three Rock & Roll themed stockcars on Friday afternoon.(RIR Fact Sheet)(5-10-2005)
    UPDATE: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have 3 Doors Down on his car. Others: #31-Jeff Burton / Big & Rich; #29 Kevin Harvick / e Gretchen Wilson; #10-Scott Riggs / Nickelback and #07-Dave Blaney / Drive by Truckers.(5-11-2005)
    IMAGE added the #10 Nickelback and #29 Gretchen Wilson images to the #10 Team Schemes and #29 Team Schemes pages.(5-13-2005)
    UPDATE 2: Chevrolet is mixing the red carpet with black asphalt announcing today that more stars and cars than ever will be part of the popular Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, September 10. NASCAR drivers #29-Kevin Harvick, #10-Scott Riggs and #25-Brian Vickers helped Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper unveil their musical artist-themed Chevy Monte Carlo racecars for the event. Chevrolet also will host a pre-race concert with Nickelback performing and Gretchen Wilson singing the national anthem.
    Three of the specially themed cars that will compete in the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 were revealed:
    · Kevin Harvick's #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy Monte Carlo will feature Gretchen Wilson.
    · Brian Vickers' #25 GMAC Chevy Monte Carlo will feature Green Day.
    · Scott Riggs' #10 Valvoline Chevy Monte Carlo will feature Nickelback.
    This is the sixth consecutive year that Chevrolet will be the title sponsor of the fall race at Richmond International Raceway. With more than 107,000 fans attending, the race will mark the 28th consecutive sell-out of a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at the track and will be broadcast live during primetime. The Chevy Rock & Roll 400 is the 26th race of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season and will determine the participants in the "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship." Today's announcement is the first of many musical pairings to be announced prior to the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. Additional vehicles that will be participating in the event will be announced later.(Chevrolet-GM/Action Performance/RIR), see updated images and the #25 car on my #25 Team Schemes pages.(5-13-2005)

  • Harvick in DC to give Driving tips: Washington, DC area residents have the unique opportunity to receive a driving lesson from Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo, when General Motors brings AutoShow in Motion to FedEx Field. Harvick will share driving and safety tips during a vehicle demonstration on the first day of the four-day event. AutoShow in Motion gives consumers the opportunity to test-drive more than 150 cars, trucks and SUVs on specially designed driving courses. Not only does GM offer its own vehicles for test drives: consumers can drive and compare GM products with competitive models from Mercedes, Toyota, BMW and more. There are no sales people at this family-friendly event and the atmosphere encourages leisurely exploration of the vehicles. Kevin Harvick will appear on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. AutoShow in Motion Public Days will be Thursday, May 12 to Sunday, May 15. Consumers interested in attending AutoShow in Motion should register by logging onto the Web site at www.autoshowinmotion.com or by calling 1-877-THE-ASIM (1-877-843-2746). Test drive participants must have a valid driver's license and be at least 18 years old (children can ride with an adult).(GM Racing)(5-4-2005)

  • #150 for Harvick: #29-Kevin will make his 150th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series start on Saturday night at Phoenix International Speedway.(RCR)(4-20-2005)

  • Harvick Crew Wins at Texas: Richard Childress Racing's crew for the #29 Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick has won the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge for the fastest pit work among participating teams during Sunday's Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. The crew collects $10,000 for the win in a contest that awards $100,000 to the crew with the most weekly wins at the end of the season. No times or other details were announced.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(4-20-2005)

  • Dickerson may have a new gig UPDATE RCR? DEI?: Chassis and body guru Eddie Dickerson, who was released by Hendrick Motorsports after being arrested in the early-morning hours at Daytona in February (disorderly intoxication), could land at Richard Childress Racing, sources in the garage said.(Speed Channel)(4-11-2005)
    UPDATE: Former Hendrick Motorsports chassis director Eddie Dickerson will interview with Dale Earnhardt Inc. this week. DEI is starting an in-house chassis program, and Dickerson could use his magic to develop better-handling cars for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who complains about the drivability of his cars.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(4-13-2005)

  • Harvick goes for Hat Trick: If Kevin Harvick wins the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race Saturday at Martinsville, he will become the first driver to win in all three of NASCAR's top series in consecutive starts. Harvick won the Nextel Cup race Sunday at Bristol and followed with a win in the postponed Busch race on Monday. Mark Martin came closest to reaching the NASCAR triple in 1996 - winning a truck race at North Wilkesboro and a Busch event one week later at Lowe's Motor Speedway, then finishing second in the Cup race the next day.(Dallas Morning News), Eleven drivers have won at least one race in each if the three Nationals Series [Cup, Busch, Trucks]
    Only two driver have won a race in all three series in the same season, Kevin Harvick in 2003 and Terry Labonte in 1995.(4-8-2005)

  • Harvick goes testing....after winning Busch race: Just how glamorous is big time auto racing? Well, as soon as Kevin Harvick was finished in victory lane Monday afternoon [after winning the Busch race] he took a helicopter to Asheboro, NC [Caraway Speedway] to test his cup car until dark for this weekend's upcoming race at Martinsville. Crew Chief Todd Barrier, who is serving a four race suspension, joined his driver at the half-mile non-NASCAR [non Cup/Busch track] short track.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(4-4-2005)

  • Fill In Crew Chief Takes Harvick to Victory Lane: Nothing was going to deny Kevin Harvick a trip to victory lane this weekend. With Scott Miller filling in as crew chief, Harvick went from worst to first in the Food City 500, collecting his first win in over fifty races. Miller's spectacular day earned him the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race. Miller led Harvick from the back of the pack not once, but twice. On the morning of the race, the #29 Goodwrench crew found a leak in the power steering system and replaced a faulty pump. For making a change to the car after it had been impounded, Harvick was sent to the back of the field for the start of the race. On top of that, Harvick had to come in for an unscheduled pit stop after two of his lug nuts were left untightened, once again sending him to the tail end of the lead lap. Despite the setbacks, Miller stuck with his game plan and inched Harvick back into the lead. "The last pit stop was one of the biggest factors in our win," said Miller after the race. "We brought Kevin (Harvick) in when the leader stayed out. The crew did an awesome job to get him out of the pits first. That's when our strategy fell into place. He had fresh tires and that's what he needed to take the lead and pull away." The panel of voters selecting the Crew Chief of the Race; including Robert Daski of the Lynchburg Daily News, a WYPALL Wipers representative and Tony Eury Sr.; all thought Miller was the standout crew chief. Miller was awarded $1,000 for taking home Crew Chief of the Race honors. He is now tied with Bob Osborne, Alan Gustafson, Pete Rondeau and Doug Richert in the point standings for the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Year. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000. For more information, visit www.wypall.com.(4-4-2005)

  • Harvick wins at Bristol: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, his first win in 55 races at Indy in 2003 and also the first win for RCR since Robby Gordon won at Watkins Glen in 2003 [a week later then Harvick]. It is Harvick's 5th career win and RCR's 77th win, which breaks a tie with Roush Racing. Harvick officially started 13th, but ended up starting from the rear as the team needed to make repairs to the power steering pump, which is unapproved after impounding. The rest of the top-5 was #38-Sadler [pole sitter], #20-Stewart, #8-Earnhardt Jr. and #88-Jarrett. #77-Travis Kvapil was the rookie of the race with a 7th. #45-Kyle Petty finished 8th for his first top-10 since Talladega in April of 2002 when Petty finished 10th, 99 races [Petty DNQ's 5 races in that span]. #48-Johnson finished 6th and increased his points lead to 94 over #16-Biffle, who faded late to 9th.
    Race results on Jayski's Bristol Race Results page
    Points on Jayski's Driver/Owners Points after Bristol.(4-3-2005)

  • Childress on the #29 pit box at Bristol: #29 team owner, Richard Childress is reasserting himself to the team. He will be on Kevin Harvick's pit box tomorrow for the Food City 500, helping interim crew chief Scott Miller, the first time Childress has been on a pit box for a race since the 2001 season.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(4-2-2005)

  • RCR Will Not Appeal the Appeal: Car owner Richard Childress says he will not appeal the National Stock Car Racing Commission's decision to uphold the fines and penalties stemming from violations discovered at Las Vegas. Childress told PRN's Garagepass "It's over with us...I'm not going to go any further. I've said my mind and I'll leave it up to the fans and the media to say if justice was done or not. Our fans are really into this stuff and they're the ones that can say hey these guys were being treated fair or they're not or the systems fair or the system isn't. I'm surprised at some of the appeals that have been turned over. In my many, many years of doing appeals I've never had one changed in my whole career in racing from the days of Dale Earnhardt at Richmond, Virginia and on down the line."(PRN's Garagepass Radio Show)(3-31-2005)

  • Childress Statement Regarding NASCAR Penalty: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing (RCR), regarding NASCAR's decision to uphold its penalty to RCR's #29 team for a rules infraction March 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: "It is impossible for me to describe how disappointed I am with NASCAR's penalty and appeal process. First of all, what Todd Berrier did was wrong and we deserve to be penalized. But I think suspending him for four weeks, in light of everything else that has happened in the past several weeks, is wrong. The infraction took place during qualifying and we were sent to the back of the field to start the race. Penalizing Kevin Harvick, who knew nothing about the infraction before the fact, is also wrong. NASCAR's decision to deduct driver points, whether it's Kevin Harvick or any other driver, does an injustice to the sponsors and everyone involved with the racing organization. There is no consistency in NASCAR's penalty and appeal process. It's black and white. You're either legal or you're not."(Richard Childress Racing)(3-30-2005)

  • #29 Appeal Heard; Decision ANNOUNCED: The appeal on behalf of Kevin Harvick's crew chief Todd Berrier has been heard. Both NASCAR and the Richard Childress Racing team presented their arguments to the National Stock Car Racing Commission today. The panel hopes to decide by late Wednesday if the four-race penalty will stick for the chief of the 29 team. NASCAR suspended Berrier and issued a $25,000 following the race at Las Vegas after an illegal fuel cell was found after qualifying. Harvick lost 25 points as did car owner Richard Childress. Berrier sat out in Atlanta. No word yet about whether he'll be back atop the pit box at Bristol. Last week, the commission did rescind the crew chief suspensions of two Hendrick Cup chiefs and replaced them with a 90-day suspension. But the fines and point penalties remained in tact.(FoxSports/NASCAR Nation TV Show)(3-29-2005)
    DECISION ANNOUNCED: National Stock Car Racing Commission Statement: On March 29, 2005, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the Appeal of Richard Childress, Kevin Harvick, and Todd Berrier concerning three penalties assessed by NASCAR relative to the #29 car following the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 13, 2005.
    The infractions concerned Section 12-4-A of the NASCAR Rule Book "Actions detrimental to stock car racing" and Section 12-4-Q "Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the car, car parts, components, and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform to NASCAR rules: unapproved fuel filler and unapproved fuel cell vent."
    The penalties assessed were:
    " Loss of 25 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Championship Car Owner Points for car owner Richard Childress.
    " Loss of 25 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Championship Driver Points for Kevin Harvick.
    " $25,000.00 fine and suspension from NASCAR until April 20, 2005 and suspension from the next four (4) NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races for crew chief Todd Berrier.
    The Appellants acknowledged that the sealed-off filler and the plug inserted in the vent line were deliberate rules violations, but appealed the severity of the penalties. The Commission found the penalties to be appropriate. Therefore it is the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR. The Commission notes that Mr. Berrier has already served the suspension for one of the four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races. The Appellants have the right under Section 15 of the Rule Book to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Commissioner.(NASCAR PR)(3-30-2005)

  • Jeff Burton Back to Busch UPDATE 2 #21 RCR: Nextel Cup veteran #31-Jeff Burton will join the Busch-whacker brigade in the April 2 Sharpie Professional 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Burton was among the drivers testing at BMS Tuesday. "I've got a good car and I'm real happy with what I'm seeing on the track," Burton said. "We've been trying to figure out what kind of setup we need to win this race. I think we are in good shape. Right now, we are planning on running three Busch races. But I bet that number ends up being seven," said Burton, who ranks eighth in career Busch wins with 20. "Next year, we're hoping to run about 15 Busch races.''(Bristol Herald Courier), doesn't say what team [RCR #29?] Jeff will run for.(3-23-2005)
    UPDATE: Everyone knows, peanut butter and chocolate go hand-in-hand; however, NASCAR drivers Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton will go head-to-head promoting Reese's rich milk chocolate and creamy peanut butter at Bristol Speedway on April 2. Always a winning combination, Reese's will debut two Limited Edition cups: Reese's Peanut Butter Lovers and Reese's Chocolate Lovers March 15. Chocolate Lover Kevin Harvick will be sporting the Reese's Chocolate Lovers car and Burton the Reese's Peanut Butter Lovers car each looking for a win at Bristol and for their favorite Reese's Limited Edition to win top spot on reeses.com. Burton will be wearing the Reeses's Peanut Butter Lovers uniform and the #21 Chevrolet will be sporting the Reese's Peanut Butter Lovers theme. Decked in a Reese's Chocolate Lovers uniform, Harvick will be driving the #29 Chevrolet featuring the Reese's Chocolate Lovers theme. "I'm thrilled to represent Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and campaign for Reese's Chocolate Lovers at Bristol," said Kevin Harvick. "The Reese's Limited Edition Vote and race cars add another layer of excitement for our race fans at Bristol."
    While Harvick and Burton will be campaigning on the track, they are also encouraging Reese's lovers to taste, vote and win as part of The Great Reese's Limited Edition Vote. After enjoying the new Reese's Peanut Butter Lovers and Reese's Chocolate Lovers Peanut Butter Cups, consumers can log on to www.reeses.com to enter their favorite winning combination. All entrants will have the chance to win a trip for four to the sweetest place on Earth - Hershey, Pa. Voting runs now through September 20, 2005 and is limited to one online entry per person.(Keystone Marketing)(3-24-2005)

  • RCR Sues ESPN over the number '3': The stylized No. 3 symbolizing the legacy of Dale Earnhardt has been reproduced on jackets, on stickers with an angel's halo, on the walls of local restaurants, and on countless other products and memorials to the late racing legend. RCR Enterprises Inc., which owns the trademark rights to the stylized No. 3, says that one of those memorials went too far. RCR, of Welcome, is owned by Richard Childress. RCR filed a federal lawsuit this week against ESPN Inc., the all-sports cable-television network that recently produced a film about Earnhardt's life. The film and its related products use a stylized No. 3 similar to the trademark owned by RCR, according to the lawsuit. RCR is owned by Richard Childress.
    "(ESPN's) use of a colorable imitation of the Stylized 3 Mark in connection with a motion picture, DVDs and books is a purposeful attempt to draw a connection between those products and RCR's Stylized 3 Mark," the lawsuit argues. "Defendant has used and is using a colorable imitation of the Stylized 3 Mark in commerce to advertise and promote itself and its products and services," the lawsuit continues. "Defendant has offered and is offering, in commerce, products and services for commercial sale or for commercial profit under a colorable imitation of the Stylized 3 Mark." Josh Krulewitz, a spokesman for ESPN at its headquarters in Bristol, Conn., said that the company did nothing illegal. "We did not make use of the plaintiff's trademark, and our use of the No. 3 was entirely legal," he said. In the lawsuit, RCR charges that ESPN is violating its trademark, is competing unfairly under federal law and is diluting the symbol used by Earnhardt when he was driving for RCR for 20 years. "The Stylized 3 Mark is distinctive and has become famous through extensive advertising, promotional expenditures, careful control and over 20 years of continuous use and commercial exposure," the lawsuit says. "Defendant's use of a colorable imitation of the Stylized 3 Mark has resulted in and will continue to result in a lessening of the capacity of the Stylized 3 Mark to identify and distinguish authorized products and services."
    RCR is asking the court to order ESPN to stop using any stylized No. 3 that could resemble its own trademark, and to recall and destroy any products that include such a symbol. Company officials are also asking for damages, attorneys' fees and "three times all gains, profits and advantages derived by them from (ESPN's) infringement, dilution, unfair competition or unfair trade practices." They also want interest. The two symbols have some similarities and some differences. The No. 3 used by Earnhardt was a block number italicized to the left. The No. 3 used by ESPN in its marketing has rounder edges, and it leans to the right.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-19-2005)

  • RCR Names Interim Crew Chief for the #29: Richard Childress Racing says chief engineer Scott Miller will take over crew chief duties for the team's #29 Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick for this weekend's Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Miller will fill in for crew chief Todd Berrier after NASCAR suspended Berrier for four races for a fuel cell infraction last weekend at Las Vegas. The team has said it will appeal the terms of the suspension [the appeal is scheduled to be heard on March 28].(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(3-17-2005)

  • Appeals Allow Suspended Crew Chief's to be at Atlanta; Berrier to sit out: NASCAR crew chiefs Chad Knaus [#48] and Alan Gustafson [#5] will be allowed to compete in Atlanta this weekend while they appeal their two-race suspension. Both were suspended on Tuesday for allegedly cheating at Las Vegas last weekend. Team owner Rick Hendrick appealed, and the National Stock Car Racing commission can't assemble until next week to hear their case, NASCAR officials said Wednesday. Under NASCAR's rules, the crew chiefs can still compete until their appeal has been heard. Todd Berrier was suspended for four races, and NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said they expected to receive notice of his plans to appeal in time for him to compete in Atlanta this weekend.(AP/ESPN.com). Richard Childress said onSpeed Channel's NASCAR Nation that Berrier will sit out the Atlanta race and the suspension will be appealled.(3-17-2005)

  • Top Two Finishers May Face Penalties UPDATE Penalties, Fines and Suspensions: Speed Channel is reporting that #48-Jimmie Johnson, the winner at Las Vegas, was found in post race inspection to be too low and the 2nd place finisher #5-Kyle Busch's Chevy quarter panels were too high. NASCAR decisions will come Monday or Tuesday. The win will probably stand.(3-13-2005)
    UPDATE: NASCAR probably won't take away #48-Jimmie Johnson's victory in Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400, despite his car's failing an inspection after the race for being too low at the roof. First, it might be difficult to give the win to teammate #5-Kyle Busch, who finished second, because Busch's car also failed post-race inspection, for being too high at the rear quarterpanels. But it's not nice to try to fool John Darby, NASCAR's competitions director, and his justice may be harsh for both Johnson and Busch. But, a win is a win, no matter the asterisks - and no matter the razzing from rivals. The low roof that led to Johnson's violation would likely provide both an edge in speed on the straightaways as well as better handling in the corners because more air would reach the crucial rear spoiler. The high rear quarterpanels that led to Busch's violation would likely provide an edge in handling in the corners, because the rear spoiler would be higher. What NASCAR will likely do is take away enough points, probably 25, to knock Johnson out of the Nextel Cup points lead. That would put Kurt Busch, who finished third, back atop the standings.(Winston Salem Journal)
    Wanna stop the cheating....take the freakin' win away, make a statement, that starting next week, post-RACE infractions cost 25 points, if it is the winner, they drop to 4th or 5th, and the win goes to the 2nd place car, or the next legal car.(3-15-2005)
    UPDATE - Fines, Penalties and Suspensions: NASCAR has announced that rule infractions this past weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway have resulted in the suspension of three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series crew chiefs.
    The #48 Chevrolet team received three penalties, due to the car's roof height being too low in post-race inspection - a violation of Section 12-4-A of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rule book (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components, and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules). A penalty of 25 driver points dropped Jimmie Johnson - the race winner at Las Vegas - back to second place (500 points) in the standings, 10 behind reigning series champion Kurt Busch (510). Chad Knaus, Johnson's crew chief, has been suspended from competition for the next two races and fined $35,000; Jeff Gordon, the #48 car owner, has been penalized 25 owner points.
    #29 Team: Todd Berrier, crew chief for the #29 Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick, has been suspended for the next four races and fined $25,000. Those penalties resulted from the #29 having an unapproved fuel filler and unapproved fuel cell vent. The car was in violation of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q. The violation was found during post-qualifying inspection. In addition to Berrier's penalties, Harvick has been penalized 25 driver championship points, dropping him from eighth to 10th in the driver standings, while car owner Richard Childress loses 25 car owner championship points.
    #5 Team: Alan Gustafson, crew chief for the #5 Chevrolet driven by Kyle Busch, has been suspended for two races and fined $25,000, due to the car's quarter-panel heights being too high in post-race inspection - also violations of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q. Busch has been assessed 25 driver points, dropping him from 18th to 22nd in the standings; car owner Rick Hendrick loses 25 owner points.
    In addition:
    Harold Holly, crew chief for the #32 Chevrolet driven by Bobby Hamilton Jr., was fined $5,000 because of the #32 having an unapproved deck lid, a violation of Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q that was determined during opening-day inspection.
    John Latchford, crew chief for the #89 Dodge driven by Morgan Shepherd, was fined $1,000 because of an unapproved fire suppression agent found during opening-day inspection. That also violated Sections 12-4-A and 12-4-Q.
    Larry Carter, crew chief for the #2 Dodge driven by Rusty Wallace, was fined $1,000. During opening-day inspection, the car's shoulder harness did not have a date tag displayed, a violation of Sections 17.2-C (and 12-4-A).(Fox Sports/Sporting News)
    POINTS UPDATED on my Jayski's Drivers/Owners Points after Las Vegas page.(3-15-2005)

  • RCR to Appeal NASCAR's Penalty Against Berrier: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) will appeal the fine and suspension NASCAR handed down today to one of its NEXTEL Cup Series teams as a result of a rules infraction last week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "I understand NASCAR's reasons for imposing a penalty," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "However, I think the penalty they have given us is out of line so we have decided to appeal their ruling."(RCR)(3-15-2005)

  • Harvick's Qualifying Speed Disallowed UPDATES illegal fuel cell: #29-Kevin Harvick's car failed post-qualifying inspection after Bud Pole Qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his speed/time was disallowed as the car did not have a full tank of fuel, which is required this year for qualifying, so he will start 42nd on Sunday.(Speed Channel's Nextel Cup Series Qualifying Coverge)
    AND From Speed Channel: The quirk was the #29 car of Kevin Harvick, who ran fourth-fastest. Harvick, however, was found to be in violation of a little-known rule which requires cars to qualify with a full tank of fuel. Harvick's car was found to carry 18gal instead of the full 22gal.
    UPDATE: Todd Berrier, Kevin Harvick's crew chief, installed an illegal fuel cell in the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy for Bud Pole Qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway -- one he said was rigged to appear filled to 22-gallon capacity while actually holding just five gallons. But Berrier said if they'd been a tick slower, NASCAR would never have known they were using an illegal cell. In seasons past, teams could qualify with the fuel load of their choice. But with NASCAR's new impound procedure, they're required to qualify with a full fuel load. Berrier doesn't foresee a points penalty from NASCAR. "I'm sure they'll fine us, but I don't think they'll take points," he said. "It wasn't a points event. It was a qualifying event.(NASCAR.com). NOTE: #21-Ricky Rudd's and team were docked 25 drivers/owners points and #7-Gordon's team was docked 25 points for infractions found in inspection, days before the Daytona 500. NASCAR tends to fine/penalize heavy for infractions involving the spoilers, fuel system and engines.(3-12-2005)

  • Seven Drivers in Tylenol Spots: Johnson & Johnson has signed endorsement deals with seven Nextel Cup drivers to promote the launch of Tylenol's Extra Strength Rapid Release Gels, Street & Smiths's SportsBusiness Journal reports. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Elliott Sadler make up Team Tylenol. The campaign will include television ads during race broadcasts and sponsorship at 11 tracks. Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon are scheduled to be featured on packages of the product sold during the third quarter of the year. Exact financial terms of the deal were not reported, but the story by Terry Lefton says the entire campaign is "an eight-figure investment."(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(3-8-2005)

  • Harvick may not run Mexico Busch race: Kevin Harvick, scheduled to drive in this weekend's Busch Series race in Mexico City [in the #21 RCR Chevy], is still sore from his crash during the Gatorade Duels at Daytona. Harvick has played in pain the past two weeks, but his bruised ribs could preclude him from driving on the Mexican road course. If so, Brandon Miller will replace him. Harvick's familiar Reese's livery will give way to a special paint scheme for this race to promote PELON PELO RICO, one of Mexico's leading brands of spicy candy. Crew chief Rick Viers emphasized that "The decision (whether or not to drive) is up to Kevin, and he will not make it until after practice on Saturday. There is a chance that Brandon Miller will run the #21 during practice since it's about five hours long. This will also give Miller some seat time just in case Harvick can't run the race on Sunday." Viers indicated Miller shouldn't be too hopeful though: "I think in the end Harvick will tough it out."(Speed Channel)(3-2-2005)

  • Beneficial to Sponsor Two RCR Teams: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has teamed up with Beneficial in a multi-year associate sponsorship agreement for two of its NASCAR Cup Series teams. Beneficial will sponsor and have decal space on the "B" posts of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet of driver Kevin Harvick and the lower rear quarter panels of the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet of driver Jeff Burton. It will also be the primary sponsor of the #31 Chevrolet for the June event at Michigan International Speedway. Finally, Beneficial will have status with the racing organization as the "Official Consumer Lending Company of RCR." More info on Beneficial at beneficial.com.(RCR PR)(2-24-2005)

  • Harvick's backup no stranger to Daytona: #29-Kevin Harvick's back-up Chevy is the car the team ran in all four restrictor plate races in 2003.(GM PR)(2-19-2005)

  • New Season of 'NASCAR DRIVERS: 360' return: The FX network has placed a second season order of seven episodes for "NASCAR Drivers: 360." The show, which takes a behind-the-scenes look at the everyday lives of NASCAR drivers, premieres May 13 at 10:30 ET. Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Jamie McMurray, Kenny Wallace, Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace will be featured during the seven-week run.(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(2-18-2005)

  • Harvick, Johnson meeting to clear air: After #29-Kevin Harvick exited the infield care center with an aching chest Thursday, #01-Joe Nemechek nearly hit him with a water bottle. It was a clear display of the anguish Harvick caused during the second of two 150-mile qualifying races for the Daytona 500. Harvick bumped #48-Jimmie Johnson more than halfway through the 60-lap race, starting a seven-car wreck and stirring the emotions of several drivers and their crews. "It's frustrating because I know how much all these guys have put into this, and to have it taken out by someone like him, that's stupid,'' Nemechek said. Johnson, who trailed only three-time Daytona winner Dale Jarrett in pole qualifying last Sunday, was leading the race when he slowed in the second turn and got rear-ended by Harvick. The bump turned Johnson's car sideways and ignited a crash that took out Johnson, Harvick, Nemechek and fellow top contenders Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace. None of them was injured. But some of their cars were badly damaged. Harvick, Nemechek and Wallace were forced to switch to backup cars and will move to the back of the field for NASCAR's biggest race. "It's a shame. He just tore up six or seven good race cars,'' said Johnson, adding that team owner Richard Childress should fire Harvick and NASCAR should penalize him. "This is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.''
    Harvick and Johnson were summoned to the NASCAR trailer after tempers had cooled. Harvick acknowledged fault in the wreck, and NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter warned the drivers that future problems could result in fines or suspensions. "We told them that they need to either work it out for themselves or we'll work it out for them,'' Hunter said. "We just consider it a racing incident. If they get into it again, there could be some severe penalties, like missing a race.'' Hunter added that the drivers shook hands and agreed to meet by themselves Thursday night -- without crew chiefs, car owners or NASCAR officials -- to work through their differences, which began at Phoenix last year. "We want to make absolutely sure that at the start of a new season, there's no carry-over,'' Hunter said. Harvick apologized for his error, but that did little to soothe emotions in the garage area. "I just spun him out, and I feel sorry for the teams and everybody involved,'' Harvick said.(ESPN.com/AP)(2-18-2005)

  • #3 Back..as showcars..ONLY: Richard Childress announced a program on Wednesday that will resurrect the #3 - at least as a show car - to celebrate RCR's 20th anniversary with General Motors. But Childress added that RCR won't be running the #3 any time soon, even though Dale Earnhardt still sell the third-most souvenirs in the garage.(FoxSports)(2-17-2005)

  • Harvick to Penske? UPDATE 2: The biggest question facing #2 [and #12, #77] owner Roger Penske this season is signing someone to take Rusty Wallace's place [after he retires at the end of 2005]. The most obvious answer, of course, is Jamie McMurray, who is already in the Dodge camp and driving Wallace's Busch cars. But McMurray is still under contract to Chip Ganassi [supposedly thru 2007], whose rivalry with Penske is well-known and who is not going to give up his own No. 1 driver easily. Penske shies away from even talking about McMurray. "I will tell you at this point I have not even had one conversation with Jamie McMurray about driving on this race team," Penske insisted. "Yes, he would be a great driver, but he's already under contract with Chip." One name that has just come up on Penske's tentative list, according to sources, is Kevin Harvick, who has been driving for Richard Childress since Dale Earnhardt's death in 2001. Miller Brewing, a longtime Penske-Wallace sponsor, has been pressuring the team for more results, in light of the impressive performance by Bud-sponsored rival Dale Earnhardt Jr. In fact, Miller execs, according to sources, have wanted Penske to bring Ryan Newman, Wallace's teammate - sometimes estranged teammate, as at the moment - into the Miller sponsorship fold.(in part from the Winston Salem Journal)(2-5-2005)
    AND .......McMurray is Wallace's first choice to replace him in the #2, but word is McMurray's Ganassi Racing contract spreads through 2007. Now, the name I [Marty Smith] continue to hear being associated with the No. 2 ride is Kevin Harvick, but Harvick told me Monday he's never been contacted by Penske Racing. He has heard the same rumors we have, but says that's the extent of his association with Penske.(NASCAR.com)(2-9-2005)
    UPDATE 2: Kevin Harvick is rumored to be under consideration for a ride with Roger Penske next season, possibly now the driver to take Rusty Wallace's ride. But Harvick's contract with car owner Richard Childress is reported to run through the end of 2006.(Winston Salem Journal)(2-18-2005)

  • GM Goodwrench Kicks off 20th Anniversary Celebration: GM Goodwrench, a division of General Motors Service and Parts Operations (GMSPO), has announced plans for their 20th anniversary celebration of NASCAR sponsorship with Richard Childress Racing in 2005.
    1) The celebration kicks off in Sunday's Daytona 500 with the first of four special paint schemes. Announced last year at Kansas Speedway, GM Goodwrench driver Kevin Harvick will pilot a multi-colored #29 Monte Carlo that combines the different looks the longest running primary sponsor has been a part of over the past two decades.
    2) Atlanta Motor Speedway, a track that holds many memories for the GM Goodwrench family, will see the next special paint scheme in March. Unveiled earlier this year at Childress' new winery in Welcome, N.C., this 2005 Chevrolet commemorates Harvick's first Cup win in Atlanta in 2001, one that will surely resurrect emotions of that day.
    3) Two events will coincide with the May race weekends at Lowe's Motor Speedway. First, fans watching the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge will see a recreation of one of the first special paint schemes when the #29 GM Goodwrench Silver Select Chevrolet hits the 1.5-mile high-banks. That next week, GM Goodwrench and RCR will host a Family Reunion at the RCR Museum, bringing together faces from the past and present that have helped keep the GM Goodwrench/RCR bond so strong.
    4) A fourth and final paint scheme, unveiled today at Daytona International Speedway along with the Silver Select Chevrolet, will run at Indianapolis (Ind.) Motor Speedway in August. Both Harvick and Dale Earnhardt enjoyed emotional Brickyard 400 victories with the RCR organization, so the hood of this #29 Chevrolet Monte Carlo will be decked with trophies commemorating those dates and achievements.
    GM Goodwrench first officially shared room on the #3 Wrangler Chevrolet with Earnhardt as an associate sponsor at RCR in May of 1985. Two-and-a-half years later they took over the primary sponsorship role on the #3 and remained on the hood until Earnhardt's passing in February of 2001. The next race at North Carolina Speedway, Harvick was given the honors to take over the coveted GM Goodwrench ride with a brand new #29 on the side and it's been that way ever since.
    As a sponsor, GM Goodwrench has enjoyed unparalleled success during its relationship with RCR, accumulating six NASCAR Winston Cup Series championships, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship, 68 race wins, the biggest Daytona 500 victory in the modern era, and two stunning Brickyard 400 wins.
    Famed NASCAR illustrator Sam Bass is the creator of all four of the unique paint schemes that will help GM Goodwrench celebrate their 20-year partnership with RCR. "It's an honor to be able to create these unique paint schemes for such a big occasion," said Bass, who also created GM Goodwrench's 20th anniversary logo. "All of these paint schemes were pretty easy to come up with, especially with the significance of what was going on during those times. I really appreciate GM Goodwrench and RCR allowing me to be a part of so much in their partnership, and I hope this helps to show their dedication to one another."(Champion Sports Group PR)(2-16-2005)

  • Coca-Cola Racing Family New Anime Ad to Debut During Daytona 500: In the first-ever NASCAR-themed Anime ad, Coca-Cola Racing Family members Tony Stewart, Kyle Petty, Bobby Labonte and Kevin Harvick are seen as animated superheroes engaging in adventurous activities such as scuba diving with sea monsters and flying fighter planes before they return to the track for a Coke and a bit of racing. Breaking during the broadcast of the Daytona 500 on February 20 -- a growing showcase for new advertising -- the 60-second ad, entitled "Fantastic Four," is the only animated spot in the new Coca-Cola "Make It Real" campaign. It will also run in more than 10,000 movie theaters across the country and a 30-second version of the spot will be featured on NASCAR broadcasts throughout the season. The spot concludes with one word -- 'Adrenaline' -- followed by the campaign tagline, 'Make It Real.' The word 'adrenaline' underscores the drivers' energetic attitude both on and off the track. Created by Berlin Cameron / Red Cell, the new 'Make it Real' campaign also includes print and outdoor executions. Additional ads are planned for later in 2005.(Coca-Cola PR)(2-15-2005)

  • Young Guns back: After a highly successful 2004 season, the Gillette Young Guns are kicking the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series into high gear with new sweepstakes and consumer promotions that will give fans and the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) the chance to win prizes ranging from $1,000 to $1 million. The Gillette Young Guns - #97-Kurt Busch, #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #29-Kevin Harvick, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #17-Matt Kenseth and #12-Ryan Newman - dominated their inaugural 2004 season, winning over 50 percent of the 36 Cup races. Busch won the 2004 championship, followed by fellow Young Guns Johnson and Earnhardt Jr., who finished second and fifth in the final points standings, respectively. Newman and Kenseth finished in seventh and eighth place, respectively, and Harvick finished 14th overall for the season. Collectively the Young Guns won 22 of the 36 races in 2004, claimed 70 top-fives and 109 top-10 finishes along the way. Gillette will again leverage these drivers and its NASCAR sponsorship with a comprehensive marketing communications program on several levels throughout the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. The program includes consumer promotions and retail events, a national "Watch & Win" consumer sweepstakes, dedicated NASCAR print and broadcasting advertising, licensing, interactive on-line consumer promotions, charitable contributions and hospitality. Consumers can celebrate the beginning of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season with the Gillette Young Guns $1 Million Watch & Win Sweepstakes. If the year end Chase for the NEXTEL Cup isn't exciting enough, consumers will have the opportunity to win big by following the Gillette Young Guns over six of the last seven races of the season. By correctly predicting the finishing order of the six Young Guns for each race, fans will automatically be entered into a points race of their own. One lucky fan that wins this unique points race will win a trip for two to the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami and the chance to win up to $1 million. Cnsumers also will be able to register online to predict the highest finishing Gillette Young Gun prior to each of this season's 36 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup events. Each week, all correct entrants will be automatically entered in a drawing for a $5,000 prize.(Alan Taylor Communications PR)(2-11-2005)

  • Harvick comments on missing Cup testing at Daytona: While some made a big deal over Kevin Harvick skipping the Daytona 500 test, it appears it was no big deal. Harvick said "When we went to the test our car sat in the shop and were painted ready for the Daytona 500 so that's something a lot of people probably don't understand...but I know for a fact that both 29 cars were sitting in the shop painted and never even went to the test. Kerry Earnhardt tested the #29 Chevy at Daytona.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(1-26-2005)

  • Special Atlanta Scheme for Harvick: looks like Kevin Harvick will run a special #29 Black and White GM Goodwrench Chevy at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March, see my #29 Team Schemes page for a few images of the car.(1-26-2005)

  • Childress Team Member Leaves: NASCAR's controversial decision to allow liquor sponsorships has caused a popular personality in the garages to quit because of his religious convictions. David Smith, a former crew chief for the late Dale Earnhardt and team manager and pit crew coach for Richard Childress Racing, told Childress during the offseason that he couldn't work on a car backed by a liquor company. Last season, Childress teams were sponsored by AOL, Cingular and Goodwrench. When AOL dropped out, Jack Daniels took the spot. "The absolute hardest part of this deal was to tell Richard that I was leaving after 25 years," said Smith, who in four decades has been a six-time all-pro jackman. I had a great job, the best anybody could ask for. I may never have a job as great as that again, but I'll have peace of mind from knowing that what I did was the right thing to do. That's worth more than money." Liquor sponsors Jack Daniel's, Jim Beam and Crown Royal will be prominent throughout the sport this season. Smith said his decision actually was made years ago when he gave up his wayward ways to become a Christian. "I trusted the Lord with my life, and He changed it around for me," Smith said. "I went to work for Richard in 1979 and told him when I went there that I'd work for him as long as he didn't have an alcohol or dirty magazine or gambling sponsorship on his car. And he was OK with that." Dave Blaney, who drives the #07 [RCR Chevy] sponsored by Jack Daniel's, said he's not much of a drinker, but he's proud to be associated with his sponsor. Childress said that although he and Smith are on different sides of the liquor issue he still respects him highly. "I've admired David Smith for years," Childress said. "I've always said I wish I could have been as strong a man as he was many, many years ago."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(1-21-2005)

  • RCR borrows Hendrick engine AND GM's idea - never made it on the track: [Richard] Childress [teams #07, #29, #31, #33] borrowed an engine from the Rick Hendrick team [#5,#24,#25,#48] for a few laps [at Daytona 500 testing], to see if the problem was engine or aerodynamics. The Hendrick engine provided more speed.(Winston Salem Journal)(1-20-2005)
    AND: What appeared to be a simple engine change caused quite a stir in the garage at Daytona. Crew members installed a Hendrick Motorsports engine into the #29 Chevrolet owned by Richard Childress Racing, which has its own engine shop. Childress said the experiment was initiated by General Motors, which supports both teams. Drivers using Hendrick engines have dominated preseason testing, and Childress' teams have struggled. Scott Riggs and Nemechek, using leased Hendrick engines, have been fastest on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The #29, driven this week by Kerry Earnhardt, who is filling in for Kevin Harvick, was 38th fastest Wednesday. The switch was not completed in time for Earnhardt to run a lap with the Hendrick engine. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
    AND II been told the motor wasn't borrowed but a program that we RCR is working on together with Hendrick to further develop the GM Engine and never made it on the track.(1-20-2005)

  • Harvick skipping Daytona testing, Kerry to test: Kerry Earnhardt is assigned to test Harvick's #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet next week during the second round of Nextel Cup Series Preseason Thunder. Earnhardt has a busy testing schedule. Earlier this week, he tested RCR's #33 Chevrolet that he'll try to qualify for the Daytona 500. He is also scheduled to test his full-time 2005 ride -- owner Billy Ballew's #15 Chevrolet truck, this weekend.(NASCAR.com)(1-15-2005)

2004 News

  • Harvick and Schrader to run Copper Classic: The Copper World Classic will make its triumphant return as the nation's best four-races-in-one day event, and the first 'major' race of the season at Phoenix International Raceway January 29-30, 2005. The NASCAR Grand National, West Series and NASCAR Elite Division, Southwest Series events will not only be the first race of the season for NASCAR fans, but it will also feature some of the most skilled drivers from the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and the INDY Racing League. Racing from the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will be Ken Schrader and Kevin Harvick, while former Indy Racing League standout Sarah Fisher, is expected to be in the starting lineup for the West series race. Other NEXTEL Cup or Busch Series drivers could join the field in the weeks ahead.(FoxSports)(12-23-2004)

  • SKF to RCR? UPDATE: hearing longtime #99 Roush Racing Asscoiate sponsor, SKF, will move over to the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevy that Jeff Burton will drive in 2005 and the other RCR teams [#07, #29]. Burton had driven the #99 Ford since its inception.(12-5-2004)
    UPDATE: SKF announced the expansion of its NASCAR NEXTEL Cup involvement, signing a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Richard Childress Racing (RCR). With the start of the 2005 NASCAR season, SKF will hold sponsorship positions on the #07 of Dave Blaney, the #29 of Kevin Harvick and the #31 of Jeff Burton. Additionally, the agreement includes a technical partnership between RCR and SKF engineers. Both parties will communicate worldwide to develop new technologies focused toward building on RCR's racing performance, as well as new products intended to increase the safety and performance of consumer vehicles. For the past seven seasons, SKF has utilized its NASCAR involvement to promote its products, services and industry activities. SKF actively communicates the messages of the Be Car Care Aware Campaign and the Right to Repair Act through its NASCAR relationships.(SKF PR) and a note on the SKF site.(12-6-2004)

  • A Hint of the future? [just a rumor....] While there were only a few mistakes made on stage during the nearly three-hour event, one very glaring error raised more than a few eyebrows. During a video montage of comments by drivers and team owners discussing Nextel's impact upon the sport as series sponsor in 2004, a three-second clip showed Richard Childress on the left side of the screen with a split-screen of identical images of Dale Earnhardt Jr. on top of each other on the right. Rumors continue to build - and especially in light of this past week's shakeup at Dale Earnhardt Inc. - that Dale Earnhardt Jr. may jump ship after his contract with DEI expires following the 2006 season and join RCR, perhaps replacing Kevin Harvick.(Yahoo Sports)(12-5-2004)

  • #29 Hauler Drivers wins Challenge: Jim Baldwin, transporter driver for Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) # 29 GM Goodwrench team in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, is the winner of Pilot Travel Centers' 2004 Pilot Truck Driver Challenge. The Pilot Truck Driver Challenge enabled transporter drivers from the NEXTEL Cup Series to display their positive attitudes toward safe and responsible truck driver. Baldwin narrowly defeated a class field to earn the $50,000 grand prize. During the announcement, Pilot revealed plans for repeating the challenge in 2005.(RCR Site/Pilot Truck Driver Challenge site)(12-1-2004)

  • Childress Announcement? in NYC? UPDATE 2 GM Goodwrench reassessing?: hearing that an announcement scheduled at RCR's on Wednesday to announce Dave Blaney/Jack Daniels/Phillipe Lopez deal.(11-17-2004)
    AND? have heard Nothing about an announcement.(11-18-2004)
    UPDATE: had heard that the announcement would be on Saturday morning at Homestead, but now hearing the announcement will now be made in New York City the week of the Nextel Cup banquet [Dec 3rd on TNT].(11-19-2004)
    UPDATE 2: Richard Childress' sponsorship announcements will apparently be postponed until NASCAR's postseason New York City awards banquet. Childress is expected to announce Jack Daniel's as a sponsor, with Dave Blaney as the driver. And Childress is expected to announce renewal of the long-running Goodwrench sponsorship. However, there has been speculation recently that General Motors has been reassessing its Goodwrench sponsorship because Childress' operation hasn't delivered socko returns over the past few years. But GM's Doug Duchardt said his company understands the ups and downs of racing: "This business is cyclical. One thing I see is that there has been some stability since Jeff Burton has come. We've seen them start to run better. How many times have we seen Robby Gordon in the top-five and Kevin Harvick, only to have some issues? "I expect Richard to get back. Kevin was fifth last year in points. So those guys have the potential to do it; they just have to get back on their game."(Winston Salem Journal)(11-21-2004)

  • Berrier to Ganassi? there is speculation of a shakeup in the #29 Kevin Harvick operation, with crew chief Todd Berrier perhaps moving to the Chip Ganassi camp.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-20-2004)

  • NASCAR to investigate Harvick-Kahne clash UPDATE: NASCAR officials said they will investigate an incident between drivers #29-Kevin Harvick and #9-Kasey Kahne to determine if disciplinary action is needed. Kahne tried to pass Harvick on the last lap Sunday as the two cars bumped. When the race ended, Harvick pulled in front of Kahne's car and blocked it before walking over to confront Kahne. Harvick, though, was restrained by crew members. "Kahne started running into me after a caution, so I wanted to stop and ask him what the problem was," Harvick said. "Before that, I got to him a little bit, so I guess he was ticked off. But we were just racing hard."(Dallas Morning News)(11-8-2004)
    UPDATE: Drivers Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne were fined $10,000 each and placed on probation for their actions during an on-track incident that occurred after the conclusion of Sunday's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway, NASCAR officials announced today. Harvick, driver of the# 29 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, and Kahne, driver of the #9 Dodge for Evernham Motorsports, were penalized for violating Section 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Rule Book when the two made deliberate contact with each other following the conclusion of the race. Both drivers' probation periods will extend to Nov. 30.(NASCAR PR)(11-10-2004)

  • Martinsville Performance Gives Harvick's Pit Crew First Win of Season: The pit crew for Kevin Harvick scored its first victory in the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade by taking top honors in Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The No. 29 crew earned $20,000 for the win. With four races remaining, only 13 points separate the top three crews in the McDonald's/POWERade standings. Elliott Sadler's crew leads with 1140 points. Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew is second with 1129 and Kurt Busch's crew is third with 1127. The championship pit crew will earn a $200,000 bonus. Harvick's GM Goodwrench Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on Martinsville's pit road with a time of 323.762 seconds. Jeff Burton's AOL Chevy was second at 340.342 and Busch's IRWIN Ford was third at 349.652. "Kevin does everything he can on the track so we have to do everything we can for him when he comes into the pits," said Todd Berrier, crew chief for the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet team. "Track position is critical at Martinsville because of how difficult it is to pass so winning the McDonald's/POWERade award there shows how good our Goodwrench crew is. All the pit stop practice and time in the weight room the guys do at the shop during the week really pay off." Harvick's over-the-wall crew consists of: Mike Scearce (jackman), Brian Englehart (gasman), Scott Naset (catch can), Jason Pulver (front-tire changer), Josh Mick (front-tire carrier), Clint Pittman (rear tire changer) and Kenny Barber (rear-tire carrier).(DMF Comminications), for the top-10 and seasonso standings, see my Pit Crew News page.(10-27-2004)

  • What's Wrong with RCR? What's wrong with Richard Childress Racing? To Kevin Harvick, driver of RCR's #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet, it's simple. "Our engines are topping the wrong end of the list," Harvick said. "That's about it. That's about all you need to say."(NASCAR.com)(10-16-2004)

  • Some RCR Changes UPDATE: #29 team Catch-can man Kirk Almquist is moving up the RCR chain of command. Starting this weekend he'll be the car chief for the #31 Cingular Wireless team with driver Robby Gordon. Kevin Gabard will fall into his position on the weekend crew and #29 car chief Scott Naset will take over catch-can duties.(RCR PR)(10-13-2004)
    UPDATE: This weekend, Gil Martin will be teaming up with the #31 Cingular Wireless racing team to assume the responsibilities as interim crew chief. Martin has spent the majority of 2004 working with the #29 GM Goodwrench team and serving as crew chief of RCR's special teams programs. Martin is one of a select few crew chiefs to win in NASCAR's Cup, Busch and Truck Series. He and Gordon are no strangers, having worked together in 2001 and 2002 when Gordon first joined RCR, the duo scored their first NASCAR Cup Series win together at New Hampshire International Speedway in November 2001. Martin will work as a co-crew chief with Gordon's current crew chief, Chris Andrews.(Robbygordon.com)(10-14-2004)

  • GM Goodwrench Unveils 2005 Daytona 500 Paint Scheme: GM Goodwrench unveiled at Kansas Speedway, the 2005 Daytona 500 paint scheme that will help kick off their 20th anniversary with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in NASCAR. The multi-colored #29 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, a combination of the different looks that GM Goodwrench has been a part of over the years, is only the beginning of a yearlong celebration planned to commemorate the great partnership that has brought so much to stock car racing. As a sponsor, GM Goodwrench has enjoyed unparalleled success during its relationship with RCR, accumulating six NASCAR Winston Cup Series championships, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship, 68 race wins, the biggest Daytona 500 victory in the modern era, and two stunning Brickyard 400 wins. The special paint scheme, designed by famed NASCAR illustrator Sam Bass, unites old with new by combining the original black #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet driven by Earnhardt in 1988 with the white #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet first driven by Harvick in 2001. The 20th anniversary logo commemorating the 20 years with RCR sits on the silver hood that adorned the GM Goodwrench paint scheme run throughout the 2002 season. GM Goodwrench plans for next year's 20th anniversary celebration are going to be widespread, with several unique special paint schemes in store, a number of parties, special guests from the past, innovative promotions, and even a few surprises. Being the longest continuous team sponsor in the sport allows for some excitement to be had throughout the year. (Champion Sports Group/RCR PR), added an image of the car on the 2005 Paint Schemes page.(10-9-2004)

  • NASCAR Teams Using Facilities at ORNL to Increase Performance: More and more, NASCAR teams seeking a racing edge are making pit stops at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's High Temperature Materials Laboratory [ornl.gov / Oak Ridge, TN] for high-tech tips to better performance. "ORNL facilities that are used to test and develop transportation and materials technologies are gaining popularity among the NASCAR set," HTML Director Arvid Pasto said. "HTML provides a means for racing teams to study ways to enhance a car's ability to race at high speeds." Pasto said the HTML helps solve problems in advanced energy conversion systems -- such as race cars -- to make them more efficient and reliable. Engineers with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) of Welcome, N.C., which includes three cars [#'s 29,30,31] on the Nextel Cup circuit and two more in the Busch series, said they have been able to improve performances of their cars during the first half of the 2004 season based in part on research conducted last fall at the HTML.(more at azom.com.(9-1-2004)

  • So What Happened to Harvick? During the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, #29-Kevin Harvick's left arm began to go numb, prompting a search by his team for a relief driver. Team officials eventually located Kyle Petty, whose day ended on Lap 150, in his motorcoach. He returned to the track infield with his uniform. A caution on Lap 328 for debris allowed Harvick to rest a bit and he remained in his No. 29 Chevrolet. But when another caution came out on 359, he radioed crew chief Todd Berrier that, "I have to get out. I can't feel my arm." After a lengthy pit stop, Harvick got out of the car and Petty got in. Petty drove the remainder of the race and finished 24th. "My arm just fell asleep during that long green-flag run. My seat was pinching a nerve under my left bicep and it just went numb," Harvick said after the race. "I tried to bring it back to life after that pit stop, but once we went racing again it fell right back asleep. I knew the only thing to do was have someone replace me because I knew I couldn't drive the car with one arm."(ThatsRacin.com)(8-29-2004)

  • Harvick gets Real[tree] for Bristol: Team Realtree Racing (TRR) announces that GM Goodwrench and Richard Childress Racing (RCR) will provide TRR the primary sponsor location on the hood of the #29 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the Aug. 28 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Sharpie 500 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Team Realtree was the primary sponsor of NASCAR legend Dave Marcis' No. 71 team until his retirement in 2002. The company has also been a longtime associate sponsor of RCR.(RCR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #29 Team Paint Scheme page.(8-25-2004)

  • Harvick gets a new spotter: Now that Kevin Harvick is in the thick of the battle for a top-10 spot, he has asked [former CTS driver/winner] Rick Carelli to serve as his spotter for the rest of the season and to also work in a driver-coach capacity.(Rocky Mountain News)(8-24-2004)

  • New team manager for the #29: Scott Miller, who served as Ricky Craven's crew chief last season and returned to RCR for 2004, will serve as the team manager for Kevin Harvick and the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet. Miller replaces Gil Martin, currently heading up special projects for RCR.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(8-16-2004)

  • Some Parts confiscated: Over the weekend, NASCAR inspectors confiscated an expired shoulder harness from the No. 40 Dodge of Sterling Marlin and an unapproved filler board from the No. 29 Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-16-2004)

  • Harvick's DNF Steak ends at 58 so....: #29-Kevin Harvick ended his DNF streak of running at the finish in 58 straight races, the modern era record, Jeff Gordon previously held the record at 56, and Dale Earnhardt before at 53. The all-time record is 84 races held by Herman Beam from April 30, 1961 thru March 10, 1963.(8-2-2004)
    AND the new leader of the DNF streak is #38-Elliott Sadler with 25 straight races running at the end, followed by #31-Robby Gordon at 18 and #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 17.(8-4-2004)

  • Harvick and KISS at RIR: #29-Kevin Harvick in Cup, #6-Matt Crafton in Trucks and #2-Ron Hornaday in the Busch Series will run paint schemes adorning the rock group [and Jayski fave - 24 CD's] KISS. These special paints are scheduled to be run at the Chevy Rock and Roll weekend at Richmond in September. See an image of the #29 on my #29 Team Paint Schemes page.(6-11-2004)
    UPDATE: Rock and Roll all Night....party every day.... NASCAR Busch Series driver Ron Hornaday, fresh off his win this past weekend in Milwaukee, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Matt Crafton, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the rock group KISS, Executives from Chevrolet, Warner Music Group, Action Performance Companies, Inc., and Richmond International Raceway will hold a press conference on Tuesdaym June 29th as KISS will be featured on Hornaday's #2 AC Delco, Crafton's #6 Chevy truck and Kevin Harvick's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy during the September 9-11 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 weekend at Richmond International Raceway. For the second straight year, the Chevy Rock & Roll weekend will feature concerts and special paint schemes featuring some of the most popular musical artists around. The concert lineup for race weekend and participation from other bands will be announced in the near future.(RIR PR)(6-29-2004)

  • Harvick Tshirt goes for $3.2k - plus!: Take one Matt Kenseth t-shirt worn by Kevin Harvick during Michigan qualifying, add 29 hours to bid on it in the name of a great cause, toss in a bunch of fans from both sides wanting to win it for their driver's "family," and you've got a recipe for a fabulous fund raiser. Kevin decided to auction off the Kenseth t-shirt as a way to raise money for the Victory Junction Gang Camp. On Wednesday, June 16 at 3:00 p.m. ET, bidding began for the infamous shirt. By 3:01 p.m., the bidding was up to $500.00. A few minutes later, that amount doubled. Soon enough, fans of driver Matt Kenseth began tossing in bids of their own, letting their loyalties be known and prompting Kevin's fans to try harder. Bids began flying with taglines such as "Kenseth Rules" or "Harvick Rules More!" As the 29 hours wound down, a neutral bidder was in the lead. Kevin's fans rallied in order to prevent the shirt from landing in the hands of anyone but a die-hard Harvick fan. In the auction's final moments, Kevin's fans surrounded Sue Bunce, a Harvick fan who was determined to place the highest bid. After receiving help from fellow fans, Sue presented a final bid of $2,929.29. Seeing the amount of Sue's bid, Kevin asked those in charge of the auction if she had won it. With two minutes remaining in the event, they were unable to give Kevin a positive answer because there were other participants (of the Kenseth variety) still actively bidding. Saying, "I can't let anyone but a Harvick fan get it," Kevin tossed in an extra donation to bring the amount of Sue's bid to $3,245.29, a number that represented not only Kevin but honored Adam Petty, who drove car number 45. His extra push helped Sue's bid stay above another one received in the final moments of the auction. Following the announcement of the winner, Kevin matched the amount, increasing the total monies raised to $6,490.58. Every single penny is being sent to the Victory Junction Gang Camp in the name of Kevin Harvick's fans. On a side note, Kevin also wore another Kenseth shirt on race day at Michigan, which he plans to give to the VJGC on behalf of all the Harvick fans that pitched in to make this a successful bid! Following the auction Harvick had this to say, "We couldn't let the shirt get into anyone but a Harvick fans hands."(Kevin Harvick Site)(6-24-2004

  • Still Feudin': #17-Matt Kenseth and #29-Kevin Harvick continued their feud from last weekend's race at Pocono in dueling news conferences Friday at Michigan International Speedway. Kenseth and Harvick each spun out in incidents involving the other in the final four laps of last Sunday's Pocono 500. This week, NASCAR fined each $25,000 and placed both on probation until Aug. 11. Harvick said Kenseth's spin was the result of Kenseth brake-checking in front of him, while Kenseth said he retaliated against Harvick because if "I was going to lose those spots (on the track), then he was going to lose his, too." While Kenseth spent much of his time with the media contradicting Harvick's account of the incident, Harvick directed most of his comments at NASCAR officials, saying he was penalized him without cause. "We presented NASCAR with everything they needed. (Kenseth's) skid marks are very evident on the race track and I wish now I had taken a picture of them. There's no way you can spin someone out under caution without at least knocking the grille out of your car," Harvick said. "Just like (Nextel Cup Series director) John Darby told me, 'Your past is probably why you're getting a fine.' I don't think that's the right way to go. But then, what has been right the past few weeks?" Harvick said he would not appeal the penalty. "The appeals process doesn't work. It doesn't matter if you're right or wrong, you're going to lose," he said. Harvick and his team owner, Richard Childress, remain adamant that Kenseth instigated both incidents under caution. "I've done a lot of wrong things, and that's the first time I have ever talked to Mike Helton twice and presented everything we presented," Harvick said. "Whether they like it or not, they are hard, cold facts." Kenseth denied he brake-checked, triggering the first spin. After both news conferences, Darby again asked both drivers to visit the NASCAR hauler, where they met for several minutes before the start of Friday's practice session.(see full story at ThatsRacin.com)(6-19-2004)

  • Seen on Pit Road: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy, in a Matt Kenseth Championship T-Shirt.(MRN Radio Qualifying Coverage)(6-18-2004)

  • Special Coca Cola Schemes at the Pepsi 400 UPDATE: interesting, hearing that eight drivers will run special Coca-Cola C2 [never flavor of coke, less sugar or something] schemes at Daytona in the July 3rd, 'Pepsi 400'. The drivers? #29-Harvick, #1-Andretti, #91-Elliott, #16-Biffle, #97-Busch, #99-Burton, #21-Rudd and #20-Stewart. See images of the #29 and #1 on my 2004 Cup Schemes page.(6-4-2004)
    ADDED: #16, #21, #97 and #99 Coca-Cola C2 to my 2004 Cup Schemes page.(6-5-2004)
    UPDATE: Bill Elliott has become a big player in the cola wars that will be fought at Daytona International Speedway next month. The July 3 Nextel Cup race is sponsored by Pepsi, but Atlanta-based Coca-Cola has chosen the event for a huge promotion of its new mid-calorie, reduced-carb beverage, Coca-Cola C2. Elliott, who hasn't raced in Cup since April 4 at Texas, will drive a Coke-sponsored #98 Dodge [not sure how this effects the #98 Ford team and who would get to use the number, they are listed at #198 for owners, and last I heard, #98 is held by Yates, assume Elliott would be owner #298]. Because his usual car owner Ray Evernham has a deal with Pepsi, Elliott will have to be his own car owner. He will lease the car from Evernham, and after a recent test at Daytona is confident of a strong run. "I'm looking forward to this," Elliott said Wednesday. "Coke's from Georgia and so am I, so for me this is a really neat deal." Seven other drivers will be carrying the C2 colors at Daytona, including #1-John Andretti, who like Elliott, is running a limited schedule this season. Elliott's return as a car owner actually will come this weekend at Michigan when he'll field an ARCA car for his dirt racing buddy, Ray Cook. "Ray's a good young driver and he's worked awfully hard at racing," Elliott said. "I'm just trying to open some doors for him and help him get some credibility."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution) and see the #20 Home Depot/Coca-Cola image on my #20 Team Paint Scheme page.(6-17-2004)

  • Harvick and Kenseth dropped in final finishing order UPDATE and fined $25k: after meeting with #17-Matt Kenseth and #29-Kevin Harvick for their beating and banging and spinning each other out, NASCAR moved both to the tail end of the lead lap. So Kenseth goes to 21st and Harvick goes to 20th. Unofficial results already had Kenseth in 21st due to his pitstop, Harvick drops from 10th to 20th but maintains 9th in the driver points standings.(Speed Channel's Speed News coverage)(6-13-2004)
    AND the official results are now posted at the Pocono Race Results/Awards page.(6-14-2004)
    AND II Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick were penalized for bumping each other at the end of the Pocono 500. With Sunday's race about to end under caution, Harvick spun Kenseth into the infield in Turn 3 on Lap 197. Kenseth then did the same to Harvick on the backstretch on the next lap. Both Kenseth, the 2003 series champion, and Harvick were interviewed after the race by NASCAR officials, who then dropped them to 20th and 21st. Harvick originally finished 11th, and Kenseth had finished 10th. More penalties could be coming later this week, NASCAR president Mike Helton said. "It boils down to a frustration level between the 17 [Kenseth] and the 29 [Harvick] that got played out on the race track, under caution, and that's something we frown on ... greatly," Helton said.(CNNSI/AP)(6-15-2004)
    UPDATE - Kenseth and Harvick fined: Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth were each fined $25,000 by NASCAR and placed on probation until Aug. 11 for bumping incidents between the two during the final laps of Sunday's Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy, and Kenseth, driver of the #17 DeWalt Ford, took part in bumping and spinning out each other during the final caution period of the race, which extended from Lap 197 to 200. Both drivers were penalized for involvement in an altercation with another competitor during a caution period. The rift began 11 laps from the finish when Harvick passed Kenseth coming out of Turn 1 and cut in front of Kenseth's car. Kenseth then used the front of his car to lift Harvick's rear wheels and passed him again as the final caution came out. While the race was under caution, Harvick spun Kenseth into the infield in Turn 3 on lap 197. At the time, no penalties were assessed or drivers or crew chiefs called to the NASCAR hauler. Kenseth then returned the favor on the backstretch on the following lap, after which NASCAR called both drivers and crew chiefs to the hauler after the race.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-16-2004)

  • Harvick creeping up on record: by finishing the Pocono 500, #29-Kevin Harvick has now been running at the end of 53 straight races. No DNF's [did not finish]. The modern era record [1972-present] is 56 held by Jeff Gordon [2001-2002], the all time record is 84 races held by Herman Beam from April 30, 1961 thru March 10, 1963.(6-14-2004)

  • Harvick and KISS at RIR: #29-Kevin Harvick in Cup, #6-Matt Crafton in Trucks and #2-Ron Hornaday in the Busch Series will run paint schemes adorning the rock group [and Jayski fave - 24 CD's] KISS. These special paints are scheduled to be run at the Chevy Rock and Roll weekend at Richmond in September. See an image of the #29 on my #29 Team Paint Schemes page.(6-11-2004)

  • Changes at RCR: A change in management occurred last week when Richard Childress Racing [#'s 29,30,31,33] promoted Mike Dillon, a former Busch Series competitor and Richard Childress' son-in-law, to general manager. Bobby Hutchens was named vice president of competition. Childress says RCR has been operating as a three-team organization despite its growth to five full-time teams in Cup and Busch. Childress did not rule out additional changes with his teams if performance does not pick up. Dillon added, "We're trying to improve all aspects of competition, and the change will take some of the weight off Bobby's shoulders." The move will allow Hutchens to spend more time with the engineering and R&D departments.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(6-7-2004)

  • RCR Crewman wants Biffle: Crewmen at Richard Childress' shop are chomping at the bit with the possibility of acquiring Greg Biffle. "We need someone to step this operation up a notch," an RCR crewman said. "And Biffle could do that. Childress needs to get him - no matter what it costs."(Winston Salem Journal)(6-5-2004)

  • RCR Getting Bigger: Richard Childress Racing is growing again. The latest plans include a 40,000-square foot engine shop that is expected to be completed by November.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(5-31-2004)

  • #3 Could be used again: Car owner Richard Childress says there could be a day when a #3 car returns to NASCAR's top series, but it's not likely to happen soon. Childress retains the rights to the number -- made famous by the late Dale Earnhardt -- but has not used it in a Cup race since Earnhardt's death in the 2001 Daytona 500. "I don't think the stylized 3 should ever be brought back to racing unless it was a special, special event for an Earnhardt or a family member or something, but I don't see it coming back full time,'' Childress said. What about somebody using a #3 that is styled differently than what adorned Earnhardt's cars? "I would hope everyone would respect that and not want to do that," Childress said.(News and Record)(5-29-2004)

  • Special Paint for RCR at LMS in Oct: All three of RCR's fulltime NASCAR NEXTEL Cup cars will have special paint schemes in the UAW-GM 500 made famous by RCR over the years. The #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet will have a blue-and-white paint scheme reminiscent of the #3 Wrangler cars, the #30 America Online Chevrolet will carry a white-blue-and-red paint scheme reminiscent of the #3 Piedmont Airlines cars, and the #31 Cingular Wireless scheme will be reminiscent of the #3 Quicksilver car. RCR's two fulltime NASCAR Busch Series teams, the #2 ACDelco Chevrolet and the #21 Reese's Chevrolet, will maintain their primary paint schemes and will also carry the RCR 35th Anniversary logo on the hood. All RCR cars currently carry the 35th Anniversary logo.
    AND Richard Childress Racing (RCR) will celebrate its 35th Anniversary by giving one lucky fan (and a guest) a fantasy race weekend at the UAW-GM 500 weekend in October at Lowe's Motor Speedway and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with team owner Richard Childress. The "Ride with Richard" promotion begins today (May 27) and will run through Sept. 8, when the winner will be chosen. Race fans will enter by signing up in the Fan Central section of RCR's revamped RCRNetwork web site at www.rcrracing.com, www.rcrnetwork.com, or at AOL Keyword: RCR.(RCR PR)(5-28-2004)

  • Engine Competition UPDATE: there was some sort of Engine Competition at NASCAR Institute between Richard Childress Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. XM Satellite NASCAR Radio reports that RCR had the fatest time of 19:52, but nothing is official yet barring penalties.(5-26-2004)
    UPDATE: Lanny Barnes and Todd Hamm of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) defeated Mike Maiwald and Shane Parsnow of Hendrick Motorsports Tuesday night in the final round of the 2004 Clevite Engine Builder Showdown. The four-round competition, which began in January at Hendrick Motorsports in Charlotte, N.C., and concluded with the final round at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, N.C., requires each team build an engine from the block up and specifies that it run for one minute. The RCR team turned in a time of 19:52 minutes while the Hendrick team finished in 20.33 minutes. Each team was penalized one minute for a rules infraction (the RCR team cross-threaded an oil pan nut), canceling what would have been a record time for Barnes. RCR has won two of the last three final rounds of the Clevite Engine Builder Showdown. Danny Lawrence, RCR's assistant engine shop manager, won the event in 2002 and was runner-up last year. Barnes defeated Lawrence in the semifinals this year. Lawrence owns the record time for the build, 20:26 minutes, which he established during the 2002 competition. This was Barnes' fourth appearance in the competition and first time in the final. Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR, attended as an analyst for The Speed Channel's coverage of the event, which is scheduled to air July 18 at 8:00pm/et.(RCR PR)(5-26-2004)

  • Harvick Paint News UPDATE: Kevin Harvick is scheduled to run a #29 Ice Breakers Liquid Ice Chevy at Texas, the new mint item is billed as the future of instant breath freshening.(1-25-2004)
    UPDATE: Childress, Harvick, Hershey Foods and GM Goodwrench to unveil first completely holographic race car. The #29 Ice Breakers Liquid Ice / GM Goodwrench Chevy will be driven by Kevin Harvick in Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Nextel Cup race on Sunday, April 4, 2004 and be unvieled at the track on Friday, April 2nd in the morning. In conjunction with the race car graphics, Hershey Foods is introducing new Ice Breakers Liquid Ice mints. The first intense, liquid-filled mints from Ice Breakers, Liquid Ice delivers instant mouth freshening and is designed for consumers with a need for breath-freshening speed (Keystone Marketing PR). See a diecast image of the car on my #29 Team Paint Schemes page.(4-1-2004)

  • New Chevy Nose? Kevin Harvick got a nose job when he tested last week at Texas Motor Speedway. According to sources at the test, Harvick's #29 Chevrolet was sporting a variety of noses, including pieces from Ford and Dodge. General Motors tested the different combinations of the noses in the wind tunnel before putting the car on the track but did not find an advantage.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(3-29-2004)

  • New Sneaks for Harvick: #29-Kevin Harvick is endorsing a new line of sneakers from Lugz, a boot and shoe company looking to expand beyond its mostly "urban-based" clientele. The new shoes go on sale in July.(USA Today)(3-23-2004)

  • RCR Adds Design Technology: Blue Ridge Numerics announced that Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in Welcome, NC, has selected CFdesign for virtual prototyping fluid flow and heat transfer performance of automotive components and systems built in Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire. On their first project, the RCR engineering team used CFdesign to identify a significantly improved design of the fuel delivery system used to refuel cars during pit stops. Recognized as a one of the heavyweights of NASCAR, RCR has a reputation for finding engineering innovations that help current drivers Kevin Harvick, Johnny Sauter, Robby Gordon, Ron Hornaday, and Clint Bowyer cross the finish line first in Nextel Cup and Busch Series races across the country. RCR saw the benefit of CFdesign with the very first project. Always looking for an edge in a competition where a fraction of a second determines winners and losers, CFdesign helped improve the fuel delivery system used by pit crews to refuel the car. Holden says the improvement achieved with CFdesign is a gain that will show up on the racetrack.(tenlinks.com via Insider Racing News)(3-20-2004)

  • Harvick Gets the Ring: Kevin Harvick, in Indianapolis this week to accept his ring for winning the 2003 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, talked about how tough it was to take over the car driven by the late Dale Earnhardt. "It was like the shadow you'll never get rid of," he said. Even though he won in his third start in the car, which was renumbered 29 after Earnhardt's death, the Intimidator's memory was never far away. "To be honest with you, it was very hard at the beginning, because I've always been somebody who made my own footsteps, got to where we were by performing well and doing the things we were doing," he said. Even though Harvick has driven the car for three seasons, he still feels like Earnhardt is a part of the team. "He had taken our sport to what it is today [and] he's responsible for making the Goodwrench car what it is today," he said. "We respect that."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(3-12-2004)

  • Foam Confiscated From #29 Car: Several large chunks of foam were confiscated from the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy on Saturday morning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A NASCAR official said that it was removed from the fuel cell because the foam was cut at angles and the rule book clearly states that it needs to be squared off.(Insider Racing News)(3-6-2004)

  • DEI Tuner leaves to start own biz? UPDATE 2: hearing that DEI Engine Tuner and #8 Gasman, Jeff Clark has left DEI to start a Motorcycle Business in the Charlotte, NC area.(1-6-2004)
    UPDATE: Engine tuner John Dennison has left Kevin Harvick's #29 RCR team to replace crew member Jeff Clark on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #8 car. Clark submitted his resignation in January, but he stayed on to help the team through Speedweeks. Brian Englehart will temporarily fill in on the #29 crew until a full-time tuner is hired.(Yahoo Sports/Sporting News)(2-9-2004)

    UPDATE 2: One of the final touches to the #29 Team GM Goodwrench was made over the off-weekend in Welcome, NC. In search of a permanent engine tuner to fill the position vacated by John Dennison [who went to DEI] in January, Danny Lawrence, Trackside Engine Manager for Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc. (RCR), hired John Goodwin [not Munson, RCR corrected this]. A 36-year old Houston, Texas native, Munson came from Bill Davis Racing's #22 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series racing team.(RCR #29 Preview)(3-3-2004)

  • Duracell on the #29: Duracell, the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of high-performance alkaline batteries, today announced a multi-year marketing and promotional agreement with NASCAR. Under the terms of the agreement, Duracell becomes the Official Status Sponsor and the "official alkaline battery" of NASCAR. Duracell will also partner with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Kevin Harvick and become an Associate Sponsor of the Richard Childress Racing's #29 Team. Duracell will leverage Harvick and its NASCAR sponsorship with an integrated marketing communications program throughout the 2004 season. The program includes consumer promotions, in-store POP, print FSIs, and advertising in the form of TV, print and radio executions, highlighting Duracell's "Trusted Everywhere" theme. Harvick, who will sport Duracell logos on his uniform and on the front lower quarter panel of his No. 29 Chevrolet, will star in the Duracell TV spot, scheduled to break during NBC's coverage of the 46th running of the Daytona 500 on February 15.(Business Wire)(2-11-2004)

  • Harvick Paint News: Kevin Harvick is scheduled to run a #29 Ice Breakers Liquid Ice Chevy at Texas, the new mint item is billed as the future of instant breath freshening.(1-25-2004)

  • Harvick to Snap On in the Challenge: #29-Kevin Harvick scheduled to run at the new Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowes Motor Speedway - May 22 - with a Snap-On scheme.(1-25-2004)

2003 News

  • Harvick special paint at The Challenge: Kevin Harvick will show up in a fire engine red Snap-On paint scheme at the NEXTEL All-Star race in Charlotte [Lowe's Motor Speedway] on May 22nd. For the second year in a row Snap-On is sponsoring the car for this event.(12-20-2003)

  • Childress and the new points system? Richard Childress, who won six Winston Cup championships with Dale Earnhardt under the points system in place since 1975, said he was hesitant about a proposed playoff format for NASCAR's top series, but has since gained a better understanding of it. NASCAR plans to announce by the middle of next month whether it will adapt a 26-race "regular season" and 10-race playoff format. Only the top-10 drivers in points after 26 races would be eligible to race for the championship over the final 10 races. "From a purely selfish standpoint I would prefer the system stay the same," said Childress, who won Cup titles in 1986, '87, '90, '91, '93 and '94 with Earnhardt, the late seven-time champion. "When I first heard about it around the time of the (Cup awards) banquet in New York, I didn't think much of it." Childress said he recently spoke extensively with NASCAR officials, looking for answers to several questions he had about the proposal. "I think I have a better understanding now of what NASCAR is thinking. Sometimes you have to step back and take a look at the big picture," he said. "I can certainly see where the added media exposure and excitement surrounding a playoff atmosphere would help grow the sport and continue its success." Nextel, which takes over sponsorship of the Cup series in 2004, has been meeting with NASCAR over the proposal. Many fans have mistakenly cited Nextel as the reason for the change, when in fact it has been heavily promoted by new NASCAR chairman Brian France.(more at ThatsRacin.com)(12-20-2003)

  • Smirnoff Ice back with Kenseth? hearing that Smirnoff Ice will return to sponsor 2003 Winston Cup champ, Matt Kenseth, somehow in 2004. There had been rumors that Smirnoff Ice/Triple Black would move to the #29 team and Kevin Harvick.(12-11-2003)

  • more Congrats: Megan and Brian Englehart of RCR welcome a set of twins. Megan is the #31 PR person and Brian is the gasman for the #29 car.(12-3-2003)

  • NASCAR Press Conference UPDATE Gillette Young Guns: NASCAR will be announcing a sponsorship deal involving six of NASCAR's top ten drivers this Friday, Nov. 14 at 12:45pm/et from Victory Lane at Homestead-Miami Speedway. On hand will be 2003 champ Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Newman, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.(11-12-2003)
    UPDATE: hear it is something with Gillette.(11-13-2003)
    UPDATE 2: Gillette Co. is expected to unveil a $10 million-plus sponsorship deal today with NASCAR and six of its most prominent young and aggressive drivers. The Hub razor maker is gunning for a huge and growing group of auto racing fans with a sweeping deal to be unveiled in Miami. As an official NASCAR partner, Gillette and its Duracell and Oral-B brands will gain exclusivity in the shaving, battery and oral care categories, industry sources say. Gillette also will sponsor six young drivers including #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #29-Kevin Harvick and this year's Winston Cup Champion, #17-Matt Kenseth. The six - to be dubbed Gillette Young Guns - will anchor promotional programs designed to drive sales. Gillette is expected to spend more than $10 million on the effort overall. The deal is comparable only to Coca-Cola Co. (KO: chart, news)'s sponsorship of 13 drivers under its Coca-Cola Family of Racers campaign.(Boston Herald)(11-14-2003)
    UPDATE 3: Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman have been called "young guns" for some time. Next year, they'll get paid for it. In a deal worth a reported $20 million a year, Gillette has signed a multiyear agreement for those Cup drivers to endorse Gillette razors, Duracell batteries and Oral-B toothbrushes. The deal also includes "official" sponsor status for Gillette. The agreement also includes a weekly contest for fans, who can register online at www.gilletteyoungguns.com, to predict the highest finisher among those six in each 2004 race. All correct entrants will be entered in a drawing for a $5,000 prize. If those six drivers finish in the top six in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May or the Ford 400 at Homestead, and a consumer correctly picks the order of their finish, the prize would be $5 million. Gillette will also donate at least $1,000 per week to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition as part of the program. None of the money in the deal goes any of the race teams involved. The agreements are with NASCAR and the individual drivers.(ThatsRacin.com)(11-16-2003)

  • Harvick Press Conference UPDATE: On Friday morning [11/14], Kevin Harvick and GM Goodwrench will take part in a press conference at the Media Center with Chevrolet and GM Racing on sponsorship for the 2004 NASCAR season.(Kevin Harvick site), this could be for Harvick's Truck Series team that Matt Crafton will drive for in 2004, only other 'rumors' I have heard was that Smirnoff Ice was a possible associate sponsor on the #29 Cup car in 2004, but that has died down quite a bit and haven't heard much about that in a while.(11-12-2003)
    UPDATE: GM Goodwrench, a division of General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO), announced today its return to the NASCAR Truck Series through 2005. As the primary sponsor of a Kevin Harvick, Inc. owned #6 Chevrolet Silverado driven by NASCAR Touring Champion Matt Crafton. When it came to picking a driver to compete full time on the circuit, Harvick didn't have to look far. He competed against Matt Crafton on the West Coast and knew of the Tulare, Calif., native's potential. Crafton has been following the same path of his new truck owner, with a 2000 Featherlite Southwest Tour Series championship already under his belt. His first appearance on the Truck Series circuit came in 2000, and since then he's posted 29 top-10 finishes in 71 starts with two teams, including a career-best 12th place finish in the points standings in 2001. "This is the most excited I've been about anything," exclaims Crafton, currently 11th in the 2003 Truck Series standings with the No. 88 Menards Chevrolet Silverado owned by Duke Thorson. "I can tell you right now this is the biggest and best step I've taken in my racing career. I know we can go out and win races. GM Goodwrench as a sponsor is unreal. They've been so successful with all they've done in racing. I just hope I can continue that trend."
    "We looked long and hard to find a person that would most benefit the opportunity and our operation" adds Harvick. "Matt was the most ambitious. He wanted the job more than anyone else did. We didn't feel he was showing his full potential where he was. Matt's got a ton of talent and I've been impressed with how he handles himself. I think he'll be a great addition to our program and will bring a lot to the table."(Kevin Harvick Site)(11-14-2003)

  • Hornaday in 4th RCR car at Homestead: Richard Childress Racing Busch Series driver [and championship contender], Ron Hornaday will drive the #90 Childress Vineyards/RCRRacing.com Chevy in the Nov. 16 Ford 400. Childress Vineyards broke ground in September on its winery facility in Lexington, NC, and current plans call for its first vintage, using grapes from other North Carolina growers, to be available in late 2004. RCR last entered a #90 car when John Andretti drove the AOL 9.0 Optimized/Special Operations Warrior Foundation Chevrolet at Talladega in September, when he started 24th and finished 15th in the EA Sports 500.(RCR PR)(11-11-2003)

  • Didja Know 3? when Kevin Harvick won the Truck Series race at Phoenix on Friday, he became the second driver ever to win a race in all three of NASCAR's National Series in the SAME season. Who was the first? Terry Labonte in 1995 [3 Cup wins, 1 Busch and 1 Truck win]. Seven drivers have won at least one race in all three series: Jimmy Spencer, Greg Biffle, Mark Martin [Truck sin in 1996 but NO Cup wins that year], Bobby Hamilton, Kevin Harvick [no Busch wins in 2002], Terry Labonte and Ken Schrader. Biffle owns Busch and Truck championships. NOTE: Geoffrey Bodine's Truck win was an exhibition race and doesn't count.(a few readers asked...so I looked it up...so you don't have to)(11-1-2003)

  • Harvick beats Spencer: Kevin Harvick beat Jimmy Spencer by six inches to win Saturday night's 20-lap Winston Cup match race at Lanier National Speedway. Split into two 10-lap sprints, Kerry Earnhardt won the first race by narrowly edging Harvick, Spencer, and Michael Waltrip. After inverting the field for the final 10-lap dash, Harvick and Spencer spent much of the second event side by side and swapping the lead. Spencer passed Harvick for the lead on lap six. Harvick reassumed the lead on lap seven and held on by inches at the checkered flag. Earnhardt finished one-car length behind in third while Waltrip collected fourth.(ThatsRacin.com)(10-26-2003)



  • RCR cars have "SOWF" decals this week All five Richard Childress Racing entries scheduled to compete in Friday night's NASCAR Busch Series' Little Trees 300 and Saturday night's UAW-GM 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway will carry decals of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF). The SOWF began in 1980 as the Col. Arthur D. "Bull"Simons Scholarship Fund and was created after the Iranian hostage rescue attempt to provide college educations for the 17 children that survived the nine men killed or incapacitated at Desert One. A tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, SOWF is dedicated to providing college scholarships and educational counseling to the children surviving Special Operations personnel killed as a result of an operational mission or training accident. These services are provided throughout the United States, or overseas, depending upon where the surviving children reside. To date, 455 children of fallen Special Operations personnel are involved in the program, of which 65 are currently attending college. RCR's relationship with the SOWF is a continuation of the support Richard Childress and Richard Childress Racing have for the United States armed forces. Childress and long-time RCR crew member Danny "Chocolate" Myers visited with U.S. troops in Europe last January as guests of the Tennessee Air National Guard.(SOWF site)(10-8-2003)

  • Why #75 for the 4th RCR car? UPDATE Andretti and the 4th RCR team, #90 AOL [not #75]: John Andretti will drive a fourth RCR entry at Talladega, using the #75, sponsor to be announced. Why #75? The number was chosen as a nod to the late Neil Bonnett, a close friend of team owner Richard Childress. Andretti is currently in the #1 DEI chevy, but had committed to RCR before he got that ride. Jason Keller will drive the #1 at Talladega.(Winston Cup Scene page 22 - need sub to read)(9-18-2003
    UPDATE - Andretti and the 4th RCR team, #90 AOL: John Andretti will drive the #90 America Online/Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) Chevy for Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series' EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sept. 28. The fourth RCR Winston Cup entry will be a research and development car in preparation for the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. Bobby Leslie will be the crew chief and the over-the-wall crew will be RCR's #21 PayDay NASCAR Busch Series team. Legendary NASCAR team owner Junie Donlavey agreed to allow RCR the use of his famed #90 for the race to tie into the recent introduction of the AOL 9.0® Optimized service, the most compelling upgrade in AOL history.
    "John's current driving situation with DEI was not in place when he committed to drive the fourth car for us at Talladega so I'm glad we were able to work this deal out," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "We're running the fourth car to get a head-start on the 2004 season so I appreciate John helping us out with the work we'll need to have done before testing at Daytona in January. Being able to tie AOL and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation together on the car is very important to me personally because of my respect and admiration for everyone in the military, and especially those in Special Operations. We're just doing what we can to help raise awareness for the group and the work they do to provide college scholarship grants and counseling for the children of Special Operations personnel who are killed in action or training exercises. I also want to thank Junie Donlavey for letting us use his #90. That number has a great history in NASCAR because of Junie, so I hope we can get a good finish for him."
    Andretti was named as the driver of the Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI) #1 Pennzoil Chevy in late August after already committing to drive the RCR entry at Talladega. He has two NASCAR Winston Cup victories, 13 top-five and 37 top-10 finishes since becoming a fulltime Winston Cup driver in 1994 and finished 18th in last year's EA Sports 500.
    . The SOWF began in 1980 as the Col. Arthur D. "Bull" Simons Scholarship Fund and was created after the Iranian hostage rescue attempt to provide college educations for the 17 children that survived the nine men killed or incapacitated at Desert One. A tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, SOWF is dedicated to providing college scholarships and educational counseling to the children surviving Special Operations personnel killed as a result of an operational mission or training accident. These services are provided throughout the United States, or overseas, depending upon where the surviving children reside. To date, 455 children of fallen Special Operations personnel are involved in the program, of which 65 are currently attending college.(RCR PR)(9-19-2003)

  • Wine for Childress UPDATE: NASCAR Championship Team Owner [#29,#30,#31,#75 Cup] Richard Childress will break ground on Childress Vineyards on Wednesday, September 17th at the Childress Vineyards construction site, at the northwest corner of the intersection of Highways 52 and 64 in Lexington, NC.(RCR PR)(9-16-2003)
    UPDATE: Childress Vineyards broke ground today on the winery portion of the new Childress Vineyards complex in Lexington, NC. Childress Vineyards is a 60-acre facility located at the junction of Highways 52 and 64 in Lexington, N.C. The Childress Vineyards winery will be a 34,000 square foot facility. Approximately 25 acres of grapes will be grown at the site. Other facilities planned for the site include walking trails, an amphitheater, and separate retail and hotel space. The projected completion date for the winery is Aug. 1, 2004. Plans call for the production area to be fully operational by April or May of next year with the retail sector open in August. Childress Vineyards will produce 10 different wines. Childress has more than 25 acres of grapes (Vidal, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah) growing on the grounds surrounding his home in nearby Clemmons, N.C. His business partner, Greg Johns, owner of Johns Plumbing in Greensboro, has five acres of grapes (Sangiovese) growing in Summerfield, northwest of Greensboro in Guilford County. Production plans call for Childress Vineyards to produce wine from its own grapes and purchased grapes in 2004. Approximately 8,500 cases will be produced in 2004 and the 2005 vintage will also be produced from a combination of estate-grown and purchased grapes.(RCR PR)(9-17-2003)

  • Harvick/Rudd Talk: Kevin Harvick and Ricky Rudd finally had a little talk on Saturday. The main participants in last week's late-race crash and post-race melee at Richmond spent about three minutes talking, apparently amicably, while leaning on a pile of tires in the garage area at New Hampshire International Speedway. Winston Cup president Mike Helton stood nearby, listening, but didn't join the conversation. "It was just time," Rudd said. "We needed a couple of words with each other. Having Mike standing there, I guess, didn't hurt." Neither Harvick nor Helton were available to comment.(Charlotte Observer/AP)(9-14-2003)

  • #29 Replacements: Two members of Richard Childress Racing's Busch Series teams will join the pit crew on Winston Cup driver Kevin Harvick's team this weekend at New Hampshire. Nick Terry, who works on Ron Hornaday's #2 Chevrolets in Busch, will serve as Harvick's jackman. Steve Brown, who works on RCR's #21 Chevrolets in Busch, will join Harvick's team as a tire specialist this weekend. Mike Scearce, Harvick's jackman, and Gene Pasquale, Harvick's tire specialist, were both suspended for this weekend's race for their involvement in the post-race pit road incident between Harvick and Ricky Rudd at Richmond, Va., last Saturday night.(ThatsRacin.com)(9-12-2003)

  • Childress' Statement Regarding Post-Race Incident at RIR: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing (RCR), regarding the post-race incident involving Kevin Harvick and members of the No. 29 team on Sept. 6 at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway: "NASCAR Winston Cup racing is a very emotional sport, whether it's on a short track or a superspeedway, racing for the lead or racing for 30th place. In no other sport does an athlete have to stay in the game for three or four hours straight like a driver does. As a result, emotions can run high and that is part of what fuels a driver's and crew's desire to be the best. Sometimes, though, in the heat of battle, those emotions can get the best of you and things happen that you regret later. I apologize for the actions taken by some members of the #29 team on pit road after the race. I called the Wood Brothers to apologize and told them that I would pay for the damage done to their race car by those crew members. While I understand the emotions of our pit crew, the action they took was uncalled for. I want to say, however, that I understand and support Kevin Harvick's feelings for wanting to have a few words with Ricky Rudd after the race. Kevin knows the mistakes he made and I'm sure he would do some things different if he had to do it over again but I stand behind him because I've been in the same situation as a driver."(RCR Racing PR)(9-9-2003)

  • Smirnoff and the #99? or to Penske? UPDATE 2 to the #29>: hearing that Smirnoff Ice/Triple Black could end up being the sponsor for the #99 Roush Racing team and driver Jeff Burton, either in a full time capacity or similar to what they are doing with #17-Matt Kenseth this year [seven races as a primary sponsor on the car], OR could re-up with Kenseth for another year OR could do a similar deal with #12-Ryan Newman [not sure how Miller Lite would like that] also being a sponsor on one of Penske's IRL cars [who is losing Marlboro] with one of their hard liquior labels, which is allowed in the IRL but not in NASCAR. While mulling over this one, kmowing it looks like a sponsor will stick with NASCAR, check out their contest: Smirnoffice.com - Hang With Matt & The Crew [that Chris Brock seems fun to hang out with](7-28-2003)
    UPDATE: now hearing the sponsorship [7-8 races, like it is for this year] is between staying with the #17 team or going to the #29 RCR team and Kevin Harvick.(8-28-2003)
    UPDATE 2: hearing Smirnoff Ice will end up going to the #29 team, running seven or so Cup races as the primary, as it did with the #17 in 2003.(9-10-2003)

  • RIR Penalties Announced: Driver Kevin Harvick, along with five Richard Childress Racing crew members from the No. 29 team, and Pat Tryson, crew chief for Ricky Rudd, received a varying range of penalties for their involvement in an altercation following Saturday evening's NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway, NASCAR officials announced Monday.
    Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench/Sugar Ray Rock and Roll Chevy, was fined $35,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 for his role in the post-race incident. He was in violation of Section 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing: Hitting another competitor's car on pit road after the completion of the race, use of improper language) of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rule Book.
    Todd Berrier, Harvick's crew chief, was fined $10,000 for violation of Sections 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 9-4-A (The crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his or her driver, car owner and team members).
    #29-Crew member Mike Scearce was suspended from NASCAR competition until Sept. 17 [misses one race], placed on probation until Dec. 31 and fined $5,000. He was in violation of Section 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing: Involved in an altercation on pit road after the completion of the race, damaging another competitor's car following the completion of the race, use of improper language).
    #29-Crew member Gene Pasquale was suspended from NASCAR competition until Sept. 17 [misses one race], placed on probation until Dec. 31 and fined $2,500. He was in violation of Section 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing: Involved in an altercation on pit road after the completion of the race, throwing an object at another competitor, use of improper language).
    #29 Crew member Kirk Almquist was placed on probation until Dec. 31 and fined $2,500. He was in violation of Section 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing: Involved in an altercation on pit road after the completion of the race, use of improper language).
    #29-Crew member Ken Barber was placed on probation until Dec. 31 and fined $2,500. He was in violation of Section 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing: Involved in an altercation on pit road after the completion of the race, throwing an object at another competitor, improper use of language).
    Tryson, crew chief for Rudd's No. 21 Ford, was issued a $5,000 fine for use of improper language, which is in violation of Section 12-4-A (Actions detrimental to stock car racing).(NASCAR PR)(9-9-2003)

  • Kerry Earnhardt and RCR: Kerry Earnhardt may race a Looney Tunes RCR Busch car in the Phoenix race. The car will have several of the characters on it. There is no sponsor as of yet. The possible number on the car is #03. Kerry may also field an RCR Winston Cup car at the Atlanta race. This car also does not have a sponsor and will be decorated with The Cat In The Hat characters. The number being considered for this car is also #03.(a notice to some diecast dealers)(9-4-2003)

  • Feud Settled? During Spencer and Busch's tussle at Michigan, two former combatants were getting along fabulously inside the media center. After finishing in the top five together at Michigan, #29-Kevin Harvick and #16-Greg Biffle, who tried to choke each other after a Busch race at Bristol last year, said their rivalry had ended. "Everybody thinks we fight and bicker," Harvick shrugged. "We just sell hats and T-shirts," Biffle said.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(8-26-2003)

  • Childress; IRL; and Wallace's son; and.....another Horish rumor: [#29,30,31 team owner] Richard Childress is putting together a major technological association with a top Indy-car team, to add another layer of expertise to his Winston Cup operation, and to give Robby Gordon a solid Indy 500 option next May. Childress also confirmed that he is considering a fourth Winston Cup team, but only if he feels his current three teams are each solid. 'I've been exploring with Indy-car teams how to use their technology, the way Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi can use their own Indy-car technology down here,' Childress said. 'We're trying to hook up with a top Indy-car team to put a technology program together and tie the sponsorship programs together. We haven't worked out the structure, but it's all being discussed.' One possible driver for a fourth Cup team would be Sam Hornish, the GM Indy-car star who is being wooed by other NASCAR teams as well. Childress already has a long-term contract with Rusty Wallace's 16-year-old son, Steven [actually Stephen], 'because he's good. He wins in everything he sits in. And he couldn't have a better teacher.'(Winston Salem Journal)(8-25-2003)

  • The burnout at the Brickyard: getting many questions about Kevin Harvick's burnout at the Brickyard 400 when he popped the tire and tore up the rear 1/4 panel. A far as I know, NASCAR, even thou it was rumored a year ago [dated 8-8-2002], did not stop the drivers from doing the victory celebrations, just as long as they stay off the top of the roof [remember the pvc 'fence'?]. If a driver blows a tire, the team puts new ones on before the car is put threw post-race inspection, under NASCAR's watchful eye of course. The only thing that got a bit messed up from the fender getting tore up, is that the car didn't go to the wind tunnel, which most teams would love for NASCAR to do, a free wind tunnel test.(8-13-2003)

  • Didja know? Richard Childress Racing teammates #29-Kevin Harvick and #31-Robby Gordon were the only drivers to finish in the top five in both of this season's road-course races this season.(ThatsRacin.com)(8-11-2003)

  • Hutchens gets first win since 1985: Bobby Hutchens, the general manager and competition director for Richard Childress Racing, found his way back to the victory lane after an 18-year absence, winning last night's 107-lap Modified race at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-27-2003)

  • #29 Fined, Penalized and Loss of Points: NASCAR officials announced today that Todd Berrier, crew chief of the #29 NASCAR Winston Cup Series team, has been fined $25,000 due to a rule infraction discovered last week at Chicagoland Speedway following the Tropicana 400. In addition, NASCAR has penalized the team's driver, Kevin Harvick, 25 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship driver points and team owner, Richard Childress, 25 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship owner points. During the event's pre-race inspection process, the rear suspension of the #29 Chevy was found to have an unapproved travel limiting device, a violation of Section 12-4-Q of the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rule Book (parts and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules) and Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing).(NASCAR PR)(7-16-2003)

  • Why did Harvick run out of gas at Chicago? Kevin Harvick's team discovered a fueling problem this week that prevented the car from getting all the fuel possible on its final stop Sunday, a team official said. The team thought it had filled the car with fuel on that stop. Harvick ran out of fuel while running second with about two laps to go. He finished 17th. The team was not specific on the fueling problem but said that all three Richard Childress Racing cars had the same issue and changes were being made to correct the problem. Harvick stopped with 69 laps left Sunday. With 17 laps of caution - where cars get better fuel mileage at the slower speeds - run after that final stop, Harvick should have had plenty of fuel to finish the race.(Roanoke Times)(7-16-2003)

  • Harvick looking to make history: #29-Kevin Harvick will be gunning for his name to be written in the record books by winning his third Tropicana 400 in a row at Chicagoland Speedway. No driver in recent NASCAR Winston Cup Series history has ever won the first three races at any track. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Richard Petty have set the standard with two consecutive wins at a new track, but no driver has made it three in a row.(Chicagoland Speedway PR)(7-9-2003)

  • ZZ Top out - Sugar Ray in: ZZ Top will NOT be the featured band for #29 Kevin Harvick for the Chevy Rock & Roll Program - Sugar Ray will now be on the car, Ozzy Osbourne was rumored in the past.(6-23-2003)

  • Harvick wins at Sonoma....the Southwest series event: Kevin Harvick ran away from Said and the rest of the field Saturday in the Southwest series event at Infineon Raceway. For both, it was a tuneup for Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 Winston Cup race. Harvick started fourth, but took the lead on the first lap and relinquished it only during pit stops. Despite four caution flags in the last 23 laps, Harvick quickly opened a substantial lead over Said, who used his blocking skills to hold off third-place finisher David Brown. Harvick's margin of victory was 3.938 seconds. Said starts on the pole Sunday with Harvick sixth on the grid. Harvick's Winston Cup teammate, Robby Gordon, who starts beside Said on the first row Sunday, was a late substitute in the Southwest race. He went out with a mechanical problem on the 28th of 65 laps.(ThatsRacin.com, see results and more at Racing West)(6-22-2003)

  • Double Duty for Harvick: #29-Kevin Harvick will run the Featherlite Southwest Tour Series race on Saturday in the #29 Kevin Harvick Inc. Snap-on Chevrolet Monte Carlo. This will be the second year in a row he'll participate in this race, finishing 35th in 2002 due to an ignition box problem halfway through the 64-lap event.(RCR PR)(6-18-2003)

  • Rock n' Roll at Richmond in Sept UPDATE 2: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. featuring the band Staind; #20-Tony Stewart featuring the band Diamond Rio; #15-Michael Waltrip featuring the band Hootie & The Blow Fish; will run at Richmond in Sept. Supposedly the "Chevy Rocks" program is said to be similar to the Looney Tunes program ran at Richmond the last couple of years in that it will include many Chevy teams from Cup and maybe some Busch and Truck Series.(4-25-2003)
    UPDATE: add Busch driver #2 Ron Hornaday with the band Trapt and #30 Steve Park (sure is weird not putting #1) with Third Eye Blind.(5-16-2003)
    UPDATE 2: Warner Music Group (WMG), Chevrolet and Action Performance Companies, Inc. announced today that some of the hottest names in music and NASCAR will team up for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCARâ Winston Cup Series race on Saturday, September 6 "under the lights" at Richmond International Raceway. The campaign kicked off today in the Chevrolet Rock & Roll Tour at Charlotte's Food Lion Speed Street festival and featured a performance by Elektra Recording artists Third Eye Blind and appearances from NASCAR drivers #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #15-Michael Waltrip and #25-Joe Nemechek (with Uncle Kracker). In addition, representatives from WMG, Chevrolet, Richmond International Raceway and Action Performance unveiled the official Chevy Rock & Roll 400 pace car and event logo. Steve Park and his #30 AOL Chevrolet show car featuring Third Eye Blind were also on hand for the announcement.(RIR PR), see full PR and images of the #8, #15, #25, #30 on my Paint Scheme Gallery page, also, #29-Kevin Harvick is part of the program and will be paired with the band ZZ Top.(5-22-2003)

  • Childress 1st Qtr Pocono Spirit Award: Richard Childress has been named the first quarter winner of the National Motorsports Press Association/Pocono Spirit Award. The award recognizes character and achievement in the face of adversity as well as sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Others receiving first-quarter votes included drivers John Andretti, Ricky Craven and Morgan Shepherd, sponsor Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouses, and General Motors public relations representative Nancy Wager. Four quarterly winners of the award will be named, with the overall winner to be announced at the NMPA's annual banquet in Jan., 2004.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-21-2003)

  • Snap-on Tools and RCR Announce New Deal: Snap-on Tools and Richard Childress Racing (RCR) announced a new three-year sponsorship agreement that extends the unique partnership into the 2006 season. The announcement comes as Snap-on Tools and Richard Childress Racing celebrate the 10th consecutive season they've raced together at tracks literally around the world. The agreement, which includes full-season endorsement and associate sponsorships with each of the RCR Winston Cup and Busch series teams, was announced at a press conference just a few hours before the start of the 2003 Winston. Snap-on is celebrating 10 years of partnership with RCR through a special "Decade of Dedication" initiative that featured the special-edition #29 car raced in "The Winston" and a host of new racing-themed tool and equipment products. During 2003, for a limited time Snap-on will offer commemorative tool storage units, as well as shop equipment, hand and power tools to automotive technicians and race fans. Tool storage units, for example, will feature special graphics that depict the 10 cars raced at The Winston and include Snap-on Racing and RCR logos. Decade of Dedication apparel and collectibles (including die-cast pit wagons, cars, haulers and trailers), are available through local Snap-on dealers. During 2003, Snap-on and the #29 car primary sponsor GM Goodwrench are also working together on an initiative called the "GM Powertrain Clinics with Snap-on" to bring Snap-on customers to GM-sponsored technical instruction clinics where they learn about GM Powertrain products and warranties. The program also includes tours for automotive technicians of GM dealerships and often #29 show car appearances. Clinic attendees see demonstrations of the latest Snap-on products and receive tool certificates redeemable through Snap-on dealers with the purchase GM Goodwrench engines and transmissions.(PR)(5-19-2003)

  • AOL will be back in 2004: [#29, 30, 31] Owner Richard Childress says rumors that he will field only two Winston Cup cars next season are "absolutely not" true. There have been questions about the financial stability of AOL, the primary sponsor for Childress' #30 car [now Steve Park driving], but Childress says AOL is committed to honoring the final year of its contract, which ends after the 2004 season. "Not only will we have three full-time Cup teams and two Busch teams, we'll run seven or eight cars at some tracks next year," he says.(Sporting News)(5-19-2003)

  • Realtree and the #29? UPDATE 2: hearing Realtree, who sponsored Dave Marcis for years on the #71 car, will be on Kevin Harvick's #29 GM Goodwrench as the primary or co-primary at an upcoming race.
    UPDATE: This special paint will run August 23rd at Bristol under the lights.(3-14-2003)
    UPDATE 2: now have an image of the scheme, see my 2003 Winston Cup Paint Schemes - Cars #'s 24-99 page for the image.(4-10-2003)
    UPDATE 3: hearing this scheme has been cancelled.(5-6-2003)

  • Green not a happy camper: #30-Jeff Green, running in the top five of Saturday night's race at Richmond, was hit from behind by Richard Childress Racing teammate #29-Kevin Harvick on Lap 268 of 400, bringing a premature end to a strong run by Green's team. Green was upset after the incident, and following a radio interview, walked hurriedly down pit road to Harvick's pit. Green first confronted Harvick's crew chief, Todd Berrier, on top of the team's pit box, than had a heated exchange with team owner Richard Childress, who was standing in the pit area. The incident lasted only a few moments before Green left the area and returned to the garage, where his #30 AOL Chevy had been towed. "We're supposed to be teammates, but it doesn't seem that way right now," Green said. "It's one thing to get spun out, it's another to get spun out by your teammate."(ThatRacin.com)(5-4-2003)

  • New RCR Museum to Open in Mid-May: What was once the race shop where six championships were earned is now being transformed into a museum honoring one of NASCAR's most storied racing operations. Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) original race shop and museum at the RCR complex, with the construction of a connecting building between the two, is now a single-structure museum showcasing five decades of auto racing history. Nearly 50 race cars driven by Dale Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick, Mike Skinner, Richard Childress and others will be on display along with an incredible array of trophies, banners, photographs and other memorabilia.. Also near completion in the 47,000-square-foot building is a gift shop in the area that was the original race shop's administrative offices. The new RCR Museum & Gift Shop is scheduled to open to the public May 16, 2003.
    The original shop area will be dedicated to the famed No. 3 teams with Earnhardt that earned NASCAR Winston Cup championships in 1986-87, 1990-91, and 1993-94. Nearly 20 of the world-famous black paint-schemed No. 3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlos, including the 1998 Daytona 500 and 2000 Winston 500 (at Talladega [Ala.] Superspeedway) winners, will be on display. Video screens and memorabilia throughout the building will showcase the highlights and amazing history of the No. 3 team during its 16 seasons within those walls.
    "With all the history made within those walls, it wouldn't be right to just lease the building out to another company or to put another race team in it," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc. "I had mixed emotions on how to do it. I wanted to do something the Earnhardt family would be proud of, every employee that ever worked at RCR would be proud of, and the race fans would be proud to come and see. To me, it's going to be one of the most incredible stock car racing museums in the country because of the history that was made there over the years. I want the race fans to feel they are a part of that history because they were the ones that made it possible. When they leave, I want them to walk away with a smile on their face knowing that they had just been on an incredible tour."
    The area that was the original RCR Museum and Gift Shop will have a variety of cars on display. Vehicles representing RCR's championships in the NASCAR Winston Cup, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR SuperTruck Series (RCR is the only organization to have championships in all three), its current lineup of Winston Cup and Busch Series teams, cars for each of the No. 3 team's special paint schemes for The Winston from 1995 through 2000 and a number of other race cars significant to RCR's history will be showcased.
    "There's a lot of history that I've kept over the years from all of the RCR race teams that I'm looking forward to sharing with race fans," Childress said of the area that was the original museum. "Those cars, the ones driven by Kevin Harvick, Mike Skinner, Robby Gordon, and many others, including some that I drove, are also a big part of RCR's success through the years."
    The newly constructed center part of the building will be dedicated to Childress' devotion to wildlife and outdoor conservation. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation, the National Wild Turkey Federation and Ducks Unlimited, all actively involved in the conservation of the nation's wildlife and natural resources, will be showcased in this area along with many of the animal trophies Childress has collected over the years.
    RCR moved into the building, located in this small town 10 minutes south of Winston-Salem off Highway 52, in June 1986. The entire operation at that time was under one roof in the 33,000 square-foot building. The No. 3 team earned its first victory working out of the new shop in October 1986 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (now Lowe's Motor Speedway). They went on that year to capture RCR's first, and Earnhardt's second, NASCAR Winston Cup championship. During the time the No. 3 team occupied the building, from mid-1986 through the first race of 2001, it earned 58 victories, 16 pole positions and more than $38 million in race winnings. The three-car Winston Cup program and the administrative staff moved into a state-of-the-art 86,000 square-foot building in the same 35-acre complex in early May 2002. RCR, which also has a two-car NASCAR Busch Series program, now consists of more than 260 employees working in 12 buildings with approximately 300,000 square-feet of shop space.(RCR PR)(4-12-2003)

  • Chartwell Investments invests in RCR: Chartwell Investments II LLC announced today that it has made an equity investment in RCR Enterprises, LLC, the elite NASCAR racing team founded and majority-owned by Richard Childress. "We are pleased to partner with Chartwell Investments," said Richard Childress, President and CEO of RCR. "I've had investors in RCR since the late 1990's and I am confident that Chartwell's people and capital will help us to continue to build one of NASCAR's top organizations. I've made a long-term commitment to Chartwell and there will be no changes in how RCR is run."
    "NASCAR is the fastest-growing major sport with over 75 million fans nationwide and we are enthusiastic about partnering with Richard Childress, a legendary figure in the NASCAR racing world," said Todd R. Berman, President and Founder of Chartwell Investments. "We hope our participation will give Richard even more time to focus on winning races and supporting the company's sponsors."(PRN Newswire)(4-3-2003)
    UPDATE: Winston Cup car owner Richard Childress confirmed Wednesday he has sold partial equity in his Richard Childress Racing company to Chartwell Investments, a private New York City-based equity firm. "We have had an investor in RCR since I expanded with (Mike) Skinner in the No. 31 (in 1996), but on a limited basis. This is more extensive," Childress said. "Nothing will look different. I still have control of the company, I own the majority of the company and I'm still the CEO." Chartwell's investment was not disclosed, but Childress said he holds more than a 50 percent interest in RCR. The addition of Chartwell, Childress said, strengthens his organization. "We aren't a little corporation any more," he said. "They can help RCR Enterprises go to another level in this sport. There are a lot of ways you can grow your business in this sport without adding race teams. I've made a long-term commitment to Chartwell, to my employees and to the sport."(ThatsRacin.com)(4-10-2003)

  • RCR to Honor POW's: All five cars fielded by Richard Childress Racing (RCR) will carry decals recognizing the plight of United States prisoners of war in Iraq during this weekend's NASCAR races at Texas Motor Speedway. "The men and women captured by the Iraqis are serving our country in the most honorable way possible," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc. "They have put their lives on the line in the name of our country so we all have to keep them in our thoughts and prayers and hope that they will be returned safely." RCR's Chevrolet Monte Carlo teams in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series include the #29 GM Goodwrench entry with driver Kevin Harvick, the #30 America Online entry with driver Jeff Green and the #31 Cingular Wireless entry with driver Robby Gordon. Its NASCAR Busch Series teams include the #2 ACDelco entry with driver Ron Hornaday and the #21 PayDay entry of Johnny Sauter, who will be driving the car this weekend in Texas. The POW decals will be placed on the C-posts of each car. Childress was the catalyst behind a five-day visit in late January to U.S. troops stationed in Europe. NASCAR team owners, drivers and celebrities traveled to Germany, Bosnia, Sicily and Spain with the 134th Air Refueling Wing of the Tennessee National Guard. Last October at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Childress signed a statement of support for the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR). The National Guard and Reserves make up nearly half of the United States military personnel.(RCR PR)(3-28-2003)

    POW
    image from Richard Chirldress Racing (click on image for larger image)

  • Harvick Plans Triple Header in August: Trucks will return to Bristol when the circuit comes back here in August. Kevin Harvick, who won Saturday's Busch series race, said yesterday he'll run all three events.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(3-24-2003)

  • Crew Chief change at the #29? hearing that former #30 RCR crew chief, Todd Berrier will be the new crew chief for the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy at RCR effective immediately. Supposedly former crew chief Gil Martin has been named #29 Team manager and Martin has been pushing for the move and to hire Berrier for the #29 team for a while.(3-17-2003)
    UPDATE: Totally NASCAR has confirmed a crew change within the #29 Winston Cup team. Todd Berrier becomes Kevin Harvick's crew chief. Berrier and Harvick teamed up for the 2001 Busch title. Gil Martin moves to team manger.(FoxSports)(3-18-2003)

  • Realtree and the #29? UPDATE: hearing Realtree, who sponsored Dave Marcis for years on the #71 car, will be on Kevin Harvick's #29 GM Goodwrench as the primary or co-primary at an upcoming race.
    UPDATE: This special paint will run August 23rd at Bristol under the lights.(3-14-2003)

  • Sad News: it was reported on this morning's NASCAR This Morning on Fox Sports Net, that Richard Childress' mother, Virginia Hodge, passed away last night. Thoughts go out the the family. AND Just hours after signing Kevin Harvick and Goodwrench to a contract extension, team owner Richard Childress received news that his mother had died. Virginia Hodge, a resident of East Bend, NC, was 79. She passed away Saturday night after a brief illness, according to a team press release. Childress flew back to North Carolina on Sunday morning to be with family.(NASCAR.com)(3-9-2003)

  • Harvick expected to sign long term deal with RCR UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing owner Richard Childress has scheduled a news conference for 1:00pm/et on Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He is expected to announce that Harvick has signed a long-term contract extension with the team, sources confirmed Friday. In addition, the team is expected to announce that the sponsor of Harvick's #29 Chevrolet, GM Goodwrench, has signed an extension. GM Goodwrench has sponsored the car since 1988. Harvick joined the team after Dale Earnhardt's death in 2001.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-7-2003)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress announced two contract extensions Saturday, signing #29 driver Kevin Harvick to a three-year extension, with an additional two-year deal with the right of first refusal. In a separate agreement, RCR has extended its contract with GM Goodwrench, Harvick's sponsor, for three more years.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-8-2003)

  • Special #29 Scheme: To mark its 10th season with one of the most famous teams in the history of motorsports, Snap-on Tools Company, in association with Richard Childress Racing (RCR), is unveiling a one-of-a-kind Snap-on Tools paint scheme for Kevin Harvick's #29 Chevrolet race car, which Kevin will race in "The Winston" at Lowe's Motor Speedway, May 17, 2003. The special-edition #29 car pays tribute to this vibrant tradition with its own unique design. As part of Snap-on Tools' "Decade of Dedication" celebration, the special-edition #29 car will feature an exclusive paint scheme that includes metallic red, RCR crushed-glass silver, and gloss black paint with pearl-white Snap-on logos, as well as a commemorative Decade of Dedication emblem. According to Carl Johanson, Snap-on Tools motorsports marketing manager, "The Decade of Dedication celebration looks back on ten years of winning driven by a storied team and legendary tools." As part of the celebration, Snap-on will offer commemorative tool storage units as well as equipment, hand and power tools for a limited time to automotive technicians and race fans. The tool storage units, for example, feature special graphics that depict the 10 cars raced at The Winston and include Snap-on Racing and RCR logos. Decade of Dedication collectibles including die cast pit wagons, cars, haulers and trailers and apparel are available through local Snap-on dealers. The Decade of Dedication initiative also includes GM Goodwrench - the primary sponsor on the #29 car - through the "GM Powertrain Clinics with Snap-on" program.(Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide PR). See an image that has been posted for a while on my Paint Scheme Gallery of the car.(3-8-2003)

  • Harvick Fans Helping out Military: Two weeks ago [3rd week in Feb, 2003], US Marine Chuck Englert - a fan of NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick and a regular poster on the message board at kevinharvick.com - said goodbye to his online friends as his platoon was deployed to Kuwait. Not satisfied with a simple messages of "goodbye" and "good luck," fellow Harvick fans decided to take action to show their support. Under the guidance of fan Laurie Allsup, "Operation Harvick Fans" bloomed. Englert's entire platoon has been "adopted" by his online friends and fellow fans. Weekly care packages, filled with both necessities as well as racing-related items, will be sent to Chuck's entire platoon in the name of Kevin Harvick's fans. When Englert was notified of "Operation Harvick Fans," he was delighted. "I want to thank everyone involved for adopting us as your unit," Englert said in a recent e-mail. "My marines are humbled by the response. I will also send some pictures of the marines so you all can see us first hand. You are all so awesome and I am breathless that something like this could happen to us. Thank you from the bottom from my heart." Chuck Englert is a native of Jersey City, New Jersey and has served in the United States Marine Corps for eighteen of his thirty-seven years. He is currently a Gunnery Sergeant and serves with the 15Th Marine Expeditionary Unit located at Camp Pendleton California. Currently a resident of Oceanside, California, Englert is married with four children. His wife, Suze, is expecting their fifth. "My wife and I are serious Kevin Harvick Fans and watch every race when possible," Englert said. "My Marines' morale have gone through the roof with all the support from HOL (Harvick OnLine) and everyone involved with 'Operation Harvick Fans.'" Word is spreading quickly among his platoon. 'Operation Harvick Fans' will continue until further notice. Fans who wish to participate can send anything from cards and letters to issues of racing magazines and items featuring Kevin Harvick. Englert has sent a list of suggested items, and stated.. "Any Kevin Harvick items sent will be proudly displayed and worn with pride," Englert said. »Click for suggested items.
    Donations should be sent, along with a couple of dollars to help cover the cost of shipping, to:
    OPERATION HARVICK FANS
    PO Box 336
    Stuart, Iowa 50250
    If you have any questions or would like more information on this program, drop an email to operationharvickfans@kevinharvick.com. Or stop by our message board for the latest news or questions. »Operation Harvick Fans Forum.(3-3-2003)

  • Harvick and Ozzy? hearing Kevin Harvick will run an Ozzy Osbourne (a Jayski fave - Ozzy Rules! thanks Rocketman), probably at Richmond in one of the BGN or Cup races.(1-25-2003)

  • Childress Wine: NASCAR team owner [#29,#30,#31] Richard Childress and a business partner have announced plans to develop 70 acres for a winery, vineyard and hotel in Davidson County, NC. Childress said the initial investment would be from $6 million to $8 million. Childress and business partner Greg Johns of Greensboro plan to develop the land at the intersection of U.S. 64 and U.S. 52 west of Lexington. Plans include a 25,000-square-foot winery, a 25-acre vineyard, a hotel, restaurant and gift shop. Childress said construction on the winery could begin this year. It will likely be the spring of 2004 before the winery opens.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(1-15-2003)

  • Harvick to run in the CTS and have team: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy for Richard Childress racing, announced that he plans to field trucks for 10-15 Craftsman Truck Series events in 2003. "We were really pleased with our truck efforts right out of the box," Harvick said. "My goal was to establish a top-notch truck team, and I think we've proven that our team is capable of winning each time we show up to the track. "I'd like to run another year of trucks, move to the Busch Series for a couple of years and then be a Winston Cup owner," continued Harvick." Harvick plans to run the majority of the scheduled truck races in 2003, along with Ed Berrier, Harvick's crew chief in the Truck Series, and Brandon Miller, a newcomer to the series. Berrier, who previously raced for Junie Donleavy in the Winston Cup Series and is a veteran of the BGN, will pilot the #6 Chevy for the season-opening event in Daytona. Miller, a 21-year-old resident of Bakersfield, CA, who has predominately raced Late Models on the West Coast will make his Truck Series debut at Mesa Marin Raceway in March. KHI's 2003 Truck Series Line Up (Tentative): Berrier will run at: Daytona; Harvick at: Darlington, Martinsville (both), Bristol, Richmond, Lowe's, Dover, NHIS, Phoenix and Homestead; and Miller at: Mesa Marin.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-13-2003)

2002 News

  • RCR Med Exams: Richard Childress [#29,#30,#31] is requiring his drivers to undergo medical examinations before the start of the season to establish a baseline for their health. "We want to make sure that if they get hurt, we can compare 'A' to 'B,'" he says. Childress didn't find out until after the season that Johnny Sauter, his Busch Series driver, raced hurt for part of 2002.(Sporting News)(12-9-2002)

  • Childress to build Fairgrounds Speedway engines UPDATE: Weekly racing at Fairgrounds Speedway [Nashville] next season will undergo the most radical change in the track's 44-year history when standard engines are issued to all competitors in the top two divisions. Track President Dennis Grau yesterday said every team in the Late Model and Supertruck divisions will be required to use track-issued ''crate motors'' which are intended to cut costs, balance the competition and reduce cheating. The engines will be built by Richard Childress Racing and sold through the track at a cost of $5,000. Grau said teams in the premier divisions this season have been spending $15,000-$25,000 per engine. He said the track will not earn a profit from the sale of the engines. The engines will be sealed, which will discourage illegal tampering.(Tennessean)(11-26-2002)
    UPDATE: been told by RCR that the team will NOT be building these engines.(11-27-2002)
    UPDATE 2: Fairgrounds Speedway President Dennis Grau said Richard Childress Racing will not build the standardized ''crate motors'' for the track's top divisions as he had originally been told. ''My original understanding was the motors would be built by RCR, but I have since learned that they will be manufactured and distributed by GM Performance out of Detroit,'' Grau said. All drivers in the Late Model and SuperTruck divisions at the Fairgrounds will be required to use the motors by midseason. Grau said eight teams already have purchased the motors.(Tennessean)(12-6-2002)

  • Changes at Childress? Cup [#'s 29,30,31] team owner owner Richard Childress said changes might be in the works for his race teams. "There will be personnel changes," Childress said. "We're going to be shifting a lot of people around, moving a lot of people. We've got to work on getting the right fix and the best people we can in all those positions." BGN champion crew chief Harold Holly of ppc Racing recently visited RCR's complex but decided not to go to work there. Some speculation has surrounded crew chief Todd Berrier and driver Jeff Green, who work together on the #30 AOL Chevy, and Childress indicated the changes could come very soon.(NASCAR.com)(11-17-2002)

  • Childress Crew Chiefs: Richard Childress is still working on the 2003 lineup of crew chiefs for his five cars (three Winston Cup, two BGN). Childress would not confirm that he'd hired Harold Holly, who left ppc Racing earlier this week for an undisclosed position with a Winston Cup team. When asked about the selection of five crew chiefs from the pool of six Childress said, "I don't know, but I'll be able to tell you next week."(Ford Racing)(11-12-2002)

  • Harvick and the CTS in 2003: After capturing his first CTS series win this weekend at Phoenix, Winston Cup [#29] driver Kevin Harvick said he still plans to compete in seven or eight races next season in his own team. Harvick said Ed Berrier, who has Winston Cup and BGN experience, will drive Harvick's truck in the season-opening Truck race at Daytona. "The Truck schedule is awesome next year. NASCAR has done a great job putting the schedule together," Harvick said. "I'll probably run the (two) Martinsville races, Bristol and other companion events (with Winston Cup)."(ThatsRacin.com)(11-10-2002)

  • Harvick to run 15 BGN races in 2003: Kevin Harvick will drive the #21 PayDay Chevy for Richard Childress Racing in 15 BGN events at 13 different tracks in 2003. His season starts begins at Daytona International Speedway for the Koolerz 300 on Feb. 15. He will want to win that one for his sponsor, Hershey, which makes both PayDay candy bars and Koolerz gum. Current RCR talent Johnny Sauter will assume duties as secondary driver of the #21 PayDay Chevy beginning on February 22, at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, NC. Along with his duties as secondary driver, Sauter will play a vital role in maintaining the #21 PayDay team's run at an owner's championship. Harvick will not compete in more than three consecutive Busch Series races. His three-race stints are in August and November. Harvick is not scheduled to compete in any BGN events that are not accompanied by a Cup event on the same weekend at the same venue. Sauter will compete in all the non-companion events. Here is Harvick's entire 2003 NASCAR Busch Series schedule:. Feb. 15, Daytona; March 1, Las Vegas; March 22, Bristol; April 26, California; May 2, Richmond; May 24, Lowe's; May 31, Dover; July 19, New Hampshire; Aug. 16, Michigan; Aug. 22, Bristol; Aug. 30, Darlington; Oct. 10, Lowe's; Nov. 1, Phoenix; Nov. 8, North Carolina; Nov. 15, Homestead.(Keystone Marketing PR)(11-7-2002)

  • PPI signs plate engine deal with Childress: #32 team owner Cal Wells III said the in-house engine program he had announced several weeks ago for his PPI Motorsports team was still coming together well, he did have one piece of the puzzle in place. "We're real pleased to have been able to do an agreement with Richard Childress for the restrictor plate engines for next year, starting with the Daytona 500," Wells said. "We're going to be able to focus on our higher-powered stuff -- all our open motors -- without having to worry about the science of restrictor plate racing next year." PPI will have plenty on its plate, considering they will switch from Fords to Pontiacs next season for driver Ricky Craven. "We'll look at doing our own restrictor plate engines in the fall of '03 looking to '04. We've got some personnel lined up and we're actually going to start at Rockingham," Wells said. "We're lining it all up (a chief engine builder), but we're not there (ready to announce it) yet." While he said Robert Yates Racing's engine department would not build GM engines next season, he did not discount the possibility that his program might be similar to the one employed by Petty Enterprises, which this season employed former Yates engine builder Mike Ege to do its Dodge engines.(NASCAR.com)(9-30-2002)

  • #29 Crew Chief to miss Kansas: Gil Martin, crew chief for Kevin Harvick's #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy, returned to his home in Concord, N.C., Saturday after being diagnosed with acute bronchitis. Martin has been fighting the condition all week. Harvick, car owner Richard Childress and car chief Scott Naset will assist in calling the race in Martin's absence. Martin is expected back for next Sunday's race at Talladega.(ThatsRacin.com)(9-29-2002)

  • TV Camera Wire Causes Problem on the #29 car: During TV camera installation a TV wire was clamped over a brake wire and when driver Kevin Harvick flipped a switch it caught fire under the dashboard burning some rollbar padding, the team fixed it and Harvick went back out and practiced.(TNT Happy Hour Coverage)(9-21-2002)

  • Stewart and Harvick set to races trucks ar RIR: Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick will join the mix of the most competitive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season in history when they drive in the Virginia is for Lovers 200 race on Thursday, September 5 at Richmond International Raceway. Also expected to drive in the race are Bobby Hamilton, Stacey Compton and Ken Schrader. Heading into the Virginia is for Lovers 200, eight drivers are within 133 points of leader Mike Bliss. Rounding out the top eight are Terry Cook, Musgrave, Rick Crawford, Robert Pressley, Jason Leffler, David Starr and Setzer, who won the pole at Richmond International Raceway last year. Bliss and Cook lead the series with four wins each this season. For the second straight year at Richmond, Harvick will field his own truck, while Stewart will drive for Andy Petree. All seats for the Virginia is for Lovers 200 are only $30. Renewable, reserved tickets to the FUNAI 250 are only $40 and general admission tickets are only $35. Tickets to the FUNAI 250 include practice and qualifying for Saturday's Monte Carlo 400 With The Looney Tunes- The Rematch!, which is sold out. In addition, kids 12 and under are free in the general admission sections on Thursday and Friday when accompanied by a paying adult and military personnel receive $5 off general admission tickets both nights.(Richmond International Raceway PR)(8-28-2002)

  • Harvick after IROC title: IROC Points leader Kevin Harvick will attempt to become the sixth rookie to win the International Race of Champions title during this afternoon's 40-lap/100 mile season-finale. The IROC rookie champions are Mark Donohue (1974), Harry Gant (1985), Al Unser Jr. (1986), Geoffrey Bodine (1987) and Ricky Rudd (1992).(Fort Worth Star Telegram) AND All 11 drivers competing in the IROC have a mathematical chance to win the season title. Harvick, who will start last, is the points leader by 44 points. Al Unser Jr., who won't race while undergoing treatment for an alcohol problem, is five points back and tied with Tony Stewart.(Hoosier Times) The race will run Aug 3rd and be televised Aug 11th on ABC at 5:00pm/et.(8-3-2002)

  • Did ya know? Kevin Harvick is the first driver to win the first two races at a new Winston Cup track since Tony Stewart won at Miami-Homestead in 1999 and 2000. Before that, no one had done it since A.J. Foyt won at Ontario, Calif., in 1971 and 1972.(Chicago Sun Times)(7-15-2002)

  • Harvick wins The Tropicana 400 at Chicago: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Tropicana 400 at Chicago for the 2nd straight year, even after spinning out late in the race. #24-Jeff Gordon was 2nd. Harvick's win put's him in the 2003 The Winston and knocks the remaining 2001 winners, who have not won in 2002, out of the All-Star event.
    Re-Air dates/times: The race will be re-aired on TNT, Tues, July 16th, 1:00am/et; Speed Channel on Wed, July 17th, 8:00pm/et and Thurs, July 18th, 1:00am/et and 12:00noon/et.
    Results: for race results, see ThatsRacin.com or NASCAR.com.(7-14-2002)

  • Harvick to race a truck at NHIS: Winston Cup driver Kevin Harvick will return to NASCAR's Truck series next weekend, when he drives his own entry in Saturday's New England 200 at New Hampshire. Harvick, as well as several other Cup drives, are planning to run the event in order to gain additional track time. Since last season, speedway officials have added an additional 12-feet of racing surface on the inside of the turns. Harvick's last appearance in the series was in April at Martinsville, Va., when he got into an incident with driver Coy Gibbs on the track and was "parked" by NASCAR officials. NASCAR extended the "parking" through the next day's Winston Cup race, forcing Harvick to sit out.(ThatsRacin.com)(7-14-2002)

  • Harvick set to re-sign with RCR: In one of the first interviews he has granted in several weeks, Winston Cup driver Kevin Harvick [#29 GM Goodwrench Chevy] said Monday night he plans to sign a long-term deal with Richard Childress Racing and remain driver of the team of the late Dale Earnhardt for the foreseeable future. The deal, which owner Richard Childress has said he has been working on in recent weeks, should end the rampant speculation that has engulfed Harvick and Childress since NASCAR "parked" Harvick for the April race at Martinsville. Harvick said he hopes the deal, which he said will be made official and a formal news conference in the coming weeks, will end speculation that his relationship with Childress has gone sour.(see full story at ThatsRacin.com)(7-2-2002)

  • Harvick gets his MTV: #29-Kevin Harvick has landed a gig with the VH1 music channel. The Richard Childress Racing driver will co-host the "Top Ten All Time Greatest Driving Songs" with Rachel Perry on VH1 twice on Thursday and again on Sunday. VH1 says the hosts will cruise to Ocean Grove, N.J., while listening to "great music and making fun pit stops at places like Springsteen's famed Stone Pony club." The show is scheduled to run at 1 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (Eastern and Pacific times) on Thursday and at 10 a.m. Sunday.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(7-2-2002)

  • Harvick/RCR talking three year extension UPDATE: RCR owner, Richard Childress says "He's [Harvick] got one year left on his contract, and we're already in discussion on signing him for another three,'' Childress said.(ESPN/AP), yes I know, an earlier report a few days ago with Robby Gordon said RCR only does one year deals, just reporting what is found.(6-18-2002)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress said he and driver Kevin Harvick have talked about extending Harvick's contract, which currently extends through the end of next season. Harvick has been struggling this season after finishing ninth in points and winning the BGN championship in 2001. "We're even talking about going further down the road with it. Right now, we want to get our cars back to running where they're supposed to be. It'll make the pressure a lot easier on everyone," Childress said. "When you're not competitive and you know you're supposed to be, little things just cause bigger problems. That's what we've got to work on right now. That's my No. 1 goal is to get these cars back like they're supposed to be." When asked if he would allow Harvick to pursue an opportunity with another team, Childress replied: "Commitments, not only in contracts, but in life, are big. I'm a big believer in commitments. We've committed. We've got 11 or 12 sponsors in that race car and it's just hard to up and walk from commitments."(ThatsRacin.com)(6-21-2002)

  • Harvick a free agent? Childress switches pitboxes too UPDATE Childress not happy: There was one small item omitted from the team press release that announced Richard Childress changing the #29 and #31 crews. The missing bit of info - the location from which the car's owner would sit during the Pocono 500. Childress, who has been wrestling with a combination that would make his three-car operation a little more competitive, has taken a real shine to Robby Gordon, driver of his #31 RCR Chevy. Childress has gotten to the point where he's not hiding his feelings for Gordon; and went so far as to save a chair for Gordon during the Pocono Raceway driver's meeting. When Gordon walked into the crowded room Childress jumped up waiving to attract Gordon's attention. The acid test came prior to the start of the race, as Childress' war wagon mounted chair was set atop the orange and black Cingular war wagon. Then, moments before the race, Childress came and took his seat at the helm, all the while wearing a smirk that carried a great deal of attitude. The Pocono 500 was the first race since Childress took on GM's Goodwrench Services sponsorship that he wasn't perched on that team's toolbox - so say RCR personnel. Apparently Harvick is a free agent at this time, or so one would believe with the number of car owners who claim the driver who has caused a stir in the Winston Cup garage has approached them. One owner, who is looking for talent for next year, was asked if he was tough enough to tame Harvick. After a smile came across the owner's face he responded, "I don't know anyone that tough."(see full story at Ford Racing)(6-12-2002)
    UPDATE: Winston Cup car owner Richard Childress criticized Ford Motor Co. and its FordRacing.com Web site for a posted earlier this week claiming Childress watched last weekend's race at Pocono from driver Robby Gordon's pit box because of his disillusion with driver Kevin Harvick. The story, which did not have a byline, also claimed there were "more folks" who said that Harvick's two Winston Cup victories last season came from "cheated-up cars." "It's just like your competition. When you're down they try to kick you. It surprises me it came off that Web site," said Childress, who owns three Chevrolet Cup teams that have struggled this season. "It just surprises me that they want to get involved in starting rumors and making accusations when they don't know what's really going on." Last weekend was the first Harvick's former crew chief and team members from the #29 moved over to Gordon's #31 team, and Gordon's crew chief and team went to the #29. Childress said he moved to Gordon's pit because he has performed duties on the pit box with Kevin Hamlin, now Gordon's crew chief, and planned to continue in that role. "Yes, I'm going to try to help Robby's team because that's the team I've been working with. I can't just desert them and say, 'To hell with it,' " Childress said. "I have just always been on that (#29 team) box. I have always helped call the races with Kevin, that's just always been my position." Ford officials say there was nothing unusual about the story, that it is typical of the content of the Web site, which is intended for fans of Ford Racing. "In terms of Childress being disappointed, I'm sorry if he is, but I haven't heard anyone saying the story wasn't accurate or the story wasn't true," said Kevin Kennedy, public affairs manager for Ford Racing Technology. "The story was done by a professional journalist who is part of the NASCAR scene and is in the garage area every day, and we stand by the story," Kennedy said the Web site has an agreement with its correspondents not to use their names on the stories, so as not to disrupt their professional careers.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-14-2002)

  • DEI, Childress, Eanrhardt Jr reports as transcribed from a sports report at Channel 8 WGHP/Fox High Point, NC by Rich Brenner: From the 6:00pm/et report on Wednesday, June 12th:
    The rumors are out there and at this time they're just that. Intriguing and to a degree they actually make sense. The hot one running through the race shops and the Internet, "Teresa Earnhardt wants to sell the race teams of DEI - Dale Earnhardt, Inc, Earnhardt's old car owner - Richard Childress - is interested in buying". At this time, No, but there are some interesting possibilities. Especially the second part of the equation. Dale Earnhardt, Jr thus, if the deal happens, comes to Childress Racing and gets into the number 3 car, meaning Little E changes his number from 8 to 3, remember he did race number 3 for Childress at the Busch Grand National race at Daytona and won, right now Childress does own the rights to number 3 and while Junior could have it. He hasn't made any overtures again, so far all this is nothing but speculation. But interesting speculation which makes sense, and something else, the Childress-DEI connection is strong, the organizations work well together, share, and have employees in key positions who have worked for both organizations.
    From the 10:00pm/et report on Wednesday, June 12th:
    If you go by race shop and internet rumors Richard Childress is getting set to buy the Dale Earnhardt, Inc 3-car race team from Teresa Earnhardt. According to Childress insiders this is not the case, but when you come down to it and if Teresa Earnhardt does want to move out of Winston Cup racing this idea makes alot of sense. These two powerful organizations work closely together and share a lot of the same philosophies not to mention history. It would also reuniite "an Earnhardt" and "a Childress" Dale Earnhardt, Jr and Richard Childress and return an Earnhardt with the number 3 which Childress still holds rights to. We all know the number 3 will some day return to Winston Cup competition and that Dale Jr will be the guy behind the wheel. As for Junior taking over DEI, he'll be the first to tell you, he's not ready for that end of the business.(WGHP)(6-14-2002)

  • Three to Double at Sears Point: Sears Point Raceway says NASCAR Winston Cup drivers #31-Robby Gordon, #30-Jeff Green and #29-Kevin Harvick will pull double-duty as they compete in both the Dodge/Save Mart 350 Winston Cup race and the Snap-on Tools/Jelly Belly 200 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series events on the weekend of June 20-23.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(6-5-2002)

  • Harvick makes good: Something good has definitely come from Kevin Harvick's "parking" incident at Martinsville Speedway. Holding an on-line auction from his Web site (kevinharvick.com), Harvick put the hood from the truck he raced in Martinsville April 13 up for bid in order to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In was in the NASCAR Truck series race at Martinsville when Harvick spun driver Coy Gibbs on the track and later was "parked" -- sat out -- the next day's Winston Cup race. The auction was open to members of The Kevin Harvick Fan Club and lasted 29 hours. The hood featured the fan club's logo. Susan Bunce of New York won the hood for a sum of $4,500. "I didn't want to see the hood of my truck from Martinsville thrown to the side or just reused when I knew I could do something good with it. I figured people collect so many things and this would be something someone would want," Harvick said. "I figured it'd be a good deal, just to auction it off on the Web site and give the money to St. Jude's." St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is world renowned center for the treatment of children's catastrophic diseases, focusing mainly on pediatric cancer, immunodeficiencies, and genetic disorders. "One of the things that shows St. Jude's dedication is they treat people with no thought as to whether they can afford the treatment," Harvick said. "St. Jude's operates mostly on donations. Anything I can do to drum up support for them is worth it."(ThatsRacin.com)(6-4-2002)

  • Cup drivers in the Baja 1000: Long-time off-road racer Robby Gordon will compete in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 this fall. Gordon, who is competing in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series this year, will have another Cup star, Kevin Harvick, as his co-driver in a Trophy Truck for the off-road marathon. Sal Fish, SCORE International chief executive, announced earlier this week that the dates for this year's Baja 1000 were being moved back by two weeks to Nov. 20-23. The original schedule would have had the Baja 1000 on the same weekend as season finales for the Cup series and the National Hot Rod Association.(Las Vegas Review-Journal)
    AND Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon, who would make an ornery tag-team pair in world wrestling circles, may have NASCAR company when they team up at November's Baja 1000. There is some speculation Dale Earnhardt Jr. also may drive a rival Trophy Truck during a portion of the race.(Arizona Republic)(6-4-2002)

  • Action and Childress extend: Action Performance Companies announced an extension to their ongoing exclusive licensing and marketing contract with Richard Childress Racing. The new agreement, which extends the exclusive license relationship until May 2012, seeks to capitalize on the long-term merchandising value of Richard Childress Racing. Under the revised agreement, Action will have the exclusive right to produce die-cast race car replicas, apparel and other merchandise for Richard Childress Racing team drivers, which currently includes Winston Cup drivers Kevin Harvick (#29), Jeff Green (#30) and Robby Gordon (#31), and Busch Series drivers Johnny Sauter (#2) and Jay Sauter (#21). In addition to the standard personal services clauses and production exclusives, the agreement also allows Action Performance to continue developing and producing Historical Series vehicles from the Richard Childress Racing stable.(Business Wire)(6-3-2002)

  • Chocolate Myers Injured Will Sit Out Of Cup Race: Chocolate Myers, longtime spokesperson and safety director for RCR who doubles as the gasman on the #29 GM Goodwrench team, has injured his left arm and will not participate in Sunday's MBNA Platinum 400 Winston Cup race at Dover. Larry Hartle, who is the gasman for RCR's #2 ACDelco Chevy on the Busch circuit, has been named as Chocolate's replacement for Sunday's race.(Catchfence)(6-2-2002)

  • RCR Crew Swap? UPDATE 2 Yes and Chocolate too: hearing rumors that the #29 and #31 Richard Childress Racing teams could swap crews in order to try to turn around their season.(5-22-2002)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) crew chief Kevin Hamlin and many current members of the #29 Goodwrench Service NASCAR Winston Cup team will swap places with fellow RCR crew chief Gil Martin and many current members of the #31 Cingular Wireless team starting at next weekend's Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. In essence, Hamlin and his group will become the Cingular Wireless crew for driver Robby Gordon while Martin and his group will become the GM Goodwrench Service crew for driver Kevin Harvick. "We're making this move to help the GM Goodwrench Service and Cingular Wireless teams and all of RCR," said Richard Childress, President and CEO of Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc. "The results of our performances this season have not been up to expectations. Jeff Green and the America Online team have had the best results so far and are showing a lot of promise for the second half of the year so we're not going to change what they have been building on. But the 29 and 31 teams are down enough in the points right now that it makes the most sense to make some changes between the two. Kevin (Hamlin), Gil and all of the guys in the shop haven't forgotten how to build and prepare race cars and Kevin (Harvick) and Robby still know how to win races so it's just a matter of getting the right people in the right places. We've made changes like this before and it's worked out and we're confident that it will again." Hamlin is actually moving back to where he began at RCR. He was the #31 team's crew chief during its inaugural NASCAR Winston Cup season in 1997 until midway through the 1998 season when he swapped places with former RCR crew chief Larry McReynolds.(RCR Racing Site)(5-29-2002)
    UPDATE 2: Danny "Chocolate" Myers, the well-known gasman during all six of the late Dale Earnhardt's Winston Cup championships with Richard Childress Racing, will fuel the #29 Chevrolet for the final time this weekend at Dover before moving to RCR's #31 team. RCR announced on Wednesday the crew chiefs and crews would swap between the No. 29 and 31 teams beginning next weekend at Pocono. "Richard (Childress) let me have the choice of staying with the 29 team and I would love to but, on the other hand, I've worked with that group of guys moving to the 31 team for so long and so well that I don't want to break up that deal," Myers said. "I've been at Richard Childress Racing for nearly 20 years and I feel like there are a lot of younger guys coming in that look up to me because I've been doing this for so long. By making this change and not having a problem with it, it should give the other guys reason to be able to do the same thing."(ThatsRacin.com)(5-30-2002)

  • Sad News: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy, lost his grandmother, Nana Walker on Friday morning.(Kevin Harvick Site). Thoughts and condolences out to the the family.(5-28-2002)

  • RCR Crew Swap? UPDATE: hearing rumors that the #29 and #31 Richard Childress Racing teams could swap crews in order to try to turn around their season.(5-22-2002)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) crew chief Kevin Hamlin and many current members of the #29 Goodwrench Service NASCAR Winston Cup team will swap places with fellow RCR crew chief Gil Martin and many current members of the #31 Cingular Wireless team starting at next weekend's Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. In essence, Hamlin and his group will become the Cingular Wireless crew for driver Robby Gordon while Martin and his group will become the GM Goodwrench Service crew for driver Kevin Harvick. "We're making this move to help the GM Goodwrench Service and Cingular Wireless teams and all of RCR," said Richard Childress, President and CEO of Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc. "The results of our performances this season have not been up to expectations. Jeff Green and the America Online team have had the best results so far and are showing a lot of promise for the second half of the year so we're not going to change what they have been building on. But the 29 and 31 teams are down enough in the points right now that it makes the most sense to make some changes between the two. Kevin (Hamlin), Gil and all of the guys in the shop haven't forgotten how to build and prepare race cars and Kevin (Harvick) and Robby still know how to win races so it's just a matter of getting the right people in the right places. We've made changes like this before and it's worked out and we're confident that it will again." Hamlin is actually moving back to where he began at RCR. He was the #31 team's crew chief during its inaugural NASCAR Winston Cup season in 1997 until midway through the 1998 season when he swapped places with former RCR crew chief Larry McReynolds.(RCR Racing Site)(5-29-2002)

  • Harvick and Yates? UPDATE: There are persistent reports that Yates would like to hire Kevin Harvick away from Chevy's Richard Childress, although Childress and General Motors executives say that won't happen.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-18-2002)
    UPDATE: [Robert] Yates said he hasn't talked with Harvick. And Richard Childress, who owns Harvick's Chevrolets, said his driver isn't going anywhere. This despite numerous sources indicating the relationship between Harvick and his crew is anything but rosy. Childress, meanwhile, insists otherwise. "I've heard the same rumors, read the same things," Childress said in regard to overtures to Harvick. "All I can say is you need to go ask (Yates). All I know is Kevin's under a contract for another year. We plan on keeping him. He's happy. We're happy. Everything's happy."(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(5-23-2002)

  • Harvick wins IROC at California: Kevin Harvick held off a last-lap charge from defending series champion Bobby Labonte to win the second leg of the 2002 IROC series at California Speedway. Tony Stewart, who won the first IROC race at Daytona this year, maintained the series lead with 35 points to 32 for Harvick and 30 for Labonte.(ThatsRacin.com), see more on my IROC 2002 Page; Saturday's IROC race is scheduled to air on Sunday, April 28th on ESPN at 1:00pm/et with Bob Jenkins, Scott Goodyear and Jeff Burton calling the action.(4-28-2002)

  • No more trucks for Harvick? (as a driver): While cars were going through inspection Friday [at Talladega], car owner Richard Childress said that he might prohibit Kevin Harvick from driving in the truck series again. "I don't think I'll let him do that,'' Childress said. "We haven't discussed it, but I don't think so.''(High Point Enterprise). Harvick could still own the team and run with other drivers.(4-20-2002)

  • Sponsor sticks by Harvick: GM Goodwrench Service's director of brand marketing, Jon Brancheau, says the sponsor understands NASCAR's one-race suspension of driver Kevin Harvick but continues to support the driver and the Richard Childress Racing team. "We recognize NASCAR's concern regarding the situation in Martinsville and look forward to seeing Kevin back in the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo in Talladega this weekend," Brancheau says. "As the sponsor, we proudly support the entire RCR organization." For his part, Harvick says he has learned his lesson from the suspension that followed an incident Saturday in which he rammed the truck of Coy Gibbs during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Advance Auto Parts 250. "Having to miss the [Winston Cup] race in Martinsville definitely got my attention. I'm still learning how NASCAR works and what is involved in the decisions they make. They are trying to create a fair playing field with those decisions, and they're not out to get anyone."(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(4-18-2002)

  • Harvick Statement: The following is a statement from Kevin Harvick, driver of Richard Childress Racing's #29 GM Goodwrench Service Chevy, regarding NASCAR's penalty from Martinsville Speedway. "It tore me up Sunday to watch the race from home while Kenny Wallace drove the 29. I haven't been racing since I was five years old and made it this far in my career to throw it all away now. Having to miss the race in Martinsville definitely got my attention. I'm still learning how NASCAR works and what is involved in the decisions they make. They are trying to create a fair playing field with those decisions and they're not out to get anyone. In all reality, you make and control your own destiny in this sport. I wish that my team and GM Goodwrench Service weren't dragged into a situation that they had nothing to do with. For that, I want to thank everyone at RCR and GM Goodwrench Service for sticking with me. In addition to thanking Kenny for stepping in at the last minute and helping us out, I want to thank the Winston Cup drivers who have called over the past couple of days to offer their advice and support. I especially want to thank all of the fans for standing behind me. They have supported me through some very tough times. Our on-track performance so far this season isn't what we expected it to be and having to sit out last week's race only dug the hole deeper. But that just means that we're going to do everything we can to turn things around." From the RCR site.(4-16-2002)

  • DW talks about Harvick: Three-time Winston Cup champion turned FOX TV commentator Darrell Waltrip thinks NASCAR did the right thing by.taking a stronger stand against Kevin Harvick's actions during Saturday's Craftsman Truck Series Race. Waltrip.said "I think he's a great kid and I love playin' with him and havin' fun with him, but he does have to understanding that.this is the big leagues (Winston Cup, Busch and Trucks) and when you get to that level you have to leave that Saturday night.fight mentality.back at the short tracks and there's a standard of excellence that you have to adhere to." DW went to say "I've been expecting this...wanting this personally for quite some time...puttin' a driver on probation. So what?, what does that mean? It's never meant anything in the past. I spent five years on probation. So, they did what they had to do, they (NASCAR) didn't do it...he did it to himself is the way I look at it. It's ugly, you don't want to see it happen, and I sure don't want to see it happen to anyone else...I don't want to see it happen to him again, but, that's what it took to get his attention". Waltrip, who says he wants to talk with Harvick, recalled a time when he and Richard Petty sat Ernie Irvan down in the NASCAR hauler several years ago.when Irvan was getting into a lot of wrecks and "kinda had a cavalier attitude about whole thing". The next weekend, Irvan apologized to all the competitors in the drivers meeting for his behavior and that he was going to try and do better. Darrell said "Kevin needs to do the same thing."(PRN's Garage Pass)(4-16-2002)

  • Harvick Fined: NASCAR officials announced that driver Kevin Harvick has been fined $35,000 and his probation has been extended through the remainder of the year for his actions this past weekend at Martinsville Speedway. NASCAR also put Harvick on notice during this probationary period that if there are any actions, in NASCAR's opinion, that are deemed detrimental to the sport or disruptive to the orderly conduct of an event, he will be suspended indefinitely. Harvick, already on probation following an incident March 23 during the BGN race at Bristol, was initially "parked" by NASCAR officials after an on-track incident with Coy Gibbs during Saturday's Truck Series race. The penalty was then extended to include Sunday's Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup event. Following further review of the incident by NASCAR officials, a fine was levied and Harvick's probation, originally scheduled to conclude Aug. 28, was extended through the end of the calendar year to Tuesday, Dec. 31.(NASCAR PR)(4-15-2002)

  • Childress Statement: Statement from Richard Childress regarding NASCAR's "Parking" of Kevin Harvick: "NASCAR had to do something in response to Kevin's actions during the Truck race yesterday, but I think their response was completely wrong. I have not seen the clip of Kevin's actions during the Truck race so I can't comment on what he did. He has had problems in the Busch and Truck Series and had been on probation for his actions, but the decision to 'park' him during the Winston Cup race is wrong. NASCAR should keep the actions and punishments separate to each series. This should be Kevin's punishment only, but what NASCAR is doing is punishing the tens of thousands of race fans who probably didn't know until they got to the track this morning that Kevin won't be allowed to race today. NASCAR is also punishing the entire No. 29 team and all of Richard Childress Racing for one person's actions. NASCAR is also punishing GM Goodwrench Service, who has been nothing but loyal to RCR and the sport for many years. This is only my opinion. I will sit down with Kevin Monday morning to discuss what happened and how we will proceed from here."(RCR PR)(4-14-2002)

  • Harvick Parked for Martinsville, Kenny Wallace in the #29 for the race: Winston Cup driver #29-Kevin Harvick has been "parked" by NASCAR officials and will not be allowed to drive in Sunday's Virginia 500 at Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR officials confirmed Sunday morning. A formal announcement of the action is expected at the track Sunday morning. Kenny Wallace will drive Harvick's #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy Sunday. He would have to start at the rear of the field since he did not qualify the car. Harvick's "parking" - defined in the NASCAR rulebook as an emergency action that is "final, non-appealable and non-reviewable" - comes in response to NASCAR officials' demand he park his truck after spinning Coy Gibbs in Saturday's CTS race at Martinsville. Harvick and Gibbs tangled on the track several times over the course of several laps. Gibbs spun Harvick one time exiting Turn 4. Following a caution on Lap 188, Harvick rammed Gibbs' rear bumper entering Turn 1 and finally spun him exiting Turn 2. NASCAR had enough, black-flagged Harvick and parked him for the day. Harvick parked his #6 Chevy in front of the Truck series hauler near pit road. He was told to report to the NASCAR hauler and met with series officials for nearly 90 minutes following the race. Harvick was already under probation from his post-race incident with Greg Biffle at the BGN race at Bristol last month. Harvick was fined $15,000 and placed on probation until Aug. 28. After Sunday's race, Harvick may receive a more traditional suspension, which could be appealed under NASCAR rules, sources said.(ThatsRacin.com), also see NASCAR.com: The Buzz: Harvick suspension imminent? and Harvick ordered to meet with NASCAR after incident. AND from the Kenny Wallace site: An emergency call sends Kenny Wallace to Martinsville. NASCAR and Richard Childress called DEI to release Wallace for the Martinsville race. Wallace drove to Martinsville and is staying with bother Rusty for the night.AND RacingOne.com reports that a press conference with #29 car owner Richard Childress was scheduled for 9:00am/et at Martinsville Speedway, while Harvick was to address the media at 10:00am/et.AND NASCAR.com announces: Harvick not allowed to drive in Virginia 500: NASCAR's statement: "NASCAR officials have announced they have "parked" NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick until the conclusion of the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup event at Martinsville Speedway. Harvick, on probation following an incident at Bristol Motor Speedway March 23 for actions during a NASCAR Busch Series event, was parked during Saturday's Advance Auto Parts 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event. That time has been extended, preventing him, but not the No. 29 RCR Winston Cup team, from participating through the completion of the event at Martinsville."(4-14-2002)

  • No Indy 500 for Harvick in 2002: ESPN 2's RPM 2 Night reported that Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy, says he will NOT attempt to make or drive in this years Indy 500 as rumored.(4-8-2002)

  • Expect Harvick and R Gordon to be fined and penalized UPDATE penalties announced: #31-Robby Gordon and #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. were called to the NASCAR hauler to meet with series officials following Sunday's Food City 500 at Bristol. The two traded bumps several times during the race, and after the race ended, Gordon drove his No. 31 Chevrolet into the back of Earnhardt Jr.'s car on pit road, turning it around. NASCAR officials said they planned to review the incident and that Gordon would likely be penalized in a similar fashion to Tony Stewart, who was fined $10,000 last year for spinning Jeff Gordon on pit road. After the pit road incident, Robby Gordon drove to the garage area, while Earnhardt Jr. stopped on pit road for media interviews, as is common for drivers who finish in the top five (Earnhardt Jr. was fourth). As Earnhardt Jr. was getting out of his car, Mike Scearce, the jack man for Gordon's team, ran up to Earnhardt Jr.'s car and Scearce and members of Earnhardt Jr.'s team exchanged obscenities before they were separated.(ThatsRacin.com)
    AND Kevin Harvick likely faces a large fine and probation for his actions on pit road following Saturday's Channellock 250 BGTN race at Bristol. Greg Biffle hit Harvick's car exiting Turn 4 on Lap 240, sending Harvick into the wall. Harvick waited in a pit stall on the frontstretch until the race was over and when Biffle brought his #60 Ford on pit road, Harvick charged after him and the two locked arms for nearly a minute before they were separated(actually jumped on and over Biffle's car). Saturday afternoon, Harvick, his crew chief, Kevin Hamlin, and car owner, Richard Childress, all met with NASCAR officials. Childress met with NASCAR President Mike Helton again early Sunday morning, and Childress, Harvick and Helton met again for 25 minutes later Sunday morning. Harvick had to cancel an appearance in the hospitality village Sunday morning because of his meeting with Helton. Helton said penalties against Harvick will be issued this week, perhaps as early as Monday. "I think the issue we have to deal with, is how disruptive Harvick's actions were and how detrimental his actions were to the overall scheme of things," Helton said. Childress agreed that NASCAR had to take some action. Not only was Harvick frustrated with having his car wrecked, but he was shaken by the wreck itself. "It was a tough hit," Childress said. "He couldn't walk hardly last night. He's really hurting today."(ThatsRacin.com)(3-25-2002)
    UPDATE: NASCAR officials announced today they have penalized NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers Robby Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., for intentionally running into each other's car during the cool-down lap of the Food City 500 at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN. Gordon, driver of the #31 NASCAR Winston Cup Series team, was fined $10,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Aug. 28th. Earnhardt Jr. was fined $5,000. Both drivers were penalized under Section 12-4-A in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: "actions deemed by NASCAR Officials as detrimental to stock car racing."
    A penalty was also levied against driver Kevin Harvick for his actions in the pits following Saturday's Channellock 250 NASCAR Busch Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Harvick, driver of the #29 NASCAR Busch Series team, was fined $15,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Aug. 28th. He was penalized under Section 12-4-A in the 2002 NASCAR Busch Series rule book: "actions deemed by NASCAR Officials as detrimental to stock car racing."(NASCAR PR)(3-25-2002)

  • Childress off to the Artic after Bristol: Richard Childress [owner of the #'s 29,30,31] is taking a hunting trip, smack in the middle of Winston Cup season. "I'm changing my lifestyle a little bit," Childress said. "I need to." The change was prompted in part by the death of Childress' friend and driver, Dale Earnhardt, more than a year ago. Not that the hunting trip will cost Childress much time in the garage, but it might. A day after Sunday's race at Bristol, Tenn., Childress leaves for the Arctic to hunt polar bear and musk ox. Winston Cup does not race the following weekend, Easter Sunday. Childress plans to fly directly to Texas on April 7 for that race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(3-21-2002)

  • Harvick goes Sonic: Reigning BGN Champ Kevin Harvick, Richard Childress Racing and Sonic announced plans to enter the #29 Sonic Chevrolet in the BGN race at Texas Motor Speedway. The April 6 event marks the first race Harvick will run in the series since clinching the championship title in 2001. The #29 Sonic Chevrolet will be red and black and feature the Sonic logo on the hood and rear quarter panel. The deck lid will feature signature Sonic favorites- Cheese Coney, Tater Tots and Cherry Limeade. Sonic is giving four fans the chance to compete in a go-kart race against Harvick at SpeedZone in Dallas. To win, fans need to stop by a participating Sonic location in Dallas/Ft. Worth and enter the drawing. Sonic, which specializes in made-to-order fast food, is known for its specialty menu items and personal Carhop service. Popular menu items include Toaster Sandwiches (Chicken Club and Bacon Cheddar Burger on this Texas Toast), Extra-Long Cheese Coneys (hot dogs with chili and cheese), hamburgers, fresh-made Onion Rings, Tater Tots (hmm...a Jayski fave - love Sonic - need one in NJ) and a variety of Frozen Fountain Favorites(tm) such as Cream Pie Shakes and Cherry Limades.(Three Wide Marketing PR). See my Paint Schemes Gallery for four images of the car.(3-10-2002)

  • Harvick to do double duty at Seas Point: Kevin Harvick has agreed to a one-race sponsorship with Snap-on Tools for the Southwest Series event at Sears Point Raceway and will drive a Chevrolet in the 70-lap feature, set for June 22. He will switch to his familiar #29 Goodwrench Service Chevy the next day (June 23) for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 on the twisting road course. Harvick is no stranger to double-duty, having competed in both the NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Grand National Series during the 2001 season. He placed ninth in Winston Cup and won the Busch Series championship. The native of Bakersfield (Calif.) is also quite familiar with Sears Point, having won a NASCAR Winston West event there during his 1998 championship year. He has also competed at Sears Point in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and he placed 14th in 2001 in a Winston Cup car. The Southwest Series deal came together thanks to Snap-on, an associate sponsor on Harvick's Winston Cup car, and a long-time sponsor of Richard Childress Racing. "Snap-on is very excited to sponsor our own car in this race and continue what is already a great relationship with Richard Childress Racing and Kevin Harvick," said Denny Chittick, Snap-on branch manager for Northern California/Nevada. Harvick's primary competition in the Snap-on Tools/Jelly Belly 200 will come from Jim Inglebright, the two-time defending champion of the event from Fairfield in the Bay Area.(Sears Point PR)(3-8-2002)

  • One Thousand Starts for RCR: Robby Gordon's #31 Chevy will represent the 1,000th start for the Richard Childress Racing team when he takes the green flag Sunday at Las Vegas. Gordon qualified 12th on Friday, ahead of teammates Jeff Green (22nd) and Kevin Harvick (28th). More than half of the team's cup starts were made by the late Dale Earnhardt with 529. Childress added 188 of his own. Mike Skinner has 157 starts, Ricky Rudd 60, Harvick 37, Gordon 12, Green 10, Morgan Shepherd and Neil Bonnett 2 each and Mike Dillon and Rodney Combs one each.(Daytona Beach News Journal/AP)(3-2-2002)

  • Special #29 Scheme at the Winston? UPDATE: hearing that Kevin Harvick will have a special paint scheme for the Wintson called GM Goodwrench/On a Roll, soemthing about the launch of a new tire program.(2-7-2002)
    UPDATE: see a diecast image of the car on my Paint Schemes Gallery(2-8-2002)

  • Harvick wins award: Because of Kevin Harvick's performance under the trying circumstances, he was on Sunday named the winner of the 2001 Richard Petty Award as the National Motorsports Press Association's Driver of the Year. Harvick, who turned 26 in December, is the first Winston Cup rookie to win the award.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-21-2002)

  • ET Phone Bristol? UPDATE 4: hearing the Richard Childress Racing Cup cars, #29-Harvick, #30-Green and #31-Gordon (yes Gordon is listed) will run a 20th Anniversary of ET paint scheme at Bristol in 2002, not sure which Bristol, the 1st or 2nd event(11-10-2001)
    UPDATE: ET will be re-released on April 1, 2002 for its 20th Anniversary so I imagine it'll be the spring race(11-11-2001)
    UPDATE 2: now hearing (ironically) that the ET schemes will run on the #24-Jeff Gordon and #31-Robby Gordon cars -
    BUT am now hearing the #30 Green and #31 Gordon E.T. Paint schemes have been cancelled and that #29 Harvick will carry the special ET paint for the re-released movie(11-27-2001)
    UPDATE 3: hearing that the car and scheme may be reveiled at the Winston Preview this weekend(1-18-2002)
    UPDATE 4: This Friday, GM Goodwrench Service, in conjunction with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group, Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc., and Action Performance Companies will celebrate the 20th anniversary of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial by unveiling a pair of specially painted NASCAR stock cars at the Richard Childress Racing shop in Welcome, NC. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's timeless and beloved classic, Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment will re-release E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial nationwide on March 22, 2002 in a new version along with never-before-seen footage, state-of-the-art computer-generated enhancements and a digitally remixed soundtrack. E.T. will celebrate his 20th anniversary by spending two days as a passenger on a NASCAR® stock car on March 23rd and 24th at Bristol Motor Speedway during two of the season's most anticipated racing events. E.T. will appear on the flanks of two RCR NASCAR cars in consecutive races; first, on the red and black #29 GM Goodwrench Service/Action car during Saturday's BGN race, and then on the blue and black #29 GM Goodwrench Service car for the Winston Cup event on Sunday. The two cars, to be driven by 2001 BGN champion and Winston Cup Rookie-of-the-Year Kevin Harvick, will be first unveiled to the public at the RCR race shop as part of the Lowe's Media Tour, and then they will be on display from 8:30am until 6:00pm/et time at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C. Team owner Richard Childress and Harvick will also be on hand to meet the press at the RCR unveiling. As part of the E.T. 20th Anniversary celebration, Action Performance has been licensed to produce collector merchandise, including die-cast racing replicas, which will be available to consumers through Action's extensive network of distribution channels.(Action Performance PR), Paint Schemes Gallery for a images of the cars(1-18-2002)

  • Hutchens promoted: Richard Childress has reorganized his three-team Winston Cup operation for this season, and Bobby Hutchens, the company's chief engineer and general manager [and of the Hutchens device], has taken on another role, as team manager for all three Cup teams(Winston Salem Journal)(1-15-2002)

  • 24 Hours - Been asked...here ya go: SpeedChannel, formerly SpeedVision, will air the Rolex 24-Hours of Daytona live starting February 2 and at various times that weekend.(RacingOne)(1-15-2002)

  • Childress Trademark News: A U.S. magistrate judge issued a permanent injunction and judgement last month in favor of Richard Childress Racing in its trademark infringement lawsuit against Charlotte, N.C.-based Heavenly Deigns of N.C. Inc. and its owners, Barry and Billi Jo McCall Baker. In an order signed Dec. 10, Judge Russell Eliason awarded RCR approximately $500,000 in damages, costs and legal fees. He also issued a permanent injunction prohibiting Heavenly Designs from "manufacturing, distributing, advertising, offering for sale, or selling goods under any designs or marks comprised of a number 3, with or without angel's wings and/or halo." Childress said he was pleased the case was over and the injunction issued.(That's Racin')(1-11-2002)

  • Why no Harvick? UPDATE: been asked, why no Kevin Harvick at the Daytona Testing even though the #29 team was 7th in owners points? Haven't heard, but can only assume that since the BGN Banguet is on the 11th in California, he has commitments there(1-9-2002)
    UPDATE: One of the teams not on hand that was scheduled to be was the #29 Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick. NASCAR will allow Harvick to test next Monday-Wednesday since he has to attend the NASCAR Busch Series banquet in California later this week.(NASCAR.com)(1-9-2002)

  • Harvick and Hershey: Hershey recruits Nascar's Winston Cup circuit Rookie of the Year Kevin Harvick for a $28 million TV, radio, print and Web campaign positioning its new Reese's FastBreak candy bar as the meal on the run. The quick-meal message is punctuated by a 15-second spot, via DDB, New York, breaking this week that shows Harvick pulling his #29 GM Goodwrench Car into the pit, chomping on a FastBreak and quickly being sent back on the track by his fuel man. Voiceover asks, "Need to refuel?" and touts the milk chocolate, soft nougat and Reese's peanut butter ingredients. The tagline: "Refuel and go." Radio ads place Harvick at a press conference where reporters suggest that Reese's FastBreak should be rookie of the year because the driver performed great in races where he ate one. In another, Harvick thanks his pit crew for always being there with the candy bar even though they occasionally forgot to give him gas and sent him on the track with three tires.(Brandweek), NOTE: harvick ran a Reese's FastBreak candy bar schemes last Nov at NHIS, see my 2001 Cup Paint Scheme page for the image(1-7-2002)

2001 News

  • Harvick in the Indy 500? If Kevin Harvick does well in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona [see story below], look for Harvick to try his hand at the Indianapolis 500.(Sporting News)(12-31-2001)

  • Rolex 24 at Daytona - Robinson in?(no) UPDATE 4 Harvick, Petty, R Gordon, Stewart, Dallenbach, Andretti: hearing Shawna Robinson is going to be driving a second Flis Corvette in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, with Conway and Goad as co-drivers. Supposedly Bam Motorsports is buying the seat time for her.(12-7-2001)
    UPDATE: hearing Shawna Robinson will NOT drive in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona and that Kevin Harvick could be in the seat now(12-25-2001)
    UPDATE 2: Flis Motorsports, which claimed 2001 AGT-class driver and car owner championships, will test two Corvettes entered for this year's race. A championship-winning NASCAR driver, whose name will be made public Jan. 2, has signed on to drive in the team's second car(Daytona Beach News Journal)(12-27-2001)
    UPDATE 3: Kevin Harvick will help kick off Speed Weeks 2002 by driving a Flis Motorsports Corvette during the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Feb. 2-3. Harvick will join the Daytona Beach-based team drivers Rick Carelli, John Metcalf and Dave Liniger, primary sponsor of the Flis Corvette. Carelli, a Truck Series driver [in Harvicks CTS truck] and longtime friend of Harvick, was instrumental in suggesting that the NASCAR star join the team. Harvick joins a growing list of NASCAR drivers who will suit up for this year's 24-hour event at Daytona International Speedway. Kyle Petty [#45 Cup car], whose team finished seventh overall in the 2001 endurance event, is returning for another run and will bring along Petty Enterprises teammate John Andretti [#43], also a sportscar racing veteran. They will drive a Porsche GT3R. Tony Stewart [#20] will drive a Judd-powered Crawford prototype racer. Wally Dallenbach Jr. will drive a Robinson Racing Riley & Scott MkIII, also a prototype. Robby Gordon [#31] is said to be joining Indy Racing League driver Scott Sharp, who announced Wednesday that he will drive for the Jim Matthews Racing team in an Elan-powered Riley & Scott. Sharp, a two-time SCCA Trans-Am champion and 1996 IRL inaugural season co-champion, teamed with Wayne Taylor and Jim Pace to win overall honors in the 1996 Rolex 24 At Daytona.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(12-28-2001)
    UPDATE 4: Robby Gordon will drive a Jim Matthews Racing R&S Mk III C for the 40th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona, according to Bill Riley, vice president of chassis manufacturer Riley & Scott, and Jim Matthews, owner of Jim Matthews Racing. Guy Smith, Jim Matthews and 1996 Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Scott Sharp will share driving duties with Gordon.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(12-29-2001)

  • Chocolate News: #29 RCR Gasman, Chocolatr Myers will have surgery on his left wrist during the off season. Danny "Chocolate" Myers injured his left wrist during a pitstop at Talladega in October. Seems that the gas can got stuck as Kevin Harvick was pulling out of the pits and Myers twisted his left wrist in the process, tearing tendons and ligaments. Doctors at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center will perform the surgery and after some rehab, he'll be good to go for Daytona. Chocolate helped raise Thousands when the Charity League of Lexington, NC hosted their annual Holiday House tour at Myers Manor - the home of Danny "Chocolate" and Caron Myers. Over 3000 people attended the event - at five dollars a pop - with Danny and Caron standing at the door shaking hands with each guest as they arrived. Race fans got to see how the famous Gas Man lives at home. There were Christmas trees in each of the 19 rooms.of their 5000 square foot Victorian home, each with a different theme. And, of course,.Chocolate's Victrola (crank phonograph) collection. All proceeds of the event went to benefit children and underprivileged families in Davidson County, NC. And Chocolate was seen at the Lexington KMart ringing a bell for the Salvation Army last Saturday. And he wasn't shy about intimidating people and making them dig deep into their pockets. Remember, this is the same guy who wrestled a bear once! Myers has recently been appointed to the board of the Salvation Army. And finally: Politics for Mrs. Chocolate?: Caron Myers, wife of Danny "Chocolate" Myers and writer for Racing Milestones Magazine, was elected to the Lexington Planning Board and the Board of Adjustments. She began serving her three year term of public office on Monday, December 17th.(12-18-2001)

  • Harvick named Rookie of the Year(ROTY): Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet, claimed the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award. He finished the season with a total of 331 points, 66 points ahead of second-place Kurt Busch. A native of Bakersfield, Calif., Harvick took over the Richard Childress-owned ride after the death of seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion, Dale Earnhardt. During the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season, Harvick visited the winner.s circle twice (Atlanta - 3/11 and Chicago - 7/15) and collected six top-five finishes and 16 top 10s. He also topped the season off with a ninth-place finish in the final point standings (Harvick is the only driver to finish in the top-10 in points that only competed in 35 events)(NASCAR PR). See my ROTY Page for results, rules and breakdown(11-27-2001)

  • Special #29 Scheme: The Hershey Foods Corporation is putting its newest candy bar creation - Reese's FastBreak - on the fast track with Hershey's Racing driver Kevin Harvick. Reese's FastBreak candy bar will break into Winston Cup racing on the #29 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Monte Carlo, driven by Harvick and owned by Richard Childress Racing (RCR), on November 23, 2001, at the New Hampshire 300. Hershey is celebrating the November introduction of Reese's FastBreak with a one-time version of the #29 Chevrolet sporting the Reese's FastBreak logo and a special color scheme featuring the Reese's FastBreak design(RCR PR/Site)(11-19-2001)


  • Harvick, Waltrip and the NBA and the NHL: Kevin Harvick and Michael Waltrip will make a guest appearance on TNT's Inside The NBA on Thurs., Nov. 15, at approximately 11:30pm/et, with TNT host Ernie Johnson, and analysts Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley. Harvick is bringing his remote control cars to the studio so he and Waltrip can take on Johnson, Smith and Barkley in a race around the studio.. Both drivers are in town for the NAPA 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. AND On Friday, Harvick will drop the puck at the Atlanta Thrashers hockey game against the Nashville Predators, which airs on Turner South at 7:30 p.m., with the pre-game show beginning at 7 p.m.(NBC PR)(11-15-2001)

  • Harvick Tests at Daytona: #29-Kevin Harvick tested at Daytona International Speedway on Monday, preparing for the season-opening 44th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 17 with a pair of #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolets in a two-day test. Crew chief Kevin Hamlin and the rest of the team were trying to figure out the new superspeedway rules package for Harvick's first Daytona 500 start. "We haven't had time to use a lot of our tests this year," said Harvick, who'll also win Winston Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. "They changed the rules on the superspeedway cars so we wanted to get a head start. We've already finished our car for the Daytona 500 and decided to come down here and use one of our tests. " Harvick tested the car he'll run in next year's Daytona 500 and the car he ran at Talladega in October. Also testing at the Speedway on Monday was the True Value/IROC Series and test drivers Dave Marcis and Jim Sauter. Harvick, whose Busch Series title earned him a spot in the exclusive All-Star field, plans on hopping in one of those cars before the end of his testing session. On Tuesday, True Value/IROC testing will continue with open-wheel drivers expected to arrive, including Indy Racing League champion Sam Hornish Jr., Helio Castroneves(CART) and Scott Sharp. Guests can watch both Harvick's test session and True Value/IROC testing free of charge with access to the Oldfield Grandstand through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.(DIS PR)(11-12-2001)

  • Harvick in IROC: BGN champ and likely Winston Cup rookie of the year Kevin Harvick has accepted an invitation to compete in the four-race International Race of Champions (IROC) series in 2002. Harvick was extended the invitation that is traditionally given to the Grand National champion. Reigning series champion Jeff Green competed in the four-race series this season.(That's Racin')(11-10-2001)

  • Jr's thoughts on #3: If NASCAR ever retires Dale Earnhardt's No. 3, it will be against the wishes of his son and namesake. Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he doesn't think it would be fair to Richard Petty, the sport's other seven-time champion, if NASCAR were to retire Earnhardt's No. 3 and not Petty's No. 43. For the record, Petty has always opposed the retirement of the number he made famous.(Gaston Gazette)(10-28-2001)

  • UPDATE - Why can Harvick drive in the Cup race since he is a rookie and 'supposedly' a rookie must practice and qualify the car they compete in? My understanding is that NASCAR may determine the rookie status of a driver based on experience at a race track or in the series. Since Harvick has ran 28 of the 29 previous Cup races, won two and is leading the BGN points, it was probably decided he could handle it. Plus he has already raced at Martinsville. ALSO it is my understanding that a rookie driver did not get rookie points for a race unless he also qualified the car. That means Harvick would not get points or money for winning or anything else rookie-wise, if this is the case.(10-13-2001)
    UPDATE: been informed that Harvick will NOT receive the customary 1 point for attempting to qualify for the Martinsville event, but he WILL still retain any rookie points for his finishing order.(10-15-2001)

  • Mast in the #31? UPDATE 2 in the #29 for practice/qualifyng: hearing Rick Mast will run the #31 Lowes Chevy at Martinsville in a one race deal(10-7-2001)
    UPDATE: Rick Mast, who lost his Winston Cup ride when his Eel River Racing team folded last week, is testing the No. 31 Chevrolet this week for Richard Childress Racing at South Carolina's Greenville-Pickens Speedway, team officials confirmed. It remains unclear whether Mast will drive the car at Martinsville, Va., next weekend. Robby Gordon has been driving the #31, but failed to qualify for Sunday's s race, the first time the #31 missed a race since 1998.(That's Racin')
    AND Two of Childress' cars missed the race this weekend, and it was the first time that the #31 car was not in the field since the Coca-Cola 600 in 1997. Childress says he has "a whole different plan that we're going to approach with Kevin (Harvick and his car) and the #31 car" but wouldn't expound on the details other than to say that Robby Gordon "would be in Martinsville on Friday."(Sporting News)
    AND FSN's Totally NASCAR reported that the team went to Greenville-Pickens Speedway with both Robby Gordon and Rick Mast, Larry McReynold's said that at the end of the two day test, the team may consider having Mast qualify the #31 Chevy for the race. Would assume then that Gordon would run the race to gain experience(10-8-2001)
    UPDATE 2: Rick Mast will practice and qualify the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy for regular driver Kevin Harvick at Martinsville. Harvick will be in Memphis for the BGN race on Saturday. Harvick will drive the #29 Chevy in the race, but will have to fall to the back of the field before the start of the race(ESPN2's PRM 2Night)(10-9-2001)

  • RCR Sues UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing, the owner of the late Dale Earnhardt's Winston Cup team, has filed suit in federal court accusing a Charlotte-based company of stealing the design of Earnhardt's former car number and profiting from his Feb. 18 death in a last-lap wreck at the Daytona 500. Barry Baker and Billi Jo McCall Baker and their Heavenly Designs of N.C. Inc. company are named in the lawsuit filed Sept. 13 and reported Friday by Bloomberg News. Earnhardt won six of his seven Winston cup titles while driving for Childress and since 1980 competed in cars bearing a slanted No. 3. The lawsuit accuses the Bakers of selling memorabilia with the number combined with wings and a halo to symbolize Earnhardt's death. "We're going to do what we have to do to protect our rights," Childress said Sunday. "We do have the trademark and the service marks on the stylized 3. We'll do what we have to do to protect that. We've had an unbelievable amount of illegal stuff being made. What we usually do is have a cease-and-desist (order) and that pretty much stops it. We're just trying to protect what Dale and I have built over the years." After being told to stop selling the items, the suit contends, the Bakers modified the design and then incorporated Heavenly Designs on July 11 to continue selling items. "As a result of these unlawful activities, defendants have received substantial profits to which they are not entitled, resulting in corresponding losses to RCR," the lawsuit contends. RCR is seeking a court order recalling infringing items from shelves and blocking future sales, along with any profits, damages and court fees. The racing group also asks that the Bakers be held personally liable for the infringements, saying they set up Heavenly Designs to protect themselves from a lawsuit. No court date has been set to hear the case.(That's Racin')(9-23-2001)
    UPDATE: Heavenly Designs of N.C. Inc., owned by Charlotte residents Barry and Billi Jo McCall Baker, claim a "winged" No. 3 decal the business produces and sells does not violate a federal trademark held by Richard Childress, owner of the Winston Cup team of the late Dale Earnhardt. The Bakers filed a response Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Greensboro, N.C., to a lawsuit originally filed Sept. 13 by attorneys for Richard Childress Racing. Company owner Barry Baker said there is no basis to "outlaw" his design, which he says does not use the "slanted" No. 3 trademarked by Childress. Baker said he has always told customers they weren't buying Dale Earnhardt products, Richard Childress products, or NASCAR products, but those of Heavenly Designs. He said he has operated as an independent souvenir vendor at Winston Cup tracks since 1995.(That's Racin')(10-6-2001)

  • #29 Stays, New Colors, #3 Retired? UPDATE 2: Richard Childress Racing will unveil the 2002 paint scheme for the #29 Chevrolets driven by rookie Kevin Harvick, but there will be no change in the team's number. The news conference is scheduled for 10:00am/et on Sunday at Kansas Speedway, site of Sunday's inaugural Protection One 400. Sources said the car's general design will remain the same, but there will be some color changes. Also, owner Richard Childress is expected to reveal his intentions to seek the retirement of the #3 - the number used by that team when Dale Earnhardt was its driver. Earnhardt, who won six of his seven Winston Cup championships with Childress, was killed in a last-lap wreck at the season opening Daytona 500. Harvick has driven for Earnhardt's former team with the #29 and a predominantly white color scheme on the car since the February race at Rockingham(That's Racin'). JAYSKI NOTE: hearing the car will feature a red scheme(9-29-2001)
    UPDATE: In a pre-race press conference from the Fan Walk inside Kansas Speedway, Richard Childress announced this morning the #29 of Kevin Harvick will carry some familiar colors for 2002. The Monte Carlo unveiled combined the familiar black with a new gray scheme giving the car a touch of the old, with a dash of the new. The announcement was greeted by applause from the fans in attendance. Richard Childress Racing will field the #'s 29, 30, and 31 Winston Cup cars for Kevin Harvick, Jeff Green, and supposedly Robby Gordon.(Frontstretch). So much for the red rumor(9-30-2001)
    UPDATE 2: Richard Childress, owner of the No. 29 Chevrolets driven by Kevin Harvick, said Sunday he is trying to persuade NASCAR to retire the No. 3 made famous by the late Dale Earnhardt. "The numbers belong to NASCAR and it's not their policy to retire numbers," Childress said. "But we're talking to them heavily about retiring the number 3. If not, we have some plans for the No. 3 that we have registered and stylized that Dale Earnhardt made so famous." Childress said he expects NASCAR's decision by the end of the season.(That's Racin'). See images of the car at my Paint Schemes Gallery for more images (and the new 2002 Cup page there)(10-1-2001)

  • #29 Crew Chief News: Todd Berrier, Kevin Harvick's BGN crew chief, will crew chief the #29 Goodwrench Chevy at Kansas. Regular crew chief Kevin Hamilin is in Michigan as his Mother-in-Law passed away, thoughts and condelences go out to Hamilin and his family(9-29-2001)

  • #3 to return in 2002? UPDATE: NASCAR.com's The Buzz is reporting that Richard Childress Racing could be bringing back the #3 Chevrolet. Formerly driven by and made famous by the late Dale Earnhardt, it has not been driven in competition since the seven-time champion's death in the Daytona 500. Allegedly, the design has already been finished but the #3 will have a different look and design to it than what Earnhardt drove. The design has been rumored to already have been approved by Dale Earnhardt Inc., Chevrolet and Richard Childress Racing. Since the season's second race at Rockingham, Kevin Harvick has competed in a white No. 29 Chevrolet with Goodwrench Plus on board. If the #3 came back, it wouldn't be until next year in time for the Daytona 500.(NASCAR.com Buzz)(8-16-2001)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress did not directly deny plans to revive the #3 at some point for his Winston Cup racing operation. "We'll be making announcements on the 3 sometime in the near future," Childress said before Saturday's Sharpie 500 at Bristol. "I can't go there right now, but it will be an issue we'll handle by the end of the year." The #3 has been inactive since Dale Earnhardt was killed in a crash in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. Rumors have circulated about the future of the #3 for the past few months. Childress will field three teams next season and the car number for only one of them, the #30 to be driven by Jeff Green and sponsored by America Online. Kevin Harvick will continue to drive for Earnhardt's former team in the GM Goodwrench sponsored car now carrying the #29. The third Childress team will be sponsored by Cingular Wireless. No driver or car number has been announced, although Robby Gordon is considered a leading candidate for that ride(That's Racin')(8-26-2001)

  • Harvick in New York: on Tuesday, Aug 28th, Kevin Harvick will visit Yankee Stadium to throw out the "first pitch" for Tuesday's night's game as the New York Yankee's play the Toronto Blue Jay's. Along with Harvick "taking the mound" at the legendary ball park, one of his #29 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet Monte Carlo's will be on display outside the main gates for the baseball fans to take a view of a NASCAR Winston Cup race car. While in New York, Harvick will be making some other stops including FOX Networks Studio's where he will appear on the FOX morning program "FOX and Friends".(Champions Sports Group PR)(8-28-2001)

  • RCR at 99 UPDATE make it 100: Kevin Harvick's victory in the BGN race at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Saturday night was the 99th in a NASCAR points race for Richard Childress Racing. It also marked the fourth weekend in a row that an RCR car has won a NASCAR race. In July, Harvick won the inaugural Winston Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway and followed that up with a victory in the Grand National race at St. Louis. Last weekend, Jeff Purvis won the Grand National race at Pikes Peak(Alabama Live)(8-7-2001)
    UPDATE win #100: with Kevin Harvick's BGN Win at Bristol, it was the 100th win in a NASCAR points race for Richard Childress Racing(8-25-2001)

  • Little E to get Dad's Number? Too good to be true? Picture this: Dale Earnhardt Jr. reviving the #3 car next season with a split-sponsored deal between GM Goodwrench and Budweiser(Sporting News), No Other Details mentioned, this is a rumor(8-6-2001)

  • RCR at 99: Kevin Harvick's victory in the BGN race at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Saturday night was the 99th in a NASCAR points race for Richard Childress Racing. It also marked the fourth weekend in a row that an RCR car has won a NASCAR race. In July, Harvick won the inaugural Winston Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway and followed that up with a victory in the Grand National race at St. Louis. Last weekend, Jeff Purvis won the Grand National race at Pikes Peak(Alabama Live)(8-7-2001)

  • Dallas Cowboys and RCR? UPDATE 3: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones may not be able to get his team to the Super Bowl, but he could have a car in Daytona. Officials confirmed Thursday that Jones is negotiating to invest up to $10 million in the Richard Childress Winston Cup racing team. Jones has said the goal is to have an agreement in place by February of 2002 when the NASCAR season starts with the Daytona 500. These discussions are the latest example of the Cowboys thrust to market the club beyond the football field. The club attempted to strike a deal to have their colors and logo placed on a car in the Direct TV 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway last year, but the deal fell through(FoxSports)(7-27-2001)
    UPDATE: Jerry Jones, owner of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, has been in discussions with Richard Childress Racing to either invest in or sponsor a Winston Cup team next season(That's Racin')(7-28-2001)
    UPDATE 2: Jones has talked with Richard Childress, president of Richard Childress Racing, on issues of NASCAR ownership and the business of securing sponsors to pay the bills. "We're just in the preliminary discussion stage right now," Jones said. "We recognize that NASCAR is an outstanding sport and has a great number of fans who have a lot of synergy with Dallas Cowboys fans." Jones has been told by NASCAR officials that "upwards of $9 million to $12 million a year" can be brought in by sponsors vying for advertising space on the car. "As owners -- again, if we're involved -- we will use the credibility and the visibility of the Dallas Cowboys to promote the racing team during its season and have a [marketing] tie-in during our season," Jones said. "We are going to be sponsored by other companies. That's the business of racing ... to cover your expenses of owning a car. If you do it right, that could mean upwards of $9 million to $12 million a year covered by sponsors. Certainly, we would anticipate that." Jones wouldn't hint at possible sponsors. But he has had business associations with Pepsi-Cola, Miller beer and Dr. Pepper, to name a few. "It would be obvious to everybody that this was the Dallas Cowboys' car out there," Jones said. "It will done -- if we do it -- strictly on a business basis." Jones' sons, Stephen and Jerry Jones Jr., are involved in the day-to-day operation of the Cowboys, and they also have significant roles in projects such as Dallas' new Arena Football League team, which begins play in 2002. "Right now, this is the Dallas Cowboys teaming up with people who are in the [NASCAR] business," Jones said. "But no matter what we might do here, my focus will remain on football. I am the owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys. The car, the visibility, the success of [racing] would be done just like I run the Dallas Cowboys -- just not by me." Jones' family members will handle all corporate decisions, even the hiring of the driver(Star Telegram)(7-29-2001)
    UPDATE 3: Might we see the silver background and blue star of the Dallas Cowboys on a Richard Childress car in the future? It's a distinct possibility. "We'd be crazy not to listen to the Cowboys," says Childress, whose stable includes five cars -- three in Winston Cup and two in the Busch Series(Sporting News) and a story at NASCAR.com Childress: On Purvis, Harvick, Cowboys(7-30-2001)

  • Harvick wins at Chicago: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, his 2nd win of the 2001 season and the 2nd in his 17th Winston Cup start. #77-Robert Pressley had a great run and finished a career best 2nd, his previous best finish of third came in 1998 at Texas and Pressley's first top five since Michigan on June 2000 when he finished 5th. The Winston Cup points lead really tightened up with #24-Jeff Gordon and #88-Dale Jarrett tied with the lead at 2,515 points with #28-Ricky Rudd just 18 behind. Gordon is technically still the points leader - based on more second-place finishes that Jarrett so far this year. See That's Racin' for Tropicana 400 results, Winston Cup points (after Chicago), and Winston Cup race points for Chicago (7-15-2001)

  • Harvick and Hornaday Double Duty: Ron Hornaday will join Kevin Harvick in double duty this weekend. Hornaday will drive the #11 Chevy, usually driven by rookie Marty Houston, for the second consecutive week in the BGN. Hornaday will ride on the same plane as Harvick to Watkins Glen following Pepsi 400 practice Friday night. After BGN qualifying Saturday, they will fly back to Daytona on Saturday afternoon and then back to Watkins Glen either late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. The adjustment in the Winston Cup schedule today because of rain had no impact on their double-duty plans(Daytona Beach News Journal)(7-6-2001)

  • #3 Will Not be Retired: Despite overwhelming public sentiment, it is unlikely NASCAR Winston Cup series car number ``3'' ever will be retired. The number synonymous with the late Dale Earnhardt currently belongs to Richard Childress, whose team included Earnhardt's trademark black Chevrolet. As long as No. 3 remains in Childress' possession, it almost certainly will be directly associated only with the Earnhardt name. NASCAR owns all of the numbers and determines on a yearly basis which teams will use them. The only imaginable scenario involving the appearance of No. 3 on a Winston Cup car would be if Dale Earnhardt Jr. some day drove for Childress. Undoubtedly, if NASCAR wanted to retire the number as a tribute, Childress would be open to the idea. But it is doubtful NASCAR will make such a decision; the famous No. 43 of Richard Petty, for example, remains active and owned by Petty. NASCAR's policy is to not retire numbers. For now, ``3'' safely is in Childress' possession and, with NASCAR's approval, was placed in moratorium for a year. ``We will never run a No. 3 black Goodwrench [car] again,'' Childress said. ``We may run a No. 3 car again some day.''(Tampa Tribune)(7-3-2001)

  • Harvick Talked to? UPDATE NO: Hear Kevin Harvick got an earful from NASCAR and from Richard Childress Monday. Someone from NASCAR called him, told him the bumping of Robby Gordon was unnecessary, and also talked about his "no mercy" comments after the race. Apparently, a few drivers besides Gordon talked with Childress, telling him to calm Harvick down in the future. So, hearing Childress sat Harvick down too, explained why the bumping wasn't smart and told him to make peace with Gordon. Two reasons: (1) it is too early in his career to make enemies and (2) Gordon might be his team mate next season
    BUT another RCR source disputes the other RCR source: Kevin Harvick was not talked to by NASCAR following the Sears Point race on Sunday. Robbie Gordon did not talk to Childress either. Childress was not unhappy with Harvick's actions. Harvick was racing hard to get his lap back and he's very comfortable about how things played out. He gained 19 spots by finishing on the lead lap. And that helped him remain 9th in the Winston Cup points standings.(6-26-2001)
    UPDATE: from a NASCAR.com Interview with Kevin Harvick - Is the rumor true that Richard Childress sat you down and talked to you after that? Harvick: "Richard left with 10 laps to go and has been on vacation all week, so I haven't talked to him at all since Saturday. I read all that, too. Richard pays me to drive his racecar as hard as I can drive it. NASCAR never said anything. Richard never said anything. I don't think Richard would expect anything less out of me."(6-30-2001)

  • Childress to help out DEI? Richard Childress has been asked to take an advisory role at Dale Earnhardt Inc., helping Teresa Earnhardt with the three-car Winston Cup operation, according to sources close to the team(Winston Salem Journal)(6-12-2001)

  • NASCAR says No to driver switch? UPDATE: hearing that Richard Childress Racing(RCR) tried to put Jeff Green(who was scheduled to drive the #30 AOL car but missed the race when qualifying got rained out) into the #29 and Kevin Harvick(who is the full time driver of the #29 Goodwrench Chevy) into the #30 to get it in the race. Harvick would had gotten the 36th position as a 2001 winner not already in the field and Green would had started 10th/11th where the #29 is in Owners Points. This would had put #27 Kenny Walace out the race. Buthear NASCAR squashed the move(6-2-2001)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress nearly got Jeff Green into the MBNA 400 via an interesting rules technicality. He wanted to put Green into the (#29) car that Kevin Harvick has been running, and using those car-owner points to make the field; and by then putting Harvick into the part-time car Green had been planning to run, and using driver points to make the field(as a past winner this year). NASCAR vetoed the plan. Green, who didn't make the 400 field when qualifying was rained out Friday, may try again at Michigan.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-3-2001)

  • Harvick to own CTS team: Kevin Harvick is building a shop in Kernersville, N.C., and if everything works out, will run a full-time team for Rick Carelli in 2002. He also plans to make a few appearances on the truck tour himself next year. John Monsam will reportedly serve as the team's crew chief, with ReMax a possible sponsor. ReMax backed Carelli for several years in various divisions.(in part from theWinston Cup Scene - sub needed)(5-31-2001)

  • Harvick to Test at Indy: hearing #29-Kevin Harvick will at the Brickyard for a practice session in mid-June(5-29-2001)

  • Sad News: Kevin Harvik's grandfather had been battling a serious illness for the past several weeks. Unfortunately, Joe "Papa" Walker passed away on the morning May 22nd.(Harvick Online) Condolences go out to family and friends(5-23-2001)

  • Bliss to Stand by for Harvick: Mike Bliss will serve as Kevin Harvick's stand-in in the seven weekends this season in which Harvick has conflicts with Winston Cup events. Bliss is Richard Childress Racing's driver of choice to spell Harvick in the seven conflicting weekends he will have this season(NASCAR.com Buzz)(5-19-2001)

  • Harvick takes NMPA honor: Kevin Harvick, who stepped to drive for Dale Earnhardt's former Winston Cup team after Earnhardt's death in a crash during the Daytona 500, has been named the recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association/Pocono Spirit Award for the first quarter. The award recognizes character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. NMPA members select a winner for each quarter and then vote on the winner of the annual award at season's end(That's Racin')(5-19-2001)

  • Harvick/Wallace double duty UPDATE add Hamilton Jr and...: Kevin Harvick and Kenny Wallace plan to fly back and forth between Charlotte and Nazareth, Pa., next week, allowing them to compete in both The Winston (or the Winston Open, in Wallace's case) and the BGN race at Nazareth. Wallace has not competed in the annual BGN stop at Nazareth in seven years(Gaston Gazette)(5-14-2001)
    UPDATE: Kevin Harvick and Kenny Wallace, and Bobby Hamilton Jr., subbing for the injured Joe Nemechek, plan to use driver Mike Skinner's private jet this weekend to compete in both the BGN race at Nazareth and in The Winston(or Open) in Charlotte. All three drivers participated in practice and qualifying Friday at Charlotte - Wallace and Hamilton Jr. for The Winston Open and Harvick for The Winston. On Saturday, all three will fly from Charlotte to Nazareth, landing in Allentown, Pa., approximately 9:45 a.m. They will attend practice (11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) and qualifying (3 p.m.) at Nazareth before returning to Charlotte for The Winston Open and The Winston. On Sunday, all three will return to Nazareth, arriving at 9:45 a.m. The drivers' meeting starts at 11 a.m. and the race at 1 p.m. (That's Racin')(5-19-2001)

  • Childress changes belts: Richard Childress Racing has removed Simpson seat belts from its Cup and Busch cars except Mike Skinner's #31. The team says the move was made because of driver preference(Sporting News)(5-7-2001)

  • Foyt and Childress Team Up at Indy UPDATE: A.J. Foyt has taken on a partner for this year's Indianapolis 500. NASCAR Winston Cup championship team owner Richard Childress is now the co-owner of the No. 41 Dallara/Oldsmobile Aurora Indy car to be driven by Robby Gordon in this year's Indy 500. A.J. Foyt filed an entry change listing RCR Racing as the co-entrant (along with A.J. Foyt Racing) of Gordon's car last Saturday. .I was talking to Richard at Talladega,. said Indy's first four-time winning driver, .and asked him if he wanted to be my partner in the second car at Indy this year. Richard and I have been friends for many, many years and I know he has enjoyed coming to Indy in the past so I figured I.d give him a reason to come again. The difference is he.ll be a team owner this year. "Being involved in some way in the Indy 500 is something I've always wanted to do," said Childress. "A.J. and I have been friends for a long time and there isn't anyone else I'd rather be a co-owner with for that race. We have both been fortunate enough to get to Victory Lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and I think we have a real shot at getting there together this year with Robby, who is a very talented driver." Childress was a frequent visitor to the Speedway in May during practice and Pole Day qualifying in the 1980's. Childress won the Brickyard 400 in 1995 with the late Dale Earnhardt, who led the race's final 28 laps. Foyt last visited Victory Lane at the Speedway in 1999 when Kenny Brack won the 500 in Foyt's No. 14. Foyt's last victory as a driver came in 1977 when he became the first man to win the race four times. Eliseo Salazar is driving Foyt's famed No. 14 Harrah's entry in this year's 500. Salazar is currently second in the Indy Racing Northern Light Series standings(Foyt PR)(5-3-2001)
    UPDATE: A.J. Foyt announced that he will team up with his NASCAR marketing partner Conseco for the Indianapolis 500. Robby Gordon will pilot the #41 Conseco/Dallara-Aurora which is co-owned by Foyt and Richard Childress.(Foyt PR)(5-4-2001)

  • Kenseth to RCR? it was reported on ESPN2's RPM 2Day on Sunday that #17 DeWalt driver, Matt Kenseth could be headed to Richard Childress Racing in 2002. Didn't say which car, the #30 AOL Chevy or the #31 Lowes Chevy if Skinner leaves(4-29-2001)

  • Harvick to go for it: A spokesperson for Watkins Glen International said Wednesday that Kevin Harvick, who drives Richard Childress's cars (#2 AC Delco in BGN and #29 GM Goodwrench in Cup) will fly from Daytona to New York on Friday night, July 6, after Winston Cup qualifying for the Pepsi 400 to qualify his BGN car at Watkins Glen on Saturday morning, July 7. After his BGN qualifying run, he will fly back to Daytona, run the Pepsi 400. Then he'll fly back up to Watkins Glen to run the BGN race on Sunday, July 8.(NASCAR.com Buzz). Harvick is going for both the BGN and Cup drivers title, somthing that has never happened in the history of NASCAR(4-26-2001)

  • Three RCR Teams in 2002: Richard Childress Racing will run three Winston Cup teams next season, regardless of what has been heard about sponsor Lowe's and driver Mike Skinner. First of all, both have contracts through 2002, Childress representatives said Friday. Second, Lowe's, which threatened to pull out of the game last September after a very odd sequence of events, has demonstrated renewed enthusiasm, posting its lumber products brand in primary positions on the #31 car. The driver situation remains unclear for 2002, despite the contracts, with many "speculating" that Skinner will be given other work in the RCR organzation. That may or may not be. Regardless, Childress will have the #31 next season, it appears now, and Skinner very well could remain as driver(in part from SpeedVision)(4-21-2001)

  • Harvick to test 'Dega UPDATE: #29-Kevin Harvick will test at Talladega next Tuesday and Wednesday. The April 22nd 500 will be his first (Cup) restrictor plate race for car owner Richard Childress and crew chief Kevin Hamlin(Winston Salem Journal)(4-7/10-2001)
    UPDATE: Close to a dozen teams continued testing at Talladega Superspeedway on Wednesday for the upcoming NASCAR Winston Cup Series Talladega 500, on April 22. On Tuesday at Talladega, 17 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and Busch Series teams turned 900 laps - nearly 2,400 miles - on Alabama's 2.66-mile tri-oval testing for "Track Attack Weekend." Testing were #1-Steve Park, #29-Kevin Harvick, #40-Sterling Marlin, #4-Kevin Lepage, #71-Dave Marcis and #22-Tom Hubert, who was substituting for Ward Burton. "Track Attack Weekend" begins on April 19 with John Deere Qualifying Day for the Busch Series 300 and IROC practice. Advance Auto Parts Qualifying Day for the Talladega 500 is set for April 20. Fans can purchase a commemorative Jeff Gordon Pole Day ticket for $10 good for Friday's activities. On Saturday, April 21, fans can watch the NASCAR Winston Cup Series extended Happy Hour, the True Value IROC XXV and the NASCAR Busch Series 300. The Talladega 500 is Sunday, April 21. Tower seats remain for both days. (tix info at the Talladega Site). No speeds reported.(4-11-2001)

  • Harvick Scheme: #29-Kevin Harvick will run an AOL/Goodwrench painr scheme at the Winston. See a diecast image on my Paint Scheme Gallery(4-6-2001)

  • RCR Doctor: Dr. Jay Golding has worked with Richard Childress Racing since the fall of 1999 and his role continues to evolve. In addition to seeing team members and their families at his practice in Lexington, N.C., he tries to provide some continuity at the track as well. When RCR BGN driver Mike Dillon was involved in a wreck at Bristol, Dr. Golding was there to help when he reached the infield medical center. Golding was able to order the tests he felt Dillon should undergo, allowing him to get in and out of the hospital correctly. And while accidents would seem to be the biggest reason to have a team physician, owner Richard Childress says Golding is invaluable for a number of reasons. "It's good to have someone in an organization like ours who can help you with everything from the flu shots to whatever," Childress said. "He's been a tremendous help. He's been in Daytona with us (when Dale Earnhardt was killed) and I think he helped us all (deal with that). And he can head off a lot of stuff that would cause (crew members) to be out of work." NASCAR does not have a physician that travels the circuit, preferring that local physicians work with the hospitals in that area. Golding says everyone he's encountered has been receptive to his presence and he sees pros and cons to NASCAR having its own doctor.(Winston Cup Scene - need subscription to view online)(4-5-2001)

  • Childress Helps Out: The inaugural Forsyth Tech Race Car Challenge, a unique pit-stop competition scheduled for May 20, 2001, is pleased to announce the addition of several corporate partners that are supporting the Forsyth Tech Community College program. WTQR 104.1 FM based in Winston-Salem will be broadcasting throughout the day from the competition site, which will be in the Hecht Co. parking lot at Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem, NC. The Richard Petty Driving Experience will provide prize packages for challenge winners. Richard Childress Racing will supply the race car, transporter and pit equipment used in the competition. Hauser Rentals of Winston-Salem will provide tents and equipment. By committing to the program, these companies will also be eligible to compete in the Forsyth Tech Race Car Challenge. The challenge will run from 1:00 - 5:00pm/et as each team competes against the others to complete a two-tire pit stop in the fastest time. Winning teams will be awarded prizes donated by challenge partners. In addition to the competition, festivities will include appearances by Winston Cup, Busch, Local and Touring Series show cars; exhibitions by the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Racing All-Star Pit Crew members; displays by Forsyth Tech criminal justice, emergency medical technician (EMT) and heavy equipment and transport vehicle departments and other exhibits and giveaways. The event, sponsored by Forsyth Tech Foundation, is being held to increase awareness of Forsyth Tech Community College and its five program areas: arts and sciences; business information, engineering, and health technologies; and corporate and continuing education. For more information on how to get involved with this exciting event, please contact Beth Westmoreland at The Motorsports Decisions Group at (704) 547-1998 or Dr. Sharon "Shari" Covitz at Forsyth Tech Community College at (336) 734-7520.(4-5-2001)

  • #3 to Return? NASCAR.com Buzz for today reports that Richard Childress said Tuesday that he was unsure about the future of the black No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, as driven by the late Dale Earnhardt. The car, arguably the most beloved number and paint scheme in NASCAR history, won't be run the rest of this year, but Childress hasn't ruled out running it in the future(NASCAR.com)(3-20-2001)

  • Harvick to be Honored: The Coleman Company, Inc., will present a commemorative gold lantern to first-year Cup driver Kevin Harvick, acknowledging his first career Winston Cup win. The presentation will take place in the Darlington Raceway infield, behind the #29 transporter at noon on Friday, March 16th. Coleman created the Coleman(r)Gold Lantern award to recognize NASCAR Winston Cup teams and drivers involved with the Coleman family of licensed products for extraordinary accomplishments throughout their careers. This Gold Lantern recognizes Harvick's thrilling victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 11. Harvick is the fifth Gold Lantern recipient since Coleman began the recognition program in March 2000. Past recipients include:
    Dale Earnhardt Sr. 1st NASCAR Winston Cup Victory as a member of the Coleman family of licensed drivers - Atlanta Motor Speedway, March 2000
    Rusty Wallace 50th Career NASCAR Winston Cup Victory - Bristol Motor Speedway, March 2000
    Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1st Career NASCAR Winston Cup Victory - Texas Motor Speedway, April 2000
    Jeff Gordon 1st NASCAR Winston Cup Victory as a member of the Coleman family of licensed drivers - Talladega Superspeedway, April 2000(GMR Marketing)(3-16-2001)

  • Harvick Tests at Nashville: Kevin Harvick, who won Sunday at Atlanta spent Tuesday at Nashville Superspeedway, practicing for the April 14 Pepsi 300 BGN race. Harvick will continue to run the full BGN schedule as planned, in addition to his recently-acquired Winston Cup duties. Harvick is the first NASCAR driver to test the new 1.3-mile concrete track and.turned straightaway speeds of around 165 mph. ARCA drivers testing at the track last week tested at around 150 mph.(Tennessean)(3-14-2001)

  • Number Game: when was the last time car #29 was in victory lane for a Winston Cup race before Kevin Harvick won at Atlanta on Sunday? 1967, when Dick Hutcherson won at Maryville, TN on July 27, 1967. It was also the 18th time #29 has been to victory lane. See my Win by Numbers page, which includes First Win by a car#, last win by a car # and number of wins by a car#(3-12-2001)

  • The car, the same?? NO Update: many folks are saying the car Harvick won in is not the same one Dale Earnhardt won in last March at Atlanta, some say it was mentioned during the Fox coverage of the race, but I failed to hear it. All I know is what I have been told and seen: on PRN's broadcast of the race, they mentioned it was the same car; on NASCAR.com it says: "Driving the same car that Earnhardt drove to Victory Lane here in a photo finish last year, Harvick fended off a furious last lap charge by Jeff Gordon to win by a mere six thousandths of a second". Other news sites report the same. Other sources say the car was the same one Earnhardt finished 2nd last fall in Atlanta and the car Earnhardt won with at Atlanta last March was raced at Rockingham by Harvick
    UPDATE: I have confirmed thru team sources, that the car that Kevin Harvick won in at Atlanta was NOT the same one Dale Earnhardt won with in March 2000, but the car that Earnhardt ran 2nd with at Atlanta in Nov 2000(3-12-2001)

  • 70th for Childress: Kevin Harvick's win in Atlanta marks Richard Childress' 70th as a car owner(NASCAR.com)(3-12-2001)

  • Hamilin Helps out Harvick: Kevin Hamlin, crew chief for the Winston Cup team(was #3 now #29) of the late Dale Earnhardt, will serve as race-day crew chief for Kevin Harvick during Harvick's Grand National series races this weekend at Atlanta and next weekend at Darlington. Harvick's crew chief in the BGN series, Todd Berrier, was suspended for two races by NASCAR for an oversized fuel cell found in Harvick's #2 AC Delco Chevy last weekend at Las Vegas. Greg Burkhart, who works in engine shop for Harvick's team, and car chief Darin Nestlerode will work on car setup. Harvick took over driving duties for Earnhardt's Winston Cup team two weeks ago at Rockingham, and worked with Hamlin last season during some test sessions with Earnhardt's team(That's Racin')(3-10-2001)

  • Earnhardt #6 on Forbes: Dale Earnhardt, killed two weeks ago in the Daytona 500, came in sixth on the Forbes Magazine's list of the highest paid athletes for the year 2000 with $24.5 million. First was Formula One driving champion Michael Schumacher with $59 million in earnings. the other top five: Tiger Woods(golf), Mike Tyson(boxing), Michael Jordan(retired-NBA) and Grant Hill(NBA)(Richmond Times Dispatch)(3-2-2001)

  • Lap Belt Broken UPDATE 5 another driver hurt?: The lap belt in Dale Earnhardt's #3 Chevy was broken when examined after the Daytona 500 crash that took the seven-time champion's life, NASCAR officials said Friday. NASCAR president Mike Helton said threads on the left side of Earnhardt's lap belt were separated. "We don't know how, when or where, yet. We will continue our investigation," he said. Dr. Steve Bohannon, one of the doctors examining Earnhardt on Sunday, said the broken belt could have caused Earnhardt's body to be thrown forward and to the right, sending him flying into the steering wheel. Bohannon said Earnhardt might have hit his face on the steering wheel, causing the major head injury that killed him. The doctor said he was not sure if the HANS restraint device would have helped prevent the injuries. But, he said, a full-face helmet might have been beneficial. Earnhardt wore an open-face model(That's Racin' and from the AP)
    UPDATE: an updated story at CNN/SI - According to Earnhardt's car owner Richard Childress, who was also present Friday morning, both the car and the seat belt were virtually brand new, built last November. According to Helton and Nelson, as well as officials at the belt company, last Sunday's failure was the first example of any such event in the 52-year history of NASCAR. Both Helton and Nelson refused to offer any ideas whatsoever as to what could possibly cause such an event(can also watch the Press Conferences there via your PC)(CNN/SI)(2-23-2001)
    UPDATE 2: The New York Daily News reports: Dale Earnhardt altered the seat belt in his #3 Chevy during last week's Daytona 500, possibly playing a hand in his death on the final lap of the race. NASCAR officials said yesterday that Earnhardt was found with a broken seat belt after the wreck in which he was killed instantly. However, one source who saw the car after the wreck told the Daily News the seat belt failure was because of alterations to the safety harness ordered by Earnhardt, not because of a design flaw or failure of the mechanism(NY Daily News). Other stories about the belt: Statement from Bill Simpson on Earnhardt's seat belt and Belt theory has some detractors from That's Racin' and from CNN/SI: Defending their belt - Belt manufacturer: NASCAR shifting blame(2-24-2001)
    UPDATE 3: Mike Helton said there was no additional conclusive information about the "separated" seat belt found in Earnhardt's car after the wreck at Daytona. But the issue continues to create speculation around the garage area. Rusty Wallace, one of the drivers who has seen the separated belt and Earnhardt's wrecked car, told reporters that he believes the problem was not in the belt itself but in how it was installed(That's Racin')(2-25-2001)
    UPDATE 4 Lap Belt Inspection: NASCAR officials confirmed Monday they sent Dale Earnhardt's seat belt out for expert analysis to figure out why the belt separated during the Feb 18th Daytona 500. NASCAR will announce the results of the analysis perhaps by week's end, officials said.(That's Racin')(2-27-2001)
    UPDATE 5 David Hutchins, 29, is still recovering from an accident he was in at the Seekonk Speedway on June 17. He believes he was hurt so badly in the accident because his seat belt, made by the same manufacturer(Simpson) as the one Earnhardt used, broke. Hutchins said the seat belt gave way over his left leg, the same place NASCAR officials said Earnhardt's seat belt came apart. As a result, he said, the force from the accident caused him to move forward, trapping him beneath the dash and throwing some of his body into the steering wheel. Brian Cunha and Associates have filed a lawsuit against Simpson Performance Products Inc., the Texas company that makes the seat belts, on Hutchins' behalf. The suit was mailed to the U.S. District Court in Boston on Tuesday. See the full story at the Herald News: Race tragedy might have been avoided AND from the Providence Journal: A safety harness nearly identical to the one that Dale Earnhardt was wearing when he was killed in the Daytona 500 allegedly failed during a collision at Seekonk Speedway last June. The driver in the Seekonk crash, Dave Hutchins, filed a suit Tuesday against the harness manufacturer, claiming that he suffered fractures in both legs because the waist belt's nylon webbing snapped when his car hit the wall at Seekonk Speedway(in Massachusetts a 1/3 mile asphalt track)(3-1-2001)

  • Donation: Van Camp's Beans, which became an associate sponsor of Dale Earnhardt this year, has contributed $10,000 to the Foundation For the Carolinas - Earnhardt Family Fund.(Winston Cup Scene - Need Subscription to see)(3-1-2001)

  • Rookie of the Year: Richard Childress Racing has decided to enter Kevin Harvick in this season's Raybestos rookie of the year program in the Winston Cup series. Harvick, 25, missed the season-opening Daytona 500, but since the program doesn't count a rookie's worst 15 performances, it should not affect his overall result. Harvick becomes the sixth member of the 2001 rookie class. He joines #14-Ron Hornaday, #01-Jason Leffler, #19-Casey Atwood, #96-Andy Houston and #97-Kurt Busch(That's Racin'). See my Rookie of the Year(ROTY) page for info on how the award is calculated and a break down of the standings(2-27-2001)

  • Harvick to get Married: Kevin Harvick is getting married in Las Vegas (not at the track) on Wednesday to DeLana Linville, congrats!(2-27-2001)

  • Retire #3? UPDATE 2: Fox Sports Net National Sports Night reported that NASCAR is considering retiring the #3 of Dale Earnhardt(2-19-2001)
    UPDATE: #3 Team Owner, Richard Childress announced that, with NASCAR's cooperation, the #3 that he owns would be placed on a "one year moratorium" but that a black #3 GM Goodwrench car would never again appear in competition. A NASCAR official said the #3's car owner points from the 2000 season, which are used in the first four races this year to determine provisional starting positions, would transfer to the #29 car. The points Earnhardt earned for RCR in the Daytona 500, where he finished 11th would transfer to the 29 as well(NOL)(2-23-2001)
    UPDATE 2: Richard Childress Racing will not run a #3 race car for the remainder of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and will never again run a #3 black race car. "We're going to put the number "3" under a one-year moratorium and not run the number "3" on anything," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc. "We will never run a black #3 car again. We may run another "3" car again some day because we have 28 years invested in it at RCR but we will never run a black #3 car again. "Junior Johnson made the number "3" famous in his day and Ray Fox made the number famous before that. NASCAR does not retire numbers. They would like to see us keep the number and will work with us to make that happen."(RCR PR)(2-24-2001)

  • Harvick: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and GM Goodwrench Service named BGN driver and 2000 Rookie of the Year, Kevin Harvick, as the fulltime driver for the #29 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet Winston Cup team. Harvick will compete in this weekend's Dura Lube/Kmart 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham. He will also enter Saturday's Alltel 200 Busch Series race, as he will continue to drive the #2 AC Delco Chevrolet in 2001 at all Winston Cup/Busch Series companion events. "Obviously, we did not plan on moving Kevin into the Winston Cup Series so soon," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc. "Kevin was looking forward to running for the Busch Series championship this year but he told me he would do whatever this team needed. Wanting to keep the GM Goodwrench team at the strength that Dale would have wanted, we felt Kevin was our number one choice. Dale had told me that he respected Kevin's driving style. Nobody at RCR feels like racing this weekend but we want to honor Dale's wishes," Childress continued. "Dale and I made a pact years ago that, if something ever happened to the other, we would race the next weekend. I'm dealing with the death of my best friend but I know we have to race this weekend." Although a full-time Winston Cup ride was not in his plans for 2001, Harvick feels he is up to the task. "I never thought I'd move into the Winston Cup Series so soon, much less with the GM Goodwrench team," Harvick said. "The black No. 3 was and always will be Dale's car. I'll never be able to fill Dale's shoes and won't even pretend to try. But Richard told me that he needed me to step up and help the team out and I'm willing to do whatever I can." "From GM Goodwrench Service Plus, we would like to extend our sympathies and condolences to the Earnhardt family, the RCR racing family and the DEI racing family," said Bill Fitzgerald, event marketing manager - GM Service Parts Operations. "Dale was a friend and a family member of the GM Goodwrench Service Plus employees and dealers. He will be sadly missed. But, as we move forward, we are happy to have a person of the quality of Kevin Harvick, who was already a member of our GM family as well as the RCR family, to fill the tragic void. Kevin is an excellent racer and young man with a strong personality who will represent us well." The NASCAR Winston Cup debut of the RCR #30 America Online (AOL) Chevy, originally scheduled for next month at Atlanta Motor Speedway, has been postponed. With Harvick now the fulltime driver of the #29 car in 2001, options are being explored for the debut of the AOL/RCR program. "The plan was for Kevin Harvick to run seven Winston Cup races for AOL this season and then fulltime in 2002," said Childress. "AOL has been wonderful to work with through these trying times and has agreed to let us move Kevin to the GM Goodwrench team. Atlanta was originally scheduled to be our first race with AOL but they have agreed to let us move that date back in order to give us some time to best determine how to move this program forward."(RCR PR)(2-24-2001)

  • Childress to take a lap? UPDATE 2 No: Rumor has it in the garage that Cup team owners (#3 and #'s 29,30,31) Richard Childress could take a lap in the black #3 Chevy at some point this weekend(NASCAR Online Buzz)(2-23-2001)
    UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt's black #3 Chevrolet will make its final lap around the race track before being retired. According to Earnhardt team sponsor and "Realtree Outdoors" owner Bill Jordan, the trademark black car driven by "The Intimidator" will make its final appearance at Rockingham, NC, this weekend. The car will be driven for one final tribute lap around the track prior to Sunday's DuraLube 400. Childress would like to drive the car himself. But if the emotion of driving it becomes too much, he'll have driver Dave Marcis of the Realtree team handle it. Earnhardt's black car color scheme is to be retired after the tribute lap(Charleston Gazette)
    UPDATE 2: it was decided not to run the #3 car on a parade lap around Rockingham as the Earnhardt family didn't feel they were ready to see it on the track so soon(ESPN2's RPM 2Day)(2-25-2001)

  • What happens to the #3 car/team? UPDATE 5 It's #29: RPM 2Night mentioned tonight that there have been reports that #3 Richard Childress Racing team would return to action this weekend at Rockingham with RCR BGN driver Kevin Harvick behind the wheel, but RPM 2Night host John Kernan said he spoke to a RCR Spokesperson who said their plans for this weekend have not been put firm as of yet. Other reports have Harvick in a white #3 and others say they'll retire the #3 and run the #30 with GM Goodwrench as the sponsor. All reports are too soon since the accident and when I hear or see something concrete from RCR, I will report it then(2-20-2001)
    UPDATE: General Motors sources told Autoweek, an industry weekly, that the Chevrolet formerly driven by Dale Earnhardt will be entered in the Dura-Lube 400 at Rockingham as #30, carrying a new paint scheme. According to Chevrolet motorsports officials, Richard Childress has contacted Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Rick Mast about driving the car, which will be painted in a scheme that is almost the reverse of Earnhardt's traditional black-and-silver look. Further speculation holds that Childress will offer the #3 made famous by Earnhardt to Dale Earnhardt Jr. who will decline the offer, and that NASCAR will then retire the number. In other news related to the Earnhardt tragedy, a racing web site, frontstretch.com, is compiling and circulating a petition that calls for NASCAR to allow only 42 cars in the Rockingham race, leaving the pole position vacant in Earnhardt's honor. Winston Cup fields normally consist of 43 cars.(Gaston Gazette)
    also hearing that General Motors will be the sponsor (not GoodWrench) with Harvick driving, but only temporary while another driver is being searched for. Also hearing all 3 DEI cars will be painted black at Rockingham.
    UPDATE 2: ESPN2 and RPM 2Night report that Kevin Harvick will drive the 2nd Richard Childress Racing car at Rockingham and the rest of 2001 season, if so, I would assume that Harvick would run for the Rabestos Winston Cup Rookie of the Year in 2001. Richard Childress Racing will not make an official announcement until after Thursday's memorial service. The AP is reporting: Richard Childress Racing was planning to enter Earnhardt's car in Sunday's Dura-Lube 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham. Kevin Harvick, a Busch Grand National driver for RCR, will take over Earnhardt's car for the rest of the season, a team source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The 25-year-old Harvick, the Busch Series' Rookie of the Year last season, will drive Earnhardt's Chevrolet and use his crew. Kevin Hamlin, Earnhardt's crew chief, will head Harvick's team. The car will not use the #3 or the black-and-silver scheme that was Earnhardt's trademark. Details of the number and colors Harvick will use were still being worked out, the team source said. Harvick was scheduled to move up to Winston Cup racing next season as the third car in Childress' garage. Mike Skinner also drives a Cup car for RCR(Yahoo/AP) and From NOL's Buzz: The car will be white instead of black, and will be #29 instead of #3. It will, however, still carry the GM Goodwrench sponsorship(2-21-2001)
    UPDATE 3: Contrary to rumors, the Dale Earnhardt, Inc., cars will not be painted black for the Rockingham race. A team spokesman said DEI drivers Michael Waltrip, Steve Park and Earnhardt Jr. plan to race with their usual look. Childress plans to put Kevin Harvick with the former #3 team. The team plans to run a mainly white car with the #30, if it is released from its current license holder, AOL. Harvick, who originally planned to run a few Winston Cup races this season, will run the rest of the Cup schedule in the GM Goodwrench-sponsored car. He will run in the Busch Grand National Series when it is paired with a Winston Cup event(Richmond Times Dispacth) AND Harvick will run the remainder of the Winston Cup season with Earnhardt's team. The car number, paint scheme and crew member uniforms will all change. Details of the changes will be announced Friday at a news conference at North Carolina Speedway(That's Racin')(2-22-2001)
    UPDATE 4: from a popup at the GM Goodwrench site: Whether race fans loved Dale Earnhardt or not, all of them ultimately respected him and his driving talent. NASCAR Winston Cup races will continue as scheduled. The #3, licensed by Richard Childress, will be retired for the remainder of the year in Dale's memory. A #29 white Chevrolet Monte Carlo will compete in its place under the GM Goodwrench Service Plus banner. That's the way Dale Earnhardt would have wanted it.(GM Goodwrench Site)
    UPDATE 5: it'll be #29 and White, see an image of the car at NASCAR Online. Harvick will drive in both CUP and BGN unless there is a conflict in the schedule, another driver yet to be decided on. The #30 AOL sponsored Chevy that Harvick was to drive in seven Cup races will be filled by a driver to be named. Also see two images of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery, thanks to TachZone for the images(2-23-2001)

  • Earnahrdt Killed UPDATE 2 - AUTOPSY: Seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, 49, was killed in a last-lap wreck involving Ken Schrader on the backstretch while a car that he owned, driven by Michael Waltrip, won the race. He was pronounced dead at Halaifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach. See my Dale Earnhardt Tribute page with the news, some images, and many story/column links
    UPDATE AUTOPSY: An autopsy on race car legend Dale Earnhardt conducted Monday morning revealed he died of blunt force trauma to the head, county officials said. Dave Byron of the Volusia County Communication Division said Earnhardt's death was being treated as a "motor vehicle accident." Byron said toxicology was not expected to be involved.(CNN/SI)(2-19-2001)
    UPDATE 2: more results from the Autopsy - Monday, Earnhardt's body was taken to the medical examiner's office for a routine autopsy after he was pronounced dead at the hospital. His personal belongings - a pair of black socks, a racing suit, black gloves, his helmet, underwear and racing boots - were returned to his wife, Teresa. The report showed that when his race car smashed into a concrete wall at an estimated 180 mph, it broke eight ribs, his left ankle and his breastbone. There were several scrapes on his body. He had blood in his ears and chest and partially collapsed lungs(That's Racin') and Earnhardt had a skull fracture that ran from the front to the back of his head, according to the autopsy. The impact also fractured his sternum, eight ribs on the left side and his left ankle. The report said there was a blow to the back of the head, but did not indicate any broken neck vertebrae. The final autopsy report will not be available for several weeks, pending the completion of routine blood and toxicology tests. Earnhardt's body was released to the family on Monday afternoon after going to a local funeral home(AJC)(2-20-2001)

  • SAD NEWS - Dale Earnhardt Dies at Daytona: from the AP/MSNBC - Seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt died from injuries suffered in a crash on the final lap of Daytona 500 on Sunday. He was 49.
    from That's Racin': Seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, 49, was killed in a last-lap wreck involving Ken Schrader on the backstretch while a car that he owned, driven by Michael Waltrip, won the race. He was pronounced dead at Halaifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Fla. Waltrip's win was his first in 463 Winston Cup starts. Dale Earnhardt Jr.finished second. And see a story at: NASCAR Online - The announcement was made at 7:00pm/et by NASCAR President Mike Helton.
    full stories at That's Racin' and SpeedVision.
    Earnhardt is survived by his wife, Teresa; two sons, Dale Jr. and Kerry, and two daughters, Kelly and Taylor Nicole.
    Condolences go out to Earnhardt's family, friends and fans(2-18-2001)

  • The initial Reports of the accident: from NASCAR Online - Dale Earnhardt reportedly was unconscious when he was cut from his #3 Chevy after an accident in the Daytona 500 with less than two laps remaining. He was immediately transported to Halifax, less than one-mile from the speedway. There was no official update on Earnhardt's condition at 5:15pm/et, otherwise, no word on Dale Earnahrdt's condition, will post if/when I hear something(2-18-2001 - 5:50pm/et)
    UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt was taken to the hospital after a crash Sunday on the final lap of Daytona 500 and believed to be badly hurt. "It's serious," said NASCAR spokeswoman Danielle Humphrey, who had no further details on the condition of the 49-year-old driver.(That's Racin'/AP)(2-18-2001 - 6:35pm/et)

  • New Sponsor for the #3: Earnhardt, team owner Richard Childress and representatives from Sonic made it official today when they affixed the Sonic logo to the lower rear quarter panel of the #3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevy. The three-year agreement will position Sonic as a major associate sponsor of the team and marks the company's most significant sponsorship in its 48-year history. Sonic, which specializes in made-to-order fast food, is known for its specialty menu items and quality customer service. One of Sonic's unique characteristics is the Carhop, a member of the Sonic crew who delivers food directly to customers' cars.(RCR PR)(2-15-2001)

  • Earnhardt back to the Rolex 24? Dale Earnhardt expects to compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona again in 2002. He also thinks many more of Winston Cup colleagues to be present. Earnhardt teamed with three other drivers(including his son, Dale Jr) to bring a Chevrolet Corvette home fourth in the Feb. 3-4 race(Gaston Gazette)(2-15-2001)

  • RCR Crewman Ill: Mike Hawkins, an engine man with Richard Childress Racing, will be flown home today to be treated for kidney stones. The team hopes Hawkins can return for Sunday's Daytona 500(Speed Magazine)(2-12-2001)

  • #3 Sponsor: Nabisco's Oreo brand is now an associate sponsor of Dale Earnhardt's #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevy. The Oreo logo will be featured in a special paint scheme Earnhardt will run in the Budweiser Shootout and the Oreo logo will be featured on team uniforms and the team's transporter throughout the season(Winston Cup Scene - sub needed), see images of the car on my Paint Scheme Gallery(2-8-2001)

  • Petty and RCR Settle: Petty Enterprises has reached agreement with Richard Childress Racing to buy out the contract of a former RCR employee. The fabricator, Ricky Johnson, had been an RCR employee since May 1999. He signed a contract in February 2000 and resigned Oct. 6, 2000.(That's Racin')(2-9-2001)

  • Former World Champ Visits: Phil Hill, the 1961 Formula One World Champion, got a first-hand look at NASCAR racing when toured the Richard Childress Racing complex on Monday. Hill, the first American to win the F1 World Championship (the second being Mario Andretti in 1978), is North Carolina on assignment for Road & Track. He will be climbing behind the wheel of a #3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevy on Tuesday at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway(bring it back....) to do a then-and-now track comparison with Junior Johnson and his 1963 #3 Chevy Impala(RCR Racing PR)(2-6-2001)

  • Not a Joke: a few days ago it was reported in many stories about Dale Earnhardt Jr saying he dreamed he would win the 2001 Daytona 500 that his father Dale, recently had a piece of metal removed from his head, ya know, the Ironhead nickname, many took it as a joke(me included), but from a story in today's Tennessean: During a recent checkup, Earnhardt's doctor discovered a piece of iron lodged in his head. "I wasn't even aware of it until a lump came up," Earnhardt said. "The doctor cut it out and I'm fine now."(Tennessean)(1-12-2001)

  • Earnhardt/Park News: Dale Earnhardt, scheduled to attend Chevrolet's mid-afternoon news conference Friday at Daytona International Speedway, instead stayed away with a virus that has been dogging him all week. Dale Earnhardt Jr. said his father was seeking help from local sports physician Michael Fulton. AND: Steve Park has joined his car owner, Dale Earnhardt, and the other NASCAR stars here for the sportscar testing at DIS, possibly looking to compete in a Rolex 24 support race. Park is testing in a Corvette, this one entered by MTI Racing, which is vying for Motorola Cup honors awarded on the Friday before the Rolex 24 at Daytona(Speed Magazine)(1-6-2001)

  • Earnharts to test at Daytona - for the 24 hours: Grand American Road Racing Association competitors will begin an extensive three-day test session today at Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the Rolex 24. Grand Am officials expect at least 60 sports cars for this last shakedown run before the twice-around-the-clock endurance race begins Feb. 3. The grandstand area behind Daytona USA will be open for spectators. There's no admission to watch the test session. Among those expected to shake off some of the winter racing rust are Grand Am rookies Dale Earnhardt and his son Dale Jr., who will be wheeling a front line Corvette C5-R with teammate Andy Pilgrim, a veteran road racer. The three-day session includes a unique night driving session from 6:00 - 8:00pm/et Friday. (Speed Magazine)(1-4-2001)

2000 News

  • Oreo Car? hearing that Dale Earnhardt will run an Oreo(cookie) scheme in the Daytona BGN race(10-16-2000)
    UPDATE: hearing now it will be for the Bud Shootout, or actually the qualifying race since Earnhardt has not qualified for the Bud Shootout....yet, but has qualified for the Bud Shootout Qualifier, the race for fastest 2nd round qualifiers(10-22-2000)
    UPDATE 2: well that all changed with the new Budweiser Shootout format and Earnhardt is in the race as a past winner and see an image of the Oreo scheme in my Paint Scheme Gallery(12-14-2000)

  • Earnhardt a baseball team owner: In honor of #3 driver Dale Earnhardt joining its ownership group, the Piedmont Boll Weevils minor league baseball team has changed its name to the Kannapolis Intimidators. Team officials announced Tuesday that Earnhardt, current Piedmont owner and chairman Larry Hedrick, and Speedway Motorsports Bruton Smith will join to form Carolina Baseball Inc., pending approval of baseball regulators(AP/Total Sports)(11-22-2000)

  • Hershey and Earnhardt: Hershey Food Corporation has joined RCR and driver Dale Earnhardt as an associate sponsor on the #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy in 2001. The Hershey's Racing program entitled "A Sweet Deal from Dale," which allows fans to collect proofs-of-purchase from select Hershey's products and redeem them for popular Earnhardt merchandise throughout 2001(NOL)(11-18-2000)

  • Oreo Car? hearing that Dale Earnhardt will run an Oreo(cookie) scheme in the Daytona BGN race(10-16-2000)
    UPDATE: hearing now it will be for the Bud Shootout, or actually the qualifying race since Earnhardt has not qualified for the Bud Shootout....yet, but has qualified for the Bud Shootout Qualifier, the race for fastest 2nd round qualifiers(10-22-2000)

  • DEI Announcement UPDATE 2: there will be a 'special' announcement at Dale Earnhardt Inc(DEI) on Tuesday, Oct 17th at 9:30am/et(RP), have not heard what it is for sure, two rumor's I have heard: the third DEI team running one or two races this year(see Waltrip story below), the other is Dale Sr running an Oreo scheme in the Daytona BGN race, but it seems kind of early for an announcement concerning Daytona(10-16-2000)
    UPDATE: have heard noting official yet, but am hearing the announcement was that Dale 'Sr' and Dale Jr are going to run the 24 Hours of Daytona together and they unveiled the car, a Corvette that they are racing there
    UPDATE 2: Road racing veteran Andy Pilgrim has a couple of new teammates for the 2001 version of the Rolex 24 at Daytona - Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The announcement was made today at DEI's shop on the Earnhardt farm south of Mooresville, N.C.(SpeedVision), see an image of the car at the Chevy Site(10-17-2000)

  • Monster Truck Race UPDATE 3 Hamlin Status: Tony Stewart and Kevin Hamlin will race in the Monster Truck race at Talladega Superspeedway Saturday night along with Jimmy Spencer and Elliott Sadler(Talladega Superspeedway site)(10-11-2000)
    UPDATE: see how the Cup drivers did in their match races and some comments at the TSS Site: Bigfoot Wins, Tonka Takes Championship in ProMT Series At Talladega - NASCAR Winston Cup Drivers Mix It Up In Monster Trucks; and from the Anniston Star: Cup stars, Monster trucks put on good show(10-15-2000)
    UPDATE 2: Kevin Hamlin planned on running a Monster Truck in the Talladega infield Saturday night. What he didn't plan on was having a wreck. Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt's crew chief, suffered a compression fracture of the fifth vertebra in an incident. He was, however, on hand in a somewhat handicapped state to direct Earnhardt's efforts from pit road Sunday(Gaston Gazette)
    UPDATE 3: After celebrating in a come from behind victory on Sunday, crew chief of the #3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus team and driver Dale Earnhardt, Kevin Hamlin made his gingerly way home Sunday night. Hamlin as reported on Sunday, suffered injuries while competing in a Monster Truck event at Talladega on Saturday night. Although experience discomforting he was still able to make the calls from the pits in Sunday's victory. On Monday, Hamlin visited Dr. Charles Branch, M.D., Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Dr. Branch diagnosed Hamlin with two compressed fractured vertebras, the 5th and 7th, and one fractured rib. Dr. Branch ordered Hamlin to get plenty of rest for the next 48 hours and to wear a brace to support his injuries. Hamlin will be at Rockingham this weekend and is expected to have a full recovery. Dr. Charles Branch is the same Doctor who performed surgery on Dale Earnhardt over the winter to repair a ruptured disc in the seven-time champion's spine(Champion Sports Group PR)(10-16-2000)

  • Richard Childress Venture: Richard Childress has formed a partnership with machine tool maker Okuma. They are building a racing parts manufacturing facility at the Childress complex in Welcome. The building is under construction. Childress said the first parts produced by the facility should be available for use in the Daytona 500(High Point Enterprise)(10-6-2000)

  • Huh? Dale Earnhardt Jr. denied speculation that he will let his father drive his car at Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte in the next race as a last-ditch effort to win the Winston Cup championship. At Charlotte last May, Dale Jr. had a dominant Chevrolet --- winning The Winston all-star exhibition and dominating the Coca-Cola 600 before mechanical problems late in the race. "That's just rumors. . . . That would be a big slap in the face to the guys who work on his car, so he surely wouldn't want to do that," Dale Jr. said. "He has got a lot of confidence in his (team). There is no reason for him to throw everything away on some foolish move like that."(by switching cars, it is meant that Dale Sr would use a DEI car painted up in GM Goodwrench colors and have the #3 on it)(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(10-2-2000)

  • Father and two sons REPOST and History: if Kerry Earnhardt makes the starting field for the Pepsi 400 at Michigan it would be the 2nd time a father raced against his two sons in NASCAR's premier series. On August 3rd, 1960 at Birmingham, AL, #42-Lee Petty raced his sons #43-Richard and #44-Maurice. Richard was 2nd, Lee was 3rd and Maurice was 8th in a 50 mile event with 16 cars starting(Forty Years of Stock Car Racing by Greg Fielden and some research by...)(7-28/8-16-2000)
  • TV and Earnhardts: Earnhardts Sr. and Jr. Featured on ESPN's "Outside the Lines". Dale Earnhardts Sr. and Jr. will be featured on the Emmy-winning show, "Outside the Lines", on Tuesday, July 18, at 7:00pm/et on ESPN.(yep same time as RPM 2Night on ESPN2). The theme of the show is "All in the Family: Conflicts and Competition."(7-18-2000)

  • Chocolate Snake Bit: Danny "Chocolate" Myers, famous gas man for the #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet, celebrated July 4th with a big bang. Or should that be a big fang? While enjoying a rare off-day from racing, Myers, 51, was working in the back yard of his home building a flower garden for his wife Caron, when he reached down into a weeded area where a small Copperhead bit into his hand. "I pulled my hand back and there were these two marks, fang marks, with blood dripping out of the wounds," Myers recalled. "I didn't think much about it. Just wiped the blood off my hand and kept on working." His frantic wife pleaded with him to go to the local hospital, but Myers, a "strong, pig-headed tough-guy", according to his wife, refused treatment. "That day he got sicker and sicker," said Caron Myers, "and by that evening, he was really sick - vomiting, having bad headaches and his throat was tight and closing." Finally, the following morning, he sought medical attention, visiting the local Lexington hospital. However, after sitting for three hours without being treated, he left. "As I always say, 'Life is a Pitstop', and those people at the hospital were apparently not going fast enough to suit him," Caron said. She insisted he go on to their family physician, which was by all counts a good thing he did. "By the time he got there he was having such a hard time breathing that the doctor wanted to hospitalize him. Of course, Choc said he couldn't be put in the hospital. He'd miss the race this weekend," said Caron, rolling her eyes. Myers, indeed had suffered the ill-effects of Copperhead venom. "He was just lucky he was a big man," said his physician, Terry Arnold. "It'll take him a several days to get this out of his system, but he should be okay." "I guess my 'honey do' list will be shorter from now on," Myers laughed(Lazarus Productions)(7-9-2000)

  • Celebrity Deathmatch Results: Just in case you missed it, Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon were paired up in Thursday night's episode of MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch, in which Claymation® caricatures of famous people are pitted against each other in what are normally very gory wrestling matches(SpeedVision)(7-7-2000)

  • Hamlin to race: Kevin Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt's crew chief, started his racing career on a drag strip rather than a NASCAR oval. The Michigan native will return to the quartermile Thursday(July 6th) at Bristol(TN) Dragway when he slides behind the wheel of an NHRA Pro Stock Truck entry for three exhibition runs. It's part of the Fan Appreciation program which kicks off the Winston Showdown weekend(Kingsport Times News)(7-1-2000)

  • Earnhardt Fan Retires from Navy: Arnold Bush, Electronics Technician First Class, United States Navy is retiring after 20 years of service in the United States Navy. Mr. Bush will be presented with a US Flag signifying the end of his Naval career. Typically, retirement flags are flown at a location of the retiree's choice such as the Capitol Building or the White House, but Mr. Bush has requested his retirement flag be flown from the top of the GM Goodwrench Service Plus transporter at Daytona International Speedway. This weekend Mr. Bush's request will be honored during the Independence Day celebration as his retirement flag will wave proudly atop the RCR teams transporter in the garage area of Daytona International Speedway(PR)(6-28-2000)

  • 75 win #3 Platinum car: many diecast sites are listing a #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy diecast made of platinum celebrating Dale Earnhardt's 75th win at Atlanta this past March. No idea if the car will be run in a race or if it's just a diecast. See these sites on my Collectible/Racing Apparel Links Page(6-22-2000)
    UPDATE: being told the scheme will not run on the track, just a diecast special(6-23-2000)

  • Another Earnhardt Wins: Kerry Earnhardt, Dale's oldest sone, and Dale Jr's half brother(see Augusta Chronicle Story), won the ARCA race at Pocono. The #2 DEI Chevy was pitted by the #1 Pennzoil Winston Cup crew. See the results on the ARCA Racing site(6-17-2000)

  • Earnhardt Tops at 10's: #3-Dale Earnhardt scored his 11th top-10 finish in 14 Cup races this season, the only driver to do so(6-11-2000)

  • #3 Fined: #3 RCR crew chief Kevin Hamlin was fined $2,000 by NASCAR officials Thursday for rules violations discovered in inspection prior to last Sunday's Cup race at the California Speedway. Hamlin was penalized under Section 12-4-Q in the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book: "Any determination by NASCAR Officials that parts and/or equipment used in the Event do not conform ... or have not been approved by NASCAR ..." Apparently, for the second straight race, the #3 Chevy's rear bodywork around the bumper area was not dimensionally correct according to NASCAR's body templates(SpeedVision and (NOL and That's Racin')(5-4-2000)

  • Slow Down at 'Dega UPDATE 2: Richard Childress and Jack Roush have prepared cars for a special test here Monday in an effort to slow Winston Cup cars down enough so they won't need a carburetor restrictor plate. Nelson said teams came to him with some ideas, and he decided to try them out on the race track. One of the ideas is a bigger "greenhouse," the size and shape of the rear window area(Total Sports). Ned Jarrett's idea is to stand the windshield up, like the trucks, that'll slow them down(4-15-2000)
    UPDATE: NASCAR has closed the test to the media except for long-distance photography, and there are indications that NASCAR officials aren't very enthusiastic about the test(PitNow)
    UPDATE 2: On RPM2Nite the two cars being tested were shown. The #6 Ford was driven by Matt Kanseth and had some sheet metal modifications done around the nose and hood. The #3 Chevy was driven by Dave Marcis and supposedly had a raised roof(by one inch) and widened by 2 inches. Also it was speculated on the show the the windshield was being tested at different angles. The cars with present restrictor plates and modifications were slowed down by 3 seconds. Using a larger restrictor plate (unknown size) the 3 seconds were regained. More testing will be done on Tuesday(RPM2Nite)(4-17-2000)

  • Earnhardt to give Tickets: Dale Earnhardt will join Alabama State Troopers in issuing tickets to law-abiding drivers during a Thursday freeway patrol. Earnhardt will not be handing out speeding citations, but rather tickets to the April 16 DieHard 500 NASCAR Winston Cup series race at Talladega Superspeedway. In addition to promoting the upcoming races at Talladega Superspeedway, the freeway ticket giveaway is also designed to help the Alabama State Troopers bring awareness to highway safety. By rewarding responsible drivers, the Troopers hope motorists will see the benefits that come with obeying traffic regulations(Talladega Super Speedway Site)(3-30-2000)

  • Earnhardt's 75th win: Dale Earnhardt's win at Atlanta was his 9th, which ties Atlanta for most wins at a track for Earnhardt along with 9 wins at Bristol and Darlington(3-13-2000)

  • new race record: when #3-Dale Earnhardt won the race from 35th starting spot, he broke his own record for the track. In the spring of 1980, Earnhardt started 31st and won. The overall record was 37th by Bobby Labonte in the Nov. 1999 race(3-12-2000)

  • Earnhardts CORRECTION: Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. with their respective eighth- and 10th-place finishes last weekend at Las Vegas, became the first father and son to post top-10 finishes in the same race since Bobby and Davey Allison finished in the top-10 at Dover in June 1988(That's Racin')(3-11-2000) CORRECTION: actually a few readers pointed out that the Earnhardt's did this last September at Richmond, with Earnhardt finishing 6th and 'Little E' finishing 10th(3-12-2000)

  • Earnhardt/Gordon on Forbes: Forbes Magazine (3-20-00) issue has listed Dale Earnhardt on its Power 100 list of the top 100 most powerful celebrities and athletes. For its second annual ranking of 100 highly paid celebrities, FORBES quantifies stardom by adding up a year's worth of earnings, media glare and, of course, Internet attention. Earnhardt ranked 36th on the FORBES Power list with an estimated 26.5 million in earnings, 29,754 web hits, 11,537 press clippings. He is ranked 39th on the money ranking. Earnhardt has made the POWER list in both years of its existences(Champion PR). Something I overlooked was that Jeff Gordon is also on the list, ranked 47th on the FORBES Power list with an estimated 17.0 million in earnings, 29,364 web hits, 13,649 press clippings. He is ranked 54th on the money ranking(3-9-2000)

  • Earnhardt Paint UPDATE 3 the real car: General Motors, Richard Childress Racing, Action Performance Companies Inc., and renowned pop artist Peter Max will hold a special press conference and race car unveiling event to be held during the Grand Opening festivities of the new NASCAR Cafe in Las Vegas on March 2nd at 7:15pm/pt. Max has designed a special paint scheme for the #3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by legendary seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt(Yahoo Biz) -- UPDATE: the car will be run at The Winston and be called the Millenium Car(2-28-2000) -- UPDATE 2: the official announcement is not until tonight but a reader sent a diecast image of the car, supposedly the one, it's pretty colorful, see my Paint Schemes Gallery for the image(3-2-2000) -- UPDATE 3: Earnhardt will run the scheme in The Winston and the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowes Motor Speedway. Also got a 'real' image of the car in my Paint Schemes Gallery(3-3-2000)

  • Sat AM Practice wreck: During practice, Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon, tangled on the track, causing slight damage to both cars. Earnhardt's car had some damage to the nose. Gordon scratched the wall. Both cars were to be repaired(SpeedVision)(3-4-2000)

  • ESPY's: Dale Earnhardt won the ESPY decade award for Auto Racing and Dale Jarrett won the ESPY for best performance in the 1999 Auto Racing season(2-15-2000)

  • RCR/Earnhardt/Bass Reup: Richard Childress Racing picked up some additional financial support Friday, renewing their associate sponsorship with Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats. Company and team officials announced the renewal Friday, extending their backing of RCR and Dale Earnhardt for a third year.(goRacing)(2-11-2000)

  • RCR/Earnhardt Re-Up: GM Goodwrench Service Plus, Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt have been one of the most successful combinations in NASCAR over the last decade and today they announced the extension of their relationship through the 2003 NASCAR season. Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress started their relationship in 1981 with a brief stint of 11 races. They rejoined in 1984 and never looked back. Together the two have achieved legendary success as car owner and driver winning six NASCAR Winston Cup championships and 67 Winston Cup races. This newest contract extension puts the championship duo together for a 20-year period dating back to the 1984 season. GM Goodwrench Service Plus began its relationship as an associate sponsor in 1985 winning two championships in 1986 and '87. In 1988 the colors changed to that of the now infamous black #3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet. As the relationship blossomed so did the success winning four out of five championships from 1990 to 1994, and putting GM Goodwrench in the record books as Earnhardt accomplished a record tying seven championships. Earnhardt does NOT plan on retiring in 2003 and would like to drive for maybe five or six years(Champion Sports Group)(2-10-2000)

  • Earnhardt's Up Close Interview UPDATE 2: ESPN'S UpClose interview with the Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jr was aired on Wednesday, Feb 2nd, if you missed it, you can see it via Real Audio online at The ESPN NASCAR section(2-3-2000)

  • Earnhardt, miss the 500? the Ledger from Lakeland, FL reports: "Although he believes his driver "should be OK," Richard Childress said Tuesday he isn't absolutely certain Dale Earnhardt will be able to compete in the Daytona 500. And that Childress said Earnhardt is improving and is about 80%(The Ledger). My bet is that DE Sr will run the Daytona 500. And a PitNow story says Earnhardt expects to test at Las Vegas on Feb 1st(1-20-2000)

  • Sauter to test the #3: Jim Sauter(Jay's Dad) will test the #3 Chevy next week at Daytona when the teams that will race the new 2000 Monte Carlos test(That's Racin')(1-14-2000)

  • Snap-On News: I hear Snap-On Tools announced at their annual kick-off that they will be associate sponsors for Rusty Wallace, Jeremy Mayfield, Mike Skinner, Bill Elliot, and current teams of Dale Earnhardt Sr & Jr and Steve Park(1-11-2000)

  • Earnhardt Signs Stolen: Saw this in the Saturday Press of Atlantic City and thought it was interesting: Father-and-son racing legends Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are held in such high esteem in Randolph County that signs along a road bearing their name disappear with maddening regularity. The funny part is that Earnhardt Road in this Randolph County hamlet isn't named for the racing Earnhardts, but for a local builder, Lawrence Earnhardt, who still lives on Earnhardt Road. The green and white signs along Earnhardt Road are the most frequently stolen road signs in the county. It is estimated that in 10 years, about 25 signs have been taken. It is estimated that it costs $100 to replace each sign, including labor. If sign-swipers also take the post, costs can run up to $150(also found it online at Total Sports)(1-9-2000)

  • Earnhardt Surgery: Dale Earnhardt's back surgery apparently was not as serious as Mark Martin's and Associates say Earnhardt is up and about and was on his way to the BGN banquet in Hollywood as of Wednesday morning. See full story at:(SpeedVision)(1-5-2000)

1999 and before News

  • RCR News: Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc. (RCR), has hired David Hart to the newly created position of director of communications(PR)(12-29-1999)

  • Earnhardt Surgery UPDATE: The John Boy and Billy radio show reported this AM that Dale Earnhardt had back surgery this AM and will be out of action for six week but will be ready for Speedweeks. From what I hear is there will be a six week recoup and the doctor said that things couldn't have gone any better. They are also taking cards at the DEI shop(address on my Team Address page) Earnhardt had the surgery at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, in Winston-Salem, N.C., to repair a ruptured disc in his spinal column. The operation came as a surprise to many, even within the Earnhardt organization. See the stories at NOL: Earnhardt's back surgery a success and Racer Magazine: Earnhardt Undergoes Back Surgery(12-17-1999) -- UPDATE: Earnhardt was released from the hospital Friday evening and went home to begin his recovery process(That's Racin')(12-18-1999)

  • Earnhardt/Childress: #3(and #31) Car owner Richard Childress said he and driver Dale Earnhardt should be ready to announce a contract extension within the next month. The deal will keep Earnhardt with Childress through 2003(News and Observer)(12-3-1999)

  • Earnhardt and Food: Famous Fixins, Inc., a leading producer of athlete and celebrity-licensed food, candy and promotional products, today announced that it has reached an agreement with all-time NASCAR racing great Dale Earnhardt and The Henry Licensing Group, to produce a new beef jerky product bearing his name(Business Wire/Catchfence)(11-17-1999)

  • Earnhardt/Childress: Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress said once again after Sunday's victory in the Winston 500 that they are close to signing an extension of their contract that now runs through the end of the 2000 season. Childress said he and Earnhardt want to retire together. Earnhardt said he wishes that Childress wouldn't even talk about retirement. Nor, for that matter, does he want to hear it from anybody else(That's Racin')(10-19-1999)

  • Winston 500 Earnhardt Stuff: Dale Earnhardt's win was the farthest any driver has ever started at Talladega(27th) an won. It is the 5th time a driver has won both Talladega races in the same season and Earnhardt is the only driver to do it twice(also in 1990). Others: 1982-Darrell Waltrip; 1975-Buddy Baker; and 1970-Pete Hamilton(10-17-1999)

  • Worst to First: Dale Earnhardt's win at Bristol was the lowest starting position(26th) to win at Bristol in it's history(8-29-1999)

  • Earnhardt Close: Dale Earnhardt, the seven-time Winston Cup champion who makes his 600th consecutive start Sunday on the road course at Watkins Glen, N.Y., has no plans to retire anytime soon. Earnhardt says he and owner Richard Childress are working out the details of a three-year contract that would keep him in the familiar No. 3 car at least through 2003(USA Today)(8-13-1999)

  • Earnhardt UPDATE an image: not 'real' news but considering all the email I got when Terry Labonte saved his.....Dale Earnhardt shaved his moustache --- first time he's been without since 1982 --- he did it because it was interfering with his snorkeling and face mask down in the Bahama's during vacation. I cannot even imagine what he looks like without it -- UPDATE: at the ESPN site an AP story and an image: New-look Earnhardt prepares for historic IROC sweep(8-4-1999)

  • The 'stache: Dale Earnhardt immediately began growing back the mustache he shaved last week, and with good reason. The last year Earnhardt ran without a mustache, 1982, he recorded 18 DNFs and blew 15 engines(many sources and stories)(8-6-1999)

  • #600: Dale Earnhardt is scheduled to make history at Watkins Glen on August 15th when he is scheduled to make his 600th consecutive career start(Watkins Glen PR)(8-6-1999)

  • Earnhardt Paint Scheme UPDATE have Images: Motorsports Direct is listing a diecast car called the "GM Sign Car" in which it says Earnhardt will begin running his new paint scheme at the Brickyard 400 -- UPDATE: NOL has a story posted on this: the hood of the No. 3 Chevrolet will be a replica of the GM Goodwrench Service Plus sign that appears as it does at the local dealerships across the United States. See full stoy at: Earnhardt to sport new look at Indy(8-1-1999) -- IMAGES: added three images of the car to the Paint Scheme Gallery(need Java enabled to view)(8-4-1999)

  • Earnhardt Paint Scheme UPDATE: Motorsports Direct is listing a diecast car called the "GM Sign Car" in which it says Earnhardt will begin running his new paint scheme at the Brickyard 400 -- UPDATE: NOL has a story posted on this: the hood of the No. 3 Chevrolet will be a replica of the GM Goodwrench Service Plus sign that appears as it does at the local dealerships across the United States. See full stoy at: Earnhardt to sport new look at Indy(8-1-1999)

  • RCR/Earnhardt: #3 team owner Richard Childress says he continues to talk to Dale Earnhardt about extending the driver's contract through 2003. Earnhardt's contract ends after the 2000 season. Childress says he will announce his plans in regards to a BGN team later this season(News and Record)(7-24-1999)

  • Earnhardt UPDATE: If Dale Earnhardt qualifies in the the top 10 at Daytona, it would be the 12th straight Daytona race in which he has started 10th or better, a streak that dates back to 1994(That's Racin'/Random Thoughts)(6-30-1999) -- UPDATE: Earnhardt did it, qualified 10th(7-2-1999)

  • RAD News: Only days after NASCAR approved the Winston Cup version of the 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo team at Dale Earnhardt Inc along with two other RAD teams are working on a test car. RAD - the aerodynamics alliance of Richard Childress Racing, Andy Petree Racing and DEI - plan to model the cars it builds based on the information gathered by the test car(Pennzoil PR)(6-14-1999)

  • Childress 3rd Cup Team? If Richard Childress, owner of the #3 and #31 Cup teams, adds a third Cup team, Wally Dallenbach is one of the drivers under consideration(PitNow), Dallenbach's contract with Hendrick is up at the end of 1999 as is Budweiser, the sponsor of the #25 Chevy Dallenbach drives.(PitNow)(6-7-1999)

  • More Childress BGN stuff: #98 Porter Cable Truck driver, Kevin Harvick, is among the list of drivers for Childress' new BGN Team. Supposedly AC Delco is one possible sponsor(PitNow)(6-7-1999)

  • Earnhardt/Childress: as reported a few times in recent weeks: Dale Earnhardt appears to be close to agreement on a new contract with and Richard Childress Racing that would keep him driving for the team(#3) through 2003(6-4-1999)

  • Childress: in part from PitNow, in a story linked below - Richard Childress is trying to decide what to do with his Truck team. It may a Busch or Cup team. The travel of the Truck series is making it very expensive to run a CTS team. The sponsorship for a possible third Winston Cup team isn't an issue and has offers on the table(6-4-1999)

  • RAD: The aerodynamic alliance of Richard Childress Racing(#'s 3 and 31), Andy Petree Racing(#'s 33 and 55) and Dale Earnhardt Inc.(#'s 1 and 8) - (RAD) placed all six of its Winston Cup teams in the top 15 in qualifying at Charlotte on Wednesday. Four cars occupied the top eight spots. Since its inception in December, RAD has concentrated on the 1999 Monte Carlo, but when its introduction was delayed until 2000, RAD turned its attention to the current Monte Carlos seeking improvement at high downforce tracks like Charlotte. RAD Aero Engineer Louis Duncan said Charlotte is the first test of the technology developed through computer simulations, wind tunnel work, track testing and a great deal of tweaking. Duncan has a long history in racing. His most recent assignment was providing aerodynamic support to the Ford Motor Company stock car programs. Duncan and his son Brad now work exclusively with RAD(Pennzoil PR)(5-28-1999)

  • Earnhardt NO Retirement: Dale Earnhardt and team owner Richard Childress already has begun discussions about keeping the team together, including primary sponsor GM Goodwrench Service, through the 2003 Winston Cup season, their current contract expires after next season(2000)(AP/WRAL)(5-22-1999)

  • Crew Chief: An honorary crew position on Dale Earnhardt's team brought in more than $4,600 in the annual Race Fever auction, which benefits the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Talladega. That was the top bid in the auction, which this year raised more than $200,000(Alabama Online)(4-28-1999)

  • Earnhardt, new car and movie UPDATE 1: Dale Earnhardt will have a new Monte Carlo(no not the 2000 model, a recently built new present model). The car is the first car Richard Childress Racing has built with RAD engineer Louis Duncan. RAD stands for Richard (Childress), Andy (Petree) & Dale (Earnhardt). The project is a union between the three-team owners joining their engineering and aerodynamic programs. Earnhardt flew to California after the Talladega race to prepare for his cameo role in an upcoming Warner Brothers movie. See the TNN site for more info -- The movie is the next Flintstones movie(4-27-1999)

  • Earnhardt Paint UPDATE 2: Dale Earnhardt was supposed to run a "Taz" paint scheme for the Winston Select... That Car has been canceled......Due to the postponement of the introduction of the 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo..(The "Taz" Devil is a licensed trademark of Chevrolet) apparently Chevrolet had a big promotion planned with the "Taz" Devil & the New 2000 Monte Carlo .... A new paint scheme will be announced on 4/11/99(StockCarFans Newsletter) -- UPDATE: I hear it will be a Wrangler Paint Scheme(4-2-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Dale Earnhardt's #3 Chevrolet will be painted in the blue and yellow colors he used from 1981 to 1987 when Wrangler was his primary sponsor. Wrangler is now the associate sponsor for the Dale Earnhardt Inc.-owned #1 Pennzoil Chevy driven by Steve Park(That's Racin')(4-24-1999)

  • Long/Childress? UPDATE: Jim Long, the crew chief for the Geoff Bodine-Joe Bessey #60 Power Team Chevy team, is under consideration for a job with Richard Childress Racing, according to sources close to the situation(PitNow)(3-29-1999) -- Jim Long is not leaving the #60 Team. He stated today that he is "very happy at Bessey Motorsports."(Geoffrey Bodine Fanclub Site/Forum)(3-30-1999)

  • No New Monte: According to Richard Childress, owner of the #3 Goodwrench car driven by Dale Earnhardt and the #31 driven by Mike Skinner, the possibility of running a new Chevrolet is now a dead issue(SpeedVisoin/iRace)(3-27-1999)

  • Earnhardt Honors: Dale Earnhardt will honor Garry Sanders, a Sansom Park firefighter who was killed recently when trying to rescue people from a burning church. Sanders' brother, Steve, is a member of the Texas Motor Speedway rescue crew and prior to his death, Garry had been trying to earn enough hours to be permitted to work race events. His goal had been to work in Earnhardt's pit area during a Winston Cup event at the track. To honor Garry Sanders, Earnhardt will carry decals on his car Sunday that say, "In memory of Garry Sanders." In addition, Steve Sanders will work in Earnhardt's pit in the Primestar 500(Dallas Morning News)(3-27-1999)

  • Childress Third Team? Now that Richard Childress has locked up Lowe's and Mike Skinner for another three years, he can start work on that long-rumored third Winston Cup team. One possible driver is Casey Atwood, but is the 18-year-old sensation rough and tough enough for Childress? Another possibility is Mike Dillon. Certainly Childress should have no trouble finding a promising young driver interested in the job, if he is indeed interested in a third team(PitNow)(3-15-1999)

  • Did ya know? Dale Earnhardt's early crash left him with his first DNF (did not finish) at Atlanta Motor Speedway since 1983. Earnhardt's eight Atlanta victories are the most of any driver(Tennessean/Larry Woody) Jayski Note: Earnhardt's crew got the car fixed up so he could go out and pick up a few more spots and Earnhardt retired the car when it was impossible to pick up any more spots(3-15-1999)

  • Atwood? Childress? Casey Atwood in a Richard Childress Chevy? That's a distinct possibility, according to GM sources. Atwood, though just 18, has impressed a lot of veterans in his few Busch tour runs. Both Childress drivers on the Cup tour this season are in their 40s. Childress just said that they are exploring several options(PitNow)(3-8-1999)

  • Earnhardt paint: Also as rumored, Dale Earnhardt is going to run a "Taz" paint scheme at the Winston(2-25-1999)

  • Earnhardt News: NASCAR Online mentions in their notebook that Dale Earnhardt and #3 owner are looking to extent their contract and that Earnhardt does not not plan to ever race his own cars in the future(2-6-1999)

  • Earnhardt Paint UPDATE: I hear there will be an announcement soon that Dale Earnhardt will run a 25th anniversary in NASCAR paint scheme. No idea when it will be run(probably the Winston?). I hear the car will be silver(1-17-1999) -- I hear the Dale Earnhardt, Sr./25th Silver Anniversary chevy and will be raced at the Daytona 500(not the shootout, he isn't in it)(1-18/19-1999)

  • New Associates for Childress: Dale Earnhardt announced two associate sponsors for the #3 Richard Childress Winston Cup car -- camouflage maker Realtree and chicken products producer Perdue Farms. Earnhardt is a chicken farmer, raising over 4.5 million chickens a year, exclusively for Perdue Farms(GoRacing)(1-14-1999)

  • ESPY's: Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt and, Mark Martin, have been nominated to receive 1999 ESPY Awards. The winners of the 1999 ESPY Awards -- given by ESPN for a variety of sports-related categories -- will be announced at 8pm/et Feb. 15 on ESPN. Gordon, has been nominated for three separate awards: Male Athlete of the Year, Showstopper of the Year and Auto Racing Performer of the Year. In the first category, Gordon will go up against baseball sluggers Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa and NBA star Michael Jordan. Gordon and Martin, both received nominations for Auto Racing Performer of the Year. Earnhardt received an ESPY nomination for Dramatic Individual Performance of the Year by winning his first Daytona 500 in February. Earnhardt will go up against baseball stars David Wells and Kerry Wood and college running back Ricky Williams, this year's Heisman Trophy winner(That's Racin')(12-19-1998)

#3 Team News & Links
#29 Team News & Links

Jayski Jayski.com Holder page 2019 About | Contact |

This page designed by Jayski.com, 1996-2019© All Rights Reserved. Jayski's® is a registered trademark of Jayski. Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form without permission or credit.

Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, Your California Privacy Rights, Children's Online Privacy Policy and Interest Based Ads


GOD BLESS THE USA and the Troops! | Born On Date: August 26, 1996 | Made in the U.S.A.

ESPN | Contact

Owned and hosted by ESPN.