NASCAR’s Richard Childress, Driven to Success

The inaugural Talladega 500 was short of drivers because the Professional Drivers Association, led by Richard Petty, organized a mass exit of NASCAR’s top drivers. They feared the tires were unsafe at the high speeds on the new track.

[media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]Bill France Sr. was determined to run the race, so he called upon drivers with less experience and recognition to fill the field.

Richard Childress was one of the replacement drivers who competed in the first big race at the Alabama superspeedway.

Childress became an independent driver in 1971 and fielded a car bearing the No. 3 in honor of Junior Johnson’s number. He never won a race in NASCAR’s top-tier of racing, but he did have 76 top-10 finishes. His best finish was third place in 1978.

The high school dropout had the wisdom to take the money he earned racing in the early days to buy land in North Carolina. Childress owns a lot of land now and a good portion of the North Carolina land is used for his Vineyard, mansion and of course Richard Childress Racing.

In 1981 Childress retired from racing to become an owner. Rod Osterlund sold his racing operations and his driver, Dale Earnhardt, was hired to drive the No. 3 Wrangler Jeans car for Childress.

The union only lasted one season and Earnhardt left with Ricky Rudd taking over the ride for two seasons.

In 1984, Earnhardt returned to Richard Childress Racing and the most potent owner/driver relationship in the history of the sport was formed.

Together the team forged out six NASCAR Winston Cup (Sprint Cup) Championships in 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994. Childress proved to be a savvy businessman in many ways, but securing the GM Goodwrench sponsorship for the feared, black No. 3 was a coup.

During the 1990’s, Childress expanded his operations to include Busch (Nationwide) and Craftsman (Camping World) Truck Series teams. In 1995, RCR won the championship with driver, Mike Skinner, during the first season for the Craftsman Truck Series.

In 2001, the world as Childress knew it collapsed with the death of his best friend and driver, Dale Earnhardt, on the last lap of the Daytona 500. He seriously thought of closing down his racing operations.

Childress managed to move ahead and continue racing with Kevin Harvick behind the wheel of the former No. 3 car renumbered with No. 29. Childress went on to win two Busch (Nationwide) championships with Harvick in 2001 and 2006.

Childress has found great success with his teams, though he has not won a championship since the last one with Earnhardt. In 2011 he will return to four teams with drivers Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer and Paul Menard.

RCR supplies engines and chassis to other NASCAR teams as well.

The man who started with little but a dream has amassed great wealth and he knows how to enjoy it. His Childress Vineyards winery in Lexington, N.C. has garnered much attention and success.

Childress is and avid outdoorsman and conservationist. He was elected to the NRA Board of Directors in 2009. His big game hunts around the world have become a passion for him.

NASCAR has given a great deal to the respected team owner, but it has taken much from him as well.

Childress had the wisdom to invest wisely as a young man, a bit of magic with the union he had with Dale Earnhardt and the skills to build a racing empire along with the other profitable operations.

Childress was indeed driven to success.