Richard Childress Racing

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8-Austin Dillon Becomes Youngest NASCAR Camping World Truck Champion
Though a number of young drivers have used their experience in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as a springboard to NASCAR Sprint Cup success – think Carl Edwards, among others – veteran drivers, for the most part, have had a stranglehold on its championships. Only Travis Kvapil (age 27 in 2003) was younger than 30 in the series’ first 16 seasons.

All that changed in 2011 as third-generation driver Austin Dillon, 21, became the youngest to win an NCWTS title. Dillon, a two-time winner, finished six points ahead of NASCAR national series veteran Johnny Sauter. Dillon, Richard

Childress’ grandson, returned a title to RCR that Mike Skinner won in the series’ 1995 inaugural season.

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Brendan Gaughan to Compete in Limited NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Schedules for RCR

WELCOME, N.C. (December 8, 2011) – Veteran NASCAR driver Brendan Gaughan will compete in 10 races on the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule, driving Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 Chevrolet Impala, and in eight races on the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule, driving RCR’s No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado.

Gaughan, 36, is the 2002 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year and competed fulltime in the Nationwide Series in 2009 and 2010, earning one pole and 17 top-10 finishes in 71 career starts. He finished ninth in the 2009 driver championship point standings and 11th in 2010. The two-time NASCAR Camping World Series West champion (2000-2001) has also earned eight victories and 63 top-10 finishes in 187 Truck Series starts, finishing 12th in the 2011 driver championship point standings. Gaughan was also part of the five-driver lineup that won the GT3 division of the 2011 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona sports car race at Daytona International Speedway.

Continue reading “Brendan Gaughan Inks Truck & Nationwide Deal with RCR”

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Blickensderfer Named Crew Chief of RCR’s
No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties Racing Team

WELCOME, N.C. (November 28, 2011) — Richard Childress Racing has named Drew Blickensderfer as the crew chief for the No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties Racing team with driver Jeff Burton for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Luke Lambert, interim crew chief during the latter part of the 2011 season for the No. 31 team, will assume a yet-to-be announced new position at RCR.

Blickensderfer begins his RCR career after nearly a decade with Roush Fenway Racing. He spent the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season leading the No. 6 team and has been a crew chief, in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, since 2007.

“I’m excited about the move to RCR and the opportunity to help lead Jeff Burton and the Cat/Wheaties Racing team back into Chase contention,” said Blickensderfer. “I was around Jeff briefly at RFR and always admired and liked him. He’s a very talented driver and I look forward to working him and the rest of the No. 31 team in 2012.”

Continue reading “Drew Blickensderfer named Jeff Burton’s new crew chief”

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RCR Announces Personnel Changes to its NASCAR Sprint Cup Program
Wilson, Martin take on new roles for 2012 season

WELCOME, N.C. (November 23, 2011) — 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.

Continue reading “Shane Wilson named new Kevin Harvick #29 crew chief”

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By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(November 18, 2011)

HOMESTEAD, Fla.—Austin Dillon withstood a strong challenge from race winner Johnny Sauter to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship in Friday night’s Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

NASCAR called the event with 15 laps left with Sauter in the lead and Dillon in 10th place, giving Dillon, 21, the youngest champion in series history, a six-point edge in the series standings over Sauter.

Denny Hamlin finished second in the No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports truck, followed by Kevin Harvick, Nelson Piquet Jr. and Joey Coulter.

Continue reading “Johnny Sauter wins Miami Truck race, Austin Dillon is the 2011 Champion”