WELCOME, N.C. (December 3, 2010) – Richard Childress, the 12-time NASCAR championship team owner of Richard Childress Racing, has been named the Sporting News 2010 Owner of the Year.
It is the third time Childress has earned the distinction. He was the magazine’s first owner of the year in 2001 and won the award again in 2006.
All three of Richard Childress Racing’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams made The Chase for the Sprint Cup this season after being shutout for the championship run in 2009. Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil team earned three victories and were championship contenders all the way to the closing laps of the final race before finishing third in the point standings. Clint Bowyer and the No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper team earned two victories during The Chase and finished the season 10th in points. Jeff Burton and the No. 31 Caterpillar team earned the 12th position in the final point standings.
“I’m honored to be named the Sporting News Owner of the Year and I accept the award on behalf of everyone at RCR and ECR,” said Childress. “The success of the 2010 season was all about the talented people working for RCR and ECR. We reached a number of our goals but not our ultimate one of winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. We will continue to work hard during the off-season to improve our overall program and return to Daytona in February with the single goal of winning the 2011 championship.”
RCR was also successful in other racing series in 2010. Its first-year No. 3 Bass Pro Shops NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team earned two victories and rookie of the year honors with driver Austin Dillon, the eldest grandson of Childress. His younger grandson, Ty Dillon, earned two victories in just a partial first season in the ARCA Racing Series and Tim George, Jr., finished in the top 10 in the series. And Dale Earnhardt, Jr., earned the NASCAR Nationwide Series victory at Daytona International Speedway in July driving a car under RCR ownership.
About Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing has earned more than 180 victories and 12 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2010 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet). Bowyer drives the No. 21 Zaxby’s Chevrolet in the 2010 Nationwide Series, Austin Dillon drives the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet in the 2010 Camping World Truck Series and Tim George Jr. drives the No 31 RCR Development Chevrolet in the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards. Ty Dillon and Ryan Gifford are RCR developmental drivers in both asphalt and dirt track racing.
