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[/media-credit]Additional plans set for 2013 season
WELCOME, N.C. (October 29, 2012) – Championship-winning Richard Childress Racing crew chief Shane Wilson will replace Drew Blickensderfer at the helm of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet team with driver Jeff Burton for the final three races of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.
“I want to thank Drew for all of his effort with the No. 31 Caterpillar team this season,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “He’s a great crew chief and I can’t say enough about his dedication to RCR. Making the move now, before the season is over, gives Drew some additional time to pursue other opportunities.
“Shane is a proven winner and I appreciate his willingness to step into this role for the balance of the 2012 season.”
Luke Lambert, who currently calls the shots for RCR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship point standings leading No. 2 team with Elliott Sadler, will take over the No. 31 team crew chief duties for the 2013 season. Lambert served as interim crew chief for the No. 31 team in 2011.
“Luke is proving this season that he’s a strong, young crew chief who can win races and compete for a championship,” added Childress. “Announcing his move to the No. 31 team in 2013 will not take anything away from his focus on the No. 2 team winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. That’s his No. 1 priority. We merely wanted to show that we have both an interim plan for the rest of this season and a long-term plan for the future.”
About Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR 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 current Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser/Rheem/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties/BB&T Chevrolet). Its Nationwide Series program includes Elliott Sadler (No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet), 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 AdvoCare/American Ethanol/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Harvick/Menard/Brendan Gaughan/Max Papis/Ty Dillon (No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino/Menards/Hunt Brothers Pizza/Armour Brands/Fast Fixin’/ Chevrolet). Harvick/Tim George Jr./Gaughan (No. 2 Applebee’s/South Point Hotel & Casino/Kroger/Tide Chevrolet), Joey Coulter (No. 22 RCR/Armour Brands/Husky Liners Chevrolet) and 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards champion Ty Dillon (No.3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) compete in the 2012 Camping World Truck Series season.
