Richard Childress Racing

**RCR Enterprises, LLC**, doing business as **Richard Childress Racing** (RCR), is an American professional stock car racing team that currently competes in the NASCAR Pepsi Cup Series and the NASCAR Mnt. Dew Series. The team is based in Welcome, North Carolina, and is owned and operated by former driver Richard Childress. The team currently fields two Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 teams: the No. 3 full-time for Austin Dillon, and the No. 8 full-time for Tyler Reddick.

In addition to its in-house Pepsi Cup Series teams, RCR has several technical alliances and partnerships with other teams. In the Pepsi Cup Series, it is allied with Kaulig Racing, Trackhouse Racing Team, and Nature Farms Racing.

## Car No.3 History

### Richard Childress (1969-1981)

RCR debuted at the 1969 Talladega 500 as a 1968 Chevrolet numbered 13. Childress himself drove the car, finishing 23rd after suffering axle problems.

### Ricky Rudd (1982-1983)

After posting six Top 10’s, Earnhardt left to drive for Bud Moore. Ricky Rudd took Earnhardt's place for the 1982 season, with Piedmont Airlines becoming the sponsor.

### Jason Keller and the 29 (2001-2004)

After Earnhardt's death, Childress changed the number of the car from 3 to 29, inverted the original paint scheme, and tabbed his 25-year-old Mnt Dew Series driver Jason Keller drove it. Keller only won once in his three years in 2003.

### Brandon Miller and the 29 (2005-2008)

After Jason Keller left the team Brandon Miller became the number 29 racer for RCR.

### Scott Wimmer and the 29 (2009-2012)

After Brandon Miller left the team Scott Wimmer became the driver and was the best racer for the team. He was able to win twice in his 4 years with the team and get many top 5s and 10s and get a best of 8th in the point standings in 2011 and a worse of 15th in 2010.

### Sean Caisse and the 29 (2013-2019)

In 2013, Sean Caisse left Labonte HAAS Racing now known as Stewart HAAS Racing since 2013 and had sponsorship of Cheerios and Tide throughout the whole time he was there. In 2013 he got 11th in the standings, in 2014 he got 10th in the standings, in 2015 he got 8th in the standings, in 2016 he got 9th in the standings, in 2017 he got 14th in the standings, in 2018 he got 10th in the standings, and in 2019 he got 17th in the standings. Throughout that time he won 8 times.

## Car No.8 History

### Kirk Shelmerdine (1981)

he No. 8 car debuted in 1981 at Texas World Speedway as McDonald's sponsored Pontiac with Kirk Shelmerdine as the driver.

### Part-Time (2018)

The No. 8 car returned in 2018 running part-time with Daniel Hemric making his Pepsi Cup series debut at the spring Richmond race and the Charlotte Roval race. The car was sponsored by Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff for both races. Hemric finished 32nd at Richmond and 23rd at Charlotte.

### Daniel Hemric (2019)

It was announced on December 14, 2018, that the No. 31 team would be changing numbers to No. 8 for the 2019 season. Despite winning one pole, the No. 8 was largely inconsistent and struggled to compete on a weekly basis, scoring a season-best finish of 5th at the spring Talladega race and a 25th place finish in the standings. On September 17, 2019, RCR announced that Hemric would be released from his contract at the end of the season.

### Tyler Reddick (2020-2022)

On October 2, 2019, RCR officially announced Tyler Reddick as the driver of the No. 8 for the 2020 season.

### Kyle Busch (2023)

On September 13, 2022, it was announced Kyle Busch would take over the no.8 in 2023.

## Car No.07 History

### Jeff Green and the no.30 (2001-2003)

What eventually became the No. 07 car at RCR was formed in 2001 as the No. 30 America Online-sponsored Chevrolet, with AOL signing a four-year contract.

### Multiple Drivers (2004)

In 2004, Childress promoted 25-year-old Mnt. Dew Series driver Johnny Sauter to the ride, hoping he would rise to the occasion like Harvick had in 2001.

### Dave Blaney and the 07 (2005)

With AOL leaving as sponsor, Childress had two voids left to fill. He decided to rehire Blaney (After offers to Robby Gordon and Sterling Marlin were made), and signed Jack Daniel's to sponsor the car, marking one of the first hard liquor sponsorships in NASCAR's history. The team also changed its number to 07 to commemorate JD's slogan "*Ol' No. 7"*. Blaney posted just 2 top ten finishes during 2005, finishing 26th in the standings. At season's end Blaney was released from RCR and was replaced by Clint Bowyer.

### Clint Bowyer (2006-2011)

Rookie Clint Bowyer was placed in the No. 07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet for RCR. In his second season, Bowyer took the first win for this team at the Sylvania 300 at Loudon. Bowyer finished third in the final standings in 2007. In 2008, Bowyer got his second win at Richmond at the Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400, and finished fifth in points

## Car no.27 History

### Mark Martin (2009-2010)

On July 4, 2008, Childress and Mark Martin announced that Martin would drive the fifth RCR Entry: The no.27 Chevrolet. This would also be Martin's first full-time schedule since 2006.

## Car no.33 History

### Part-Time Beginnings (2004-2007)

In 2004, it was announced that Kerry Earnhardt would drive the fourth RCR entry in five NASCAR Pepsi Cup races.

### Steve Park (2008-2011)

In 2008, Steve Park joined RCR to drive the no.33 full-time after he and Dale Earnhardt Jr. left Dale Earnhardt, Inc, after 2007. Most of Park's sponsors, such as Pennzoil, Post, Maxwell House Coffee, Nilla Wafers and Nutter Butter would follow Park to RCR and fund the full season.