"I started with an old $20 race car taxicab" - When Richard Childress reflected on his journey after Kyle Busch's victory
Cup Series outfit RCR's owner Richard Childress once shed light on his NASCAR journey as a team owner after Kyle Busch's maiden victory with the team last season. Busch joined Richard Childress Racing in 2023 and claimed a victory in just the second race of the campaign.
NASCAR superstar and two-time Cup Series champion Busch made the headlines after jumping ship at the end of the 2022 campaign. "The Rowdy," as he is affectionately known among the fans, parted ways with Joe Gibbs Racing to start a new chapter in his legendary racing career with Richard Childress Racing in 2023.
While doubts emerged following Busch's move, the 39-year-old driver put those questions to bed after he emerged victorious in just the second points-paying race of the season, the Pala Casino 400 at Auto Club Speedway in California. Busch took the lead with 20 laps to go, cruising into the victory lane with his No. 8 Chevy sponsored by Lucas Oil on the fateful night.
The win was not just a significant milestone for Busch, but also RCR owner Childress. For the latter, it was the culmination of years of hard work, resilience, and a partnership with Lucas Oil that began in 2014. In an interview with Lucas Oil in May 2023, Childress revealed:
"I couldn't be more prouder, to take Lucas Oil with us. We've always had it under the hood on the car somewhere. But to have that blue car with Kyle Busch, the first win, his 19th in a row to win, and on one of his favourite tracks (California). To go out there and win it with Lucas Oil was very special." (3:29)
Reflecting on his early days as a team owner, Childress further added:
"I called Forrest myself and congratulated him on the win. And Morgan, you know, that whole family has done so much. I started with an old $20 race car, taxicab, Bowman Gray Stadium, and Forrest started selling additives in the truck stops. And I'll tell ya, here we are. We're both doing what we love and still doing it today."
Richard Childress Racing set to field a third entry in 2025
Richard Childress Racing is all set to field a third part-time entry for the upcoming 2025 campaign. This comes on the heels of a disappointing 2024 season where both the team's rides failed to reach playoffs.
The team announced plans to field a third part-time entry earlier this month. This could be a signal of a cautious approach to Richard Childress' plans of expanding the team's presence in the Cup Series.
Andy Street, who previously served as Austin Hill’s crew chief in the Xfinity Series, will lead the part-time entry. In 2024, the team had already experimented with a third car in six races, dividing duties between Austin Hill, Ty Dillon, and Will Brown.