RCR
BaseWelcome, North Carolina
OwnerRichard Childress
ManufacturerChevrolet
SeriesNASCAR Cup Series
Cars#3, #8
Founded1969

2026 Season Stats

0
Wins
Kyle Busch
Points Leader
2
Cars

2026 Drivers

  • #3 Austin Dillon - Richard Childress' grandson, driving the iconic No. 3 Chevrolet made legendary by Dale Earnhardt. Dillon is a Daytona 500 winner (2018) and Coca-Cola 600 winner.
  • #8 Kyle Busch - A two-time Cup champion (2015, 2019) and one of the most talented drivers in NASCAR history. Busch joined RCR in 2023 after a long tenure at Joe Gibbs Racing.

Team History

Richard Childress Racing is one of the most storied teams in NASCAR history, forever linked to the legend of Dale Earnhardt. Richard Childress began as a driver himself, competing in Cup races throughout the 1970s with modest results. He transitioned to team ownership and in 1981 paired with a young Dale Earnhardt, beginning one of the most iconic partnerships in motorsport history.

Earnhardt and Childress became synonymous with NASCAR excellence throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Driving the black No. 3 Chevrolet - "The Intimidator" - Earnhardt won six of his seven Cup championships with RCR (1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994). The Earnhardt-Childress partnership defined an era of NASCAR, with the No. 3 becoming the most iconic car number in stock car racing history. Earnhardt's aggressive, no-nonsense driving style perfectly complemented Childress' blue-collar work ethic, and together they built a dynasty.

The tragic loss of Dale Earnhardt in a last-lap crash at the 2001 Daytona 500 devastated the team and the entire sport. Childress retired the No. 3 in Earnhardt's honor, and the team carried on with other numbers and drivers, including Kevin Harvick, who stepped into the enormous void left by Earnhardt and won in just his third career start. Harvick became the team's next star, winning consistently before departing for Stewart-Haas Racing after the 2013 season.

In 2014, Austin Dillon - Childress' grandson - brought the No. 3 back to the Cup Series for the first time since Earnhardt's death. The return of the number was an emotional moment for NASCAR fans, and Dillon has honored it with a Daytona 500 victory in 2018. Kyle Busch's arrival in 2023 brought a two-time champion and one of the sport's biggest names to the organization, signaling RCR's ambition to return to championship contention. While the team has not recaptured the dominance of the Earnhardt era, the combination of Childress' legacy, Busch's talent, and the weight of the No. 3 keeps RCR among the sport's most respected organizations.

Cup Championships (6)

  • Dale Earnhardt: 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994

Interesting Facts

  • Dale Earnhardt won 6 of his 7 Cup championships with RCR. His only title not with Childress came in 1980 with Rod Osterlund Racing.
  • The No. 3 was retired from 2001 to 2013 following Earnhardt's death and was only brought back when Childress' grandson Austin Dillon was ready for Cup.
  • Richard Childress is also an avid outdoorsman and operates a vineyard and winery at the team's campus in Welcome, North Carolina.
  • Kevin Harvick won in just his third Cup start as Earnhardt's replacement in 2001, one of the most emotional victories in NASCAR history.
  • RCR's Welcome, North Carolina campus includes a museum showcasing the team's history with Earnhardt and other legendary drivers.

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