Welcome To Richard Childress Racing

By Orlena Miller

September 19, 2002

Nestled in the lush green center of North Carolina is the lovely little city of Welcome. When I asked for directions I was advised not to blink or I could miss the community entirely. About 20 miles south of Winston-Salem, Welcome is the home of Richard Childress Racing. Here in July, Childress opened a state of the art facility to house his Winston Cup operations. Welcome is far removed from the hustle and bustle of Mooresville, NC; the NASCAR Mecca many race teams call home. Here it is quiet, peaceful and low-key. Here people work hard and take pride in their work.

Richard Childress was an independent Winston Cup owner-driver until Junior Johnson convinced him to give up driving and concentrate on developing a competitive team. Junior also suggested it might be a good idea to hire reigning champ, Dale Earnhardt to drive the car. In 1981, Rod Osterlund, Earnhardt’s team owner surprised the racing community by announcing his championship winning team was for sale. An astute businessman, Richard Childress took Johnson’s advice on both matters.

Thanks to RCR’s Megan Englehart and Ron Felix of Insider Racing News I had the opportunity to visit Richard Childress Racing. Parked with military precision, the #29 car of Kevin Harvick, the #30 of Jeff Green and the #31 of Robby Gordon greet visitors in the gleaming lobby. Full-length, larger than life-size pictures of all of RCR’s present drivers are on the far wall. Nearby, is a trophy case that displays a few of Richard’s many awards. Off the lobby is a long corridor with photos documenting the story of Richard Childress Racing. From struggling driver in the ’70’s to six-time Championship team owner Richard’s story unfolds as you walk towards the shop. (1973-81)

The race teams were at a test session the day I visited so the shop was relatively quiet. The first stop on the tour was the main floor. Cars for all three Winston Cup teams were parked in this area. Each team has 12-15 cars; all are kept here except the superspeedway and road course cars. These along with the Busch teams and engine shop are in separate buildings in the same complex.

It was several days before the Richmond race and on the main floor the Looney Toons characters were being added to the teams’ Chevy Monte Carlos. I learned that the race teams do not do the detailing. At RCR these beautiful designs are the work of specialists from Motorsports Design. The "paint" scheme is actually a series of decals. Working in teams from meticulously drawn plans these artists carefully apply the design to the car one small piece at a time. After seeing this process I’ll never look at a racecar the same, they are indeed works of art.

Everywhere you looked in the huge shop there was a checklist. They were on the walls and the floor near the cars. They were taped to toolboxes, instrument panels and fenders. I wondered if there was a checklist for checklists somewhere. Many people are responsible for the numerous details of preparing the cars. The sheer scope of this operation makes the level of organization essential.

Every RCR Winston Cup car is identical when loaded on the haulers for the trip to the track. Not until the cars arrive at the track do the individual crews begin the process of finding the right set up for their driver and team. Therefore, rather than being divided into teams the main shop is divided by specialty. There is a gear shop, shock and spring shop, paint and body shop and so on. The majority of Richard Childress’ employees do not work with a single race team. The gear shop doesn’t know if the gear they are working on will be in the #29, #30 or #31 car but it will be in an RCR racecar. And that’s what matters. Here teamwork is not an abstract concept or corporate buzzword, it is a way of life.

Housed in the same building with the shops is the parking bay for the teams’ transporters. This massive space accommodates the tractors and fifty-three foot long trailers of all three Winston Cup teams. Weather is not a factor here; the haulers are unloaded, serviced, washed and reloaded indoors. Each team has two transporters; each logs between eighty and ninety thousand miles per race season.

The trailer itself is a masterpiece in the efficient use of space. It carries two cars, up to three engines, spare transmissions, every other imaginable car part and tools. Everything is spotless, labeled and in it’s assigned spot. The transporters for all three Childress teams are set up exactly alike. This enables crewmembers to be effective if they are required to work with another team.

Not everything in the transporter is for the racecars. The crews have not been neglected. When a little R&R is called for the guys can relax in the lounge, watch TV or play video games. When hunger strikes there is a kitchen with refrigerator and microwave. The teams seem to be health conscious, I saw lots of fresh fruit and bottled water. The drivers of these rigs are usually responsible for stocking the kitchen on the transporters.

The dedication and focus of the RCR team is incredible. The day I visited was the day after the Labor Day holiday. The shock and spring specialists were off because they had worked the holiday, preparing for the Richmond race. Working the holiday was not at all unusual. Being able to take the next day off was a rare treat. The long 20-week stretch of Winston Cup races is brutal on the teams; everyone puts in long hours. The entire operation has one goal, put an RCR car in victory lane. Regardless of the hour there is probably someone quietly working towards this end at Richard Childress Racing, in peaceful, low-key Welcome, NC.

TO THE WOODSHED: I hate to say this but this week Kyle Petty is going to the "shed of dread". Kyle, what were you thinking when you hired Larry Lackey. The guy could be the best engine man in the world, for all I know. But he DOES NOT work and play well with others.

Also, earning a trip out back is EMT Phil Jewett. A very wise man once said, "some people will do anything to see themselves on the news." True, so true.

KUDOS: To the sponsors who have given up valuable exposure on racecars to honor our country and her heroes.

You can contact Orlena at: Insider Racing News

NASCAR: How It All Began!

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The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN. Although we may not always agree with what is said, we do feel it's our duty to give a voice to those who have something relevant to say about the sport of auto racing.

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