NASCAR Team Spotlight: Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing 2014 Preview

By Richard Tix

Richard Childress Racing is pushing towards the future in 2014. The #3 is coming back to NASCAR, some like it, some hate it, it is what it is. What I still don't understand is why people hate Austin Dillon for it? Sure, hate Dillon because he is young and has been given a lot because of money, but Richard Childress decided to bring it back. He made the call, maybe Austin wanted the 3, but Childress made the final call. Now lets move on from my rant of the day. Dillon may become the ROY but will he prove he can win in Cup this year or will he have to be groomed in? Jeff Burton also half retired and left RCR. Ryan Newman will be taking his spot in 2014. The mainstay here is now Paul Menard

2013 Team Stats *Includes just current drivers (Newman and Dillon) Excludes Harvick and Burton

• Wins: 1
• Top 5: 9
• Top 10: 17

Paul Menard

• The only driver that was with RCR in 2013 on this list, Menard has another typical Menard season. He finished 20th in points, no wins, 3 top 5's, and 9 top 10's. I would guess 2014 will show the same results for Menard, not much to see here.

Ryan Newman

• Im sure RCR is hoping Newman will be a step up from Jeff Burton on the track. Burton was a great guy off the track but the last few years he had been falling off. Newman made the Chase again in 2013 with SHR and maybe a change in scenery will help him get back to his younger years.

Austin Dillon

• Not much Cup experience to take from Dillon, he also didn't have a win in 2013 in Nationwide. Dillon will have a lot to prove with a lot of pressure on him, which is mounting with every #3 fan out there who wants the number forever retired. During Preseason Thunder he did prove he can be fast in a car when no one is testing him, then again Danica did win the Pole last year...

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