2015 Team Spotlight Preview: Richard Childress Racing

RCR 2015 Season Preview

By Richard Tix

2014 Season Review

2014 Season Stats

Races: 108

Wins: 0

Top 5: 11

Top 10: 33

Pole: 1

2014 Chase Drivers: 1

Going into 2014 I would say most fans would have agreed that a RCR driver making the Final race at Miami was a 0% chance (other than fans of those three drivers), yet there Ryan Newman was competing for a Championship in the closing moments at Homestead.

RCR as a whole wasn't overly impressive, but yet they found themselves hanging along each race. Newman never won a race yet, he never had terrible finishes. Dillon didn't rack up the top 10's, but he found a way to finish top 15 a majority of the time. Paul Menard once again started the season out on the right path, but couldn't finish it off.

So, 2014 wasn't amazing, yet wasn't bad and the end goal of a Championship was within reach. So what does 2015 bring? I think the goal for RCR should be to go from one driver in the Chase to getting two of three guys in. 

I think Dillon could take the next step and run consistent enough to contend for a Chase spot. I also believe Newman can take his win-less streak from last year and find a win somewhere along the season. The wild card will be Paul Menard and if he can string together a full season.

RCR seemed to be gaining momentum to end 2014 so if they carry that over with the new 2015 package they could do some damage with what many people believe to be middle of the road talent. I don't think they will have enough momentum to win a Championship, but getting a pair of drivers into the Chase is a possibility,

Ryan Newman

• Newman proved the new system is more than just winning, but he also helped prove (with Harvick) that winning still is everything. That because Newman lost to Harvick at Homestead when Harvick won and took the title from the remaining three other drivers. But, Newman's run was an eye opener in year one of the Chase that you can get in many different ways. 2015 might prove that once again but I doubt he can make a run at the title again without a win. Newman does give RCR it's best shot to win in 2015 so he might be one to watch.

Austin Dillon

• Newman might give RCR the best chance to win next year, but Dillon is the long term fix. He could continue his development in 2015 by posting more top 10's then he did last season and maybe even contend for a few wins. Dillon gives RCR a shot at putting two drivers into the Chase in 2015.

Paul Menard

• Paul Menard is an interesting driver in 2015. No, not because of his personality that is as dull as a butter knife, but because he came off a strong 2014 season yet was no closer to making the Chase. In fact, this new system may make it even harder for him to make the Chase than the old one (which he never finished better than 16th). Menard is a quality driver that gets overlooked a lot, but he also isn't a consistent threat to make the Chase or even finish top 10, which makes his 2015 season an interesting one, even if he lacks the interesting interviews.