“It’s a Bad Look”: NASCAR Journalist Defends Richard Childress’s Public Relations Nightmare After Martinsville

Many drivers who used to race under the banner of Richard Childress Racing will breathe a sigh of relief after Saturday. After all, who wants their boss to cuss them out in front of the whole world? After Richard Childress openly criticized his Xfinity Series driver Sheldon Creed in the aftermath of the Dead On Tools 250, he has been the talk of the town. Though Mr Childress had justifiable reasons to shoot out in anger, he might soon have to face the consequences of his actions.

Adding to the weight of his own words, the 78-year-old will also have to deal with those from his VP, Andy Petree, and his other driver, Austin Hill, whose tempers also flared at Martinsville. However, one veteran journalist from the community believes that any words from RCR’s head will not become a PR nightmare.

The different scenes at Martinsville that could launch Richard Childress into a PR nightmare

As most of us are aware by now, the entire ordeal that led to the uncontrollable chaos at the Richard Childress Racing camp was set in motion after Sheldon Creed caused his teammate Hill to crash in the final lap in Martinsville. Both the drivers were racing for the win, but deliberately or not, Creed became the reason why Hill crashed. In the end, Creed himself couldn’t grab the win either, losing out to Justin Allgaier.

In the aftermath of the sequence, mayhem followed the RCR drivers. Talking on the Door, Bumper, Clear podcast, veteran spotter Brett Griffin explained the scenes. He said, “You got Andy Petree on TV going up and arguing clearly with Sheldon Creed. We’ve got Richard Childress MFing the driver and saying he’s the stupidest driver he’s ever hired. […] Then you have Austin Hill go out and make these comments about, how they used to be friends and he can’t wait for him to even go to Joe Gibbs Racing.”

Continuing on why these frames were completely detrimental to the public image of Childress’s organization, he said, “Those are all PR nightmares. I mean it’s Richard Childress taking his watch off and beating up Kyle Busch, PR nightmare. Because you have three different individuals within your organization representing you publicly poorly.”

Despite Griffin laying out the exact scenario and its consequences on the table, The Athletic’s representative, Jeff Gluck, did not seem to be convinced enough by it. Contradicting the opinion of the spotter, he voiced his take that until and unless someone from Childress’s camp regretted their words, there wouldn’t be a problem.

Watch Story: NASCAR PR Crisis: Richard Childress Racing vs Sheldon Creed

Veteran journalist believes that the Richard Childress camp hasn’t done enough to warrant big damage

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Richard Childress has been in the midst of flaring tempers before. Being a main character in the story of NASCAR for decades, he found his own racing outfit in 1969. Since then, RCR has grown through thick and thin to become the juggernaut that it is today. Aware of the long journey that Childress took, it is obvious to expect him to have gone through the worst of problems and the best of triumphs. RCR has definitely seen through worse controversies than the one surrounding Sheldon Creed now.

Jeff Gluck appears to be of the same opinion. Expressing his opposition to Brett Griffin’s words, he said, “I don’t think that is a PR nightmare though. And the reason why… It would be a PR nightmare if those people regretted that or were embarrassed about that. I don’t think that Childress is going, ‘Man, I wish I hadn’t done that or said that.” 

The reporter was, however, readily acceptable to the idea that all the words spoken gave a bad outlook from the point of the public and the fans. He continued, “I mean, is it a bad look? Oh, I 100% agree it’s a bad look. People are, fans are judging them for it. But from a PR standpoint, you’re like, ‘Well, we’re just keep going with this, the talking points.”

Despite all the anger and words from the different corners of the RCR table, they have one more week to go together as a single unit. Post the season’s final race, Sheldon Creed and Richard Childress will part ways for good. While it hasn’t been officially announced yet, it appears Creed might be welcomed at Joe Gibbs’ camp. Hopefully, he finds softer words and a much more comfortable seat in Huntersville, NC.

Read More: Days After RCR and Sheldon Creed’s Public Fallout, Andy Petree Breaks Silence on Martinsville Debacle