Is Richard Childress’ grandson Austin Dillon cut out to lead Richard Childress Racing as a leader? At 79, the veteran team owner might have to give a thought or two about how his team’s legacy will be carried on. For the time being, Dillon seems to be occupied and ambitious with his racing career, but is he the heir apparent for Childress? NASCAR racing is about building family legacies. We have seen great families like the Petty’s, the Earnhardt’s, and the Elliott’s carrying the family legacy with new generations adding to their heritage and history. Although Dillon isn’t destined for greatness as a race car driver, he certainly can create a new legacy for himself in a leadership role.

And going by Richard Childress’ admissions while speaking on Dale Jr. Download, the 34-year-old is already learning the tricks of the trade.

Austin Dillon could be the one taking charge of RCR

Richard Childress Racing isn’t just any other NASCAR team. It has been the home to legendary driver Dale Earnhardt, who contributed to 6 Bill France trophies and 67 race wins. Although today we see the sport being dominated by the likes of Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports, RCR is in the same league. It’s just that they haven’t been able to adapt to the changes of the modern era of racing.

Not to forget, dealing with the sanctioning body and the in-house team only adds to the responsibility of a team leader. So, before Austin Dillon is handed over the reins, he will need to understand the challenges that come with this on a macro level. The veteran owner is trying to inculcate these traits in his grandson through their recent acquisition of Carolina Cowboys, a professional Bull Rider team. “We bought a PBR franchise. So I put Austin running it to get used to what it was like dealing with drivers, dealing with the sanctioning body,” Childress revealed while speaking on Dale Jr. Download.

Through this added responsibility, Dillon is expected to get his feet wet and learn the tricks of the trade, dealing with managers, the sanctioning body, and the rule changes. It’s something he will have to supervise someday when he takes over at RCR. “After the first year he comes to me, he said, ‘Pop pop, I know why you hate these managers, because all the riders today has got managers, and he’s having to deal with the sanctioning body, the budgets. So I think this is giving him a good education.” The veteran team owner added.

Although Richard Childress has a road map for the leadership role, the team will need to turn a corner for good in terms of on-track performance in 2025. With Kyle Busch being in his contract year in the No. 8 car, all eyes are on him after the dismal 2024 outing. Surprisingly, the team at RCR seems optimistic about overturning their misfortunes and just might retain Rowdy post-2025.

All eyes will be on Kyle Busch and RCR going into 2025

Trending

1

Ty Gibbs’ Ignorance to Denny Hamlin’s Warning Proves Costly as NASCAR Sends a Strong Message

2

Kevin Harvick Suspects Internal Conflict as Infighting Erupts Between Richard Childress’ Grandsons

3

Kyle Busch Handed “Final Warning” by NASCAR as Internal Friction Erupts at Chevrolet

4

Dale Jr. Faced Richard Childress’ Wrath After Offending Him With Opinion on NASCAR’s $200K Punishment

For 19 years straight, Rowdy managed to win at least one Cup Series race since he made his debut. However, this streak was restricted to 19 as the #8 team was unable to park their Chevy Camaro in the victory lane for the entirety of the 2024 season. Yeah, they had opportunities to win at tracks like Dayton, Atlanta, and Darlington, yet for some odd reason they fell short every time.

But relying on one-off tracks for wins isn’t the standard or the expectation at a team like RCR. The reason they roped in the 2-time champ, Kyle Busch, was to get back in contention for the championship. Moreover, the rumors and speculations surrounding his future with the team also add another layer of pressure on RCR to deliver the goods. So what exactly do they have in the store for 2025?

“We’ve put a lot of new people in a lot of new places, and we’re changing a lot, even all the way up to the board. I really feel good about a lot of decisions we made, that don’t come overnight; you can’t turn these ships; they’re pretty big; it’s hard to turn them overnight. But I feel really confident about what we can do this year.” Richard Childress explained.

Have RCR made monumental changes or just put a band-aid to cover up the real concerns? It remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure: their on-track performance could dictate Rowdy’s future, be it with the team or with a new outfit.