#07/30 Team Past News and Rumors
2007 News

  • Bowyer on Rome in Burning: #07-Clint Bowyer will be a featured guest on ESPN's Jim Rome is Burning show on Wednesday, November 7 to discuss his position in the Chase for the NASCAR Cup and his season to date with veteran TV and talk radio host Jim Rome. Jim Rome is Burning airs weekdays on ESPN at 4:30pm/et.(11-7-2007)

  • NASCAR studying how Hamlin, Blaney had water in fuel: MORE Denny Hamlin, who thought he had enough gas while leading when his car sputtered and didn't start with three laps remaining in the Pep Boys Auto 500, actually had water in his fuel cell at the time. Whether that caused him not to accelerate and get hit from behind by Martin Truex Jr. is uncertain, Joe Gibbs Racing Senior Vice President Jimmy Makar said Sunday night at Atlanta. But what is certain is that Hamlin and Bill Davis Racing's Dave Blaney had water in their fuel cells, and Roush Fenway Racing's Greg Biffle also might have had a similar situation. NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Director John Darby said that no water was found in the Sunoco pumps following the race. Darby said all of the Sunoco documentation from the weekend shows no water in the tanks.(SceneDaily.com)(10-28-2007)
    UPDATE: Water found in the fuel tanks of cars driven by #11-Denny Hamlin and #22-Dave Blaney during Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Atlanta was not isolated to those teams, a NASCAR official said Monday. Water also was discovered in the fuel of the Penske Racing cars driven by #2-Kurt Busch and #12-Ryan Newman after returning to Charlotte, N.C. In addition, water was found in the fuel cell of all three Richard Childress racing team cars belonging to #29-Kevin Harvick, #07-Clint Bowyer and #31-Jeff Burton. #16-Greg Biffle believes his car may have had water in its fuel, although no evidence was found. NASCAR Nextel Cup Series director John Darby said the problem is more widespread than originally thought and that NASCAR has issued bulletins to all Cup and Truck Series teams to check for evidence of contamination so they can locate the source. Darby said everything from the underground fuel-holding tank at the track to the fuel trucks that deliver the gas to the individual gas cans are being analyzed. He said the underground tank is the least likely source because there is an alarm system located that can detect the slightest amount of contamination. Darby dismissed sabotage as a possible explanation, saying too many teams were affected for anyone to have been singled out.(ESPN.com)(10-30-2007)

  • Holiday Inn Renews with RCR: Holiday Inn has exercised the option in its current contract with Richard Childress Racing by signing a multi-year contract extension as the Official Hotel of RCR and the primary sponsor of RCR's #29 Chevy in the Nationwide Series with co-drivers Scott Wimmer and Jeff Burton. At the same time, Wimmer has reached agreement with RCR on a contract extension with the 10-time NASCAR championship-winning organization. The 2008 season will once again feature Wimmer and Burton as co-pilots of the #29 Holiday Inn Chevy [in the Nationwide Series]. Wimmer will also run a limited schedule of Sprint Cup Series events next season.(RCR PR)(10-25-2007)

  • Childress likely sticking to three full-time teams: Richard Childress said Friday he would likely not expand to four Sprint Cup entries for 2008 because he can't find the "right situation." Childress fields three Nextel Cup cars - for #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton and #07-Clint Bowyer - and wanted to add a fourth team next year. But the lack of sponsorship appears to be the main issue. Busch Series driver Scott Wimmer would "probably" be the driver of the fourth team, Childress said. Cars were already built for the fourth Cup team, Childress said, but those would be used among the three current teams.(SceneDaily.com)(9-28-2007)

  • DIRECTV back on the #07: Clint Bowyer's #07 Chevy will feature DIRECTV colors this weekend in Dover. Jack Daniel's, the team's customary primary sponsor, will be featured on the car's lower-rear quarter panels and deck lid.(RCR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(9-19-2007)

  • Bowyer wins at NHIS: #07-Clint Bowyer won the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway from the pole for the first win of his career in 64 races. He dominated most of the race, leading 222 laps on the day. #24-Gordon finished 2nd, followed by #20-Stewart, #5-Busch, #1-Truex, Jr., #48-Johnson, #17-Kenseth, #25-Mears, #12-Newman, and #18-Yeley. Other chase contenders: #99-Edwards was 11th, #11-Hamlin 15th, #29-Harvick 18th, #31-Burton 18th, and #2-Busch 25th. There were 7 cautions for 27 laps and 9 drivers led the race with 13 lead changes.
    Race Rundown: see my NHIS Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.
    Race Results on my New Hampshire Race Results/Awards Page.
    Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after New Hampshire page.(9-16-2007)

  • Sports Teams Owner is Childress' Guest at California: [MLB's Texas] Rangers and [NHL's Dallas] Stars owner Tom Hicks and members of his family were scheduled to attend the Sharp Aquos 500 Nextel Cup race at California. Hicks said it was a social invitation by team owner [#s 07, 29, 31] Richard Childress. He wouldn't comment on whether he has any interest in investing in a NASCAR team. But his sports empire has grown this year. In February, he became co-chairman of the Liverpool Football Club, one of the most storied soccer franchises in the English Premier League. Hicks' partner in that purchase was George Gillett, the owner of the NHL's Montreal Canadians and now a major investor in Ray Evernham's NASCAR team.(Dallas Morning News)(9-3-2007)

  • Different look for Bowyer at Calif: After showcasing a flat-black paint scheme last weekend commemorating Jack Daniel's 157th birthday, Clint Bowyer's #07 Chevy will feature DIRECTV colors this weekend in Fontana. DIRECTV's corporate headquarters are in El Segundo, Calif., just 68 miles west of California Speedway. Jack Daniel's, the team's customary primary sponsor, will be featured on #07's lower-rear quarter panels and deck lid.(RCR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(8-29-2007)

  • Happy Birthday Jack scheme on #07 at Bristol: Clint Bowyer's #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy will sport a flat black paint scheme this weekend to commemorate Jack Daniel's birthday. Jasper Newton 'Jack' Daniel would have turned 157 in September. Located just over 300 miles from Bristol, the Jack Daniel's Distillery was officially registered with the U.S. government in 1866. The Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, Proprietor, is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel's is sold in over 135 countries, but every drop is distilled, matured and bottled at the Distillery in Lynchburg, (Pop. 361) Tenn., - located in a dry county.(RCR PR)(8-23-2007)

  • Chevy and RCR continue partnership: Chevrolet, the winningest nameplate in NASCAR, will continue its partnership in NASCAR competition in 2008 with one of racing's elite organizations, Richard Childress Racing (RCR). "2008 marks Richard Childress's 39th year as a team owner and his cars proudly carry the Chevy bowtie," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "At Chevrolet and GM Racing, we are very excited to continue a long and successful relationship with one of the best racing organizations in NASCAR, both on and off the track." RCR's lineup includes #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton and #07-Clint Bowyer in the Cup Series and Harvick and Tim McCreadie in the #21, Burton and Scott Wimmer in the #29 and #2-Bowyer in the Buscg Series.(GM Racing PR)(8-18-2007)

  • RCR to honor Prosser at Indy, run Wake Forest decals: Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) Nextel Cup Series teams will honor Skip Prosser, the former Wake Forest University men's basketball coach who died unexpectedly on Thursday, with Wake Forest decals in Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. RCR's three Chevys driven by Kevin Harvick (#29 Reese's), Jeff Burton (#31 AT&T) and Clint Bowyer (#07 Jack Daniel's) will carry a Wake Forest decal on the B-Post of each machine. Scott Wimmer will also attempt to qualify the #33 Holiday Inn Chevy for this weekend's Nextel Cup race. If the Wimmer makes the race, the #33 machine will also display the decal. "I grew up in Winston-Salem and have spent my entire life living and working in the area," said RCR president and CEO Richard Childress. "We just want everyone in the Wake Forest Community to know that we're thinking about them during this difficult time." Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, N.C., just 14 miles north of RCR's campus in Welcome, N.C.(RCR PR)(7-28-2007)

  • RCR-DEI Engine Debut at Daytona: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies will debut the new common engine package this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. All six Richard Chiledress Racing [#07,#29,#31] and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) cars [#1,#8,#15] will run the new engine.(RCR PR)(7-4-2007)

  • Different colors for Bowyer at NHIS: Clint Bowyer's #07 Chevy will sport a blue and gold Camping World paint scheme for this weekend's LENOX Industrial Tools 300. Camping World will also sponsor Bowyer's #2 Chevy in Saturday's Camping World 200 presented by Rvs.com Busch Series race. Jack Daniel's, the team's standard primary sponsor, will be featured on the car's deck lid and lower-rear quarter panels.(RCR PR)(6-27-2007)

  • Childress interested in Kyle Busch: Car owner Richard Childress was unable to sign Dale Earnhardt, Jr., but his team is hardly hurting as is. The car owner said Saturday that like a lot of car owners in the garage, he’s very interested in talking with newly minted free agent Kyle Busch, possibly for a long-rumored fourth Richard Childress Racing car. “Anybody would look at Kyle right now - any team in here,” said Childress. Childress, one of the most independent minds in the Nextel Cup garage, is not someone even remotely daunted by Busch’s reputation as a hot head. “I can name you eight or 10 guys in here at his age that were a handful. He's learning." Of Busch, Childress added, “He's the hottest property on the market right now.” In fact, some in the garage believe that Busch’s driving talent is equal to or even ahead of that of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.(SPEEDtv.com)(6-17-2007)

  • Some teams looking to add 4th team: The season is not even half over and several teams say they want to expand for next season. Officials from Dale Earnhardt Inc., Evernham Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing have said they'd like to expand to four cars next year. There have been hints other teams might look add a team. How many actually do will depend on what kind of sponsorship they can find.(Greensboro News and Record)(6-16-2007)

  • Burton says RCR 'likely' to add fourth team next season: #31-Jeff Burton thinks Richard Childress Racing will add a fourth Nextel Cup Series team in 2008, citing much recent discussion about the subject as partial evidence. "I think it's likely," Burton said of adding a fourth full-time team to the RCR stable. "Obviously we can't divulge what's on our minds but we have some exciting things that could happen." Burton wouldn't divulge details, rather said "there's a lot up in the air right now that we don't 100 percent know what's going to happen." The addition isn't a no-brainer, Burton said. He was quick to point out the negatives of adding another program: 25 percent more challenges, 25 percent more problems. The chief benefit of adding a fourth team is the additional knowledge added to the resource pool.(ESPN.com)(6-9-2007)

  • Bowyer Enters Late Model Portion of May 25 Eckerd Outlaw Showdown: #07-Clint Bowyer plans to compete in the Goodyear Fastrak Challenge late model portion of the Eckerd Outlaw Showdown Friday night at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway. The winged World of Outlaws sprint cars headline the program with the Goodyear Fastrak Challenge late models serving as the support division. Bowyer, of Emporia, Kan., is entered in the #07 Jack Daniels late model and will be among those chasing a $2,000 first prize in the 25-lap late model finale. Before joining Richard Childress Racing, Bowyer honed his racing skills at several Midwestern dirt tracks including Lakeside Speedway where he won the 2002 track championship. Also on the late model entry list for Friday's Eckerd Outlaw Showdown is Austin Dillon, the grandson of Bowyer's Nextel Cup and Busch Series car owner Richard Childress. The Goodyear Fastrak Challenge series features late model stock cars powered by General Motors crate engines. Twenty-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser, defending series champion Donny Schatz and 2001 titlist Danny Lasoski are among those scheduled to compete in the sprint car portion of the Eckerd Outlaw Showdown. Reserved seats for Friday night's Eckerd Outlaw Showdown are just $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(LMS PR)(5-23-2007)

  • DEI and RCR team up to build engines: One of NASCAR's greatest partnerships - Childress and Earnhardt - has been expanded with the creation of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies. Richard Childress and Teresa Earnhardt announced today that the joint venture partnership will combine the Chevrolet engine departments of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), with engine development work to begin immediately. Construction of a permanent stand-alone facility located between RCR and DEI will begin later this summer with completion expected by mid 2008. A specific site has not been announced, although a location has been identified pending zoning approval. Until that facility is complete, all work will be divided between the RCR's engine shop in Welcome, N.C. and DEI's shop in Mooresville, N.C. It is anticipated that all six RCR and DEI cars will run the first common engine at Daytona in July. Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies will develop and build engines for the Chevrolet Nextel Cup Series and Busch Series teams campaigned by the two companies. A long-term goal of the joint venture will include an engine leasing program for teams in NASCAR's top three divisions. The partnership also has long-term plans to diversify and expand beyond NASCAR by providing race engines to teams competing in series such as the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, various off-road and stock car series, sports car series, etc. This is not the first time RCR and DEI have worked together in a technology partnership. RAD, an acronym for the three teams owned by Richard Childress, Andy Petree and Dale Earnhardt, was formed in the late 90's as an aerodynamic consortium between the programs. The partnership was considered wildly successful with the three teams dominating the aerodynamically sensitive restrictor plate tracks Daytona and Talladega for the next few years.(DEI PR)(5-18-2007)

  • DIRECTV on the #07 at RIR: Clint Bowyer's #07 Chevy will sport a DIRECTV paint scheme this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital television service provider and is also the official satellite television service provider of NASCAR. The team's customary primary sponsor, Jack Daniel's, will be featured on the car's lower-rear quarter panels and deck lid. This is the third time in 2007 Bowyer has run a DIRECTV scheme.(RCR PR), see images of the scheme on my #07-Team Schemes page.(5-3-2007)

  • #07 Dialed in with DIRECTV at Phoenix: Clint Bowyer's #07 Chevy will sport a DIRECTV paint scheme this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR). DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital television service provider and is also the official satellite television service provider of NASCAR. The team's customary primary sponsor, Jack Daniel's, will be featured on the car's lower-rear quarter panels and deck lid.(RCR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(4-17-2007)

  • Camping World to sponsor Wimmer at Atlanta; Bowyer at other races: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and Camping World have agreed on a multi-pronged sponsorship agreement for three of RCR's Nextel Cup Series and Busch Series teams for 2007. Camping World, based in Bowling Green, Ky., is the world's largest supplier of RV accessories and camping equipment with over 65 retail outlets in key regional locations. The multi-team program will include: Scott Wimmer in the #33 Camping World Chevy at the March 18 Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup Series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway; Clint Bowyer in the #07 Camping World Chevy at Nextel Cup Series events at New Hampshire International Speedway (July 1) and Pocono Raceway (Aug. 5); and Bowyer in the #2 Camping World Chevy in the Busch Series races at Phoenix (April 20), Talladega (April 28), the Camping World 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway (June 30) and Chicagoland Speedway (July 14). For more information go to campingworld.com.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(3-15-2007)

  • Triple at Atlanta for Bowyer: Clint Bowyer is scheduled to compete in all three NASCAR-sanctioned races this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In addition to his duties behind the wheel of the #07 DIRECTV HotPass Chevy on Sunday in the Nextel Cup race, he will race the Kevin Harvick Inc.-owned #2 Camping World Chevy Silverado in Friday night's Craftsman Truck Series event and the #2 BB&T Chevy Monte Carlo in Saturday's Nicorette 300 Busch Series race.(RCR PR)(3-14-2007)

  • Bowyer to run DirecTV hotpass scheme at Atlanta: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and DIRECTV, primary sponsor of Clint Bowyer's #07 Chevrolet for six races on the 2007 Nextel Cup Series schedule, will unveil a new paint scheme for Bowyer's #07 entry at next weekend's Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This unique paint scheme will prominently feature the logo for the innovative new NASCAR HotPass service, exclusively available on DIRECTV. The new paint scheme is well-timed for DIRECTV as Bowyer continues an impressive start in his second year in NASCAR's top division. It also coincides with a strong overall start for RCR to the 2007 season. All three RCR entries are currently in the top six of the Nextel Cup Series championship point standings. Additionally, Kevin Harvick captured victory in spectacular fashion in last month's season-opening Daytona 500, the second Great America Race victory in RCR's storied history. More information is available on www.directv.com/hotpass.(RCR PR), see image of a DirecTV scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(3-11-2007)

  • Childress to Speak March 8 at Neurosurgeon Convention: Richard Childress will give a speech March 8 to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (AANS/CNS). The speech, entitled "The Importance of Teamwork," is part of the 2007 AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves Annual Meeting at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix. The 10-time NASCAR championship team owner and winning team owner of the 2007 Daytona 500 was invited to speak to the group by his friend, Charles L. Branch Jr., MD, chair of the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, and a practicing neurosurgeon at Wake Forest University Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.(RCR PR)(3-8-2007)

    2006 News

  • Neighbors not happy with RCR engine noise, RCR working on problem: Until a few months ago, racing the engines at the Richard Childress Racing [#'s 07,29,31,33 in Nextel Cup] garage in Welcome, NC was never a problem, according to residents. Then, the team cleared 10 acres of forest between its buildings and nearby neighborhoods for its expansion. Those trees served as a muffler for the noise. Now that they're gone, people say the noise is unbearable. Some neighbors said the noise rattles their windows. Monday night, the Davidson County Commissioners granted RCR a zoning request that green lights the expansion. While the neighbors were disappointed with the decision, RCR spokesman Bill Patterson said the racing team will plant cypress trees along the back property line to create a buffer. Patterson also said the team has spent $500,000 on reducing noise and will do more. Neighbors said they'd like to see a sound reduction wall.(wxii12.com)(12-12-2006)

  • BB&T Becomes Offical Bank of RCR; Will Sponsor Bowyer in Busch: BB&T Corporation and Richard Childress Racing have reached a two-year agreement for the full-service financial institution to sponsor RCR’s #2 Chevy and driver Clint Bowyer in the Busch Series and become the Official Bank of Richard Childress Racing. Bowyer is scheduled to compete in 17 races each in the 2007 and 2008 NASCAR Busch Series seasons.(RCR PR)(12-11-2006)

  • Bowyer and crew chief to fly in F-16s: On Wednesday, November 8, Bowyer, along with his crew chief Gil Martin, are scheduled to fly the friendly skies in F-16s courtesy of the 56th Fighter Wing based out of Luke Air Force Base in Goodyear, Ariz. Luke Air Force Base is the largest and only active-duty F-16 training base in the world with more than 200 F-16s assigned. The host command at Luke is the 56th Fighter Wing, under Air Education and Training Command's 19th Air Force. More than 470 pilots graduate from Luke annually and proceed to combat assignments throughout the world. The 56th Fighter Wing also trains more than 700 maintenance technicians each year. The unique opportunity presented itself back in April when Bowyer visited Luke on behalf of PIR's "Salute to Military Families" program.(RCR PR)(11-8-2006)

  • Bowyer NOT heading to the back at Texas: I had it listed below that #07-Clint Bowyer was going to the rear/back of the field before the drop of the green flag of the DIckies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway due to an engine change, been informed that is NOT the case as the car had a miss in the engine at the end of Friday's practice, which proved to be a spark plug, but the problem was remedied without having to change the motor.(11-5-2006)

  • #07 to carry Texas themed paint scheme: Clint Bowyer’s Jack Daniel’s #07-Chevy will carry a special Texas-themed paint scheme. Texas residents, 21 or older, voted online for one of three designs from April 1-June 4 and over 50% of those who voted chose the winning scheme. Die casts of this weekend’s car will be available for sale trackside at the Jack Daniel’s souvenir trailer.(RCR PR), see the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes Page.(11-1-2006)

  • DirecTV back on the #07 at Talladega: For the fourth and final time this season, Clint Bowyer's #07 Chevy will sport a DIRECTV paint scheme. DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital television service provider. DIRECTV is also the official satellite television service provider of NASCAR. The team's customary primary sponsor, Jack Daniel's, will be featured on the car's lower-rear quarter panels and deck lid.(RCR PR), see images of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(10-5-2006)

  • RCR Forms Partnership with Metris: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) is investing in a multi-million dollar partnership with Metris to utilize the Belgium-based company’s integrated metrology solutions for use in the production of the nine-time NASCAR champion racing organization’s engines and race cars. Metris, with U.S. operations in Detroit, California and Virginia, will supply RCR with proven high-technology metrology systems, both contact and optical, and the expertise to improve the aerodynamics and boost the performance of its engines. The partnership is another strategic move in RCR’s continuing bid to boost the performance of its cars with winning technology. “We’re partnering with Metris because of its impressive range of advanced metrology products,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “We’re confident that the expertise its engineers have demonstrated will help us to push the performance of our race cars to the next level. The technology involved in NASCAR today continues to grow and RCR’s partnership with Metris will put us on the cutting edge in both the engine and fabrication shops.” Metris provides integrated solutions for automotive and aerospace metrology. The portfolio comprises Coordinate-Measuring Machines (CMM), Optical CMM, 3D Laser Scanners, Laser Radar and iGPS systems along with Focus, the leading inspection and reverse engineering software. “Having Metris’ equipment on-site at RCR will help facilitate our engine and body fabrication sides of the business,” said Bobby Hutchens, RCR’s vice president of research and development. “On the fab side, it will provide us with the technology to more precisely duplicate our bodies and, on the engine side, will ensure that both the parts we purchase from outside sources as well as those produced by RCR’s Okuma Technology Center meet our current specifications.” More info about Metris at www.metris.com. (RCR PR)(9-22-2006)

  • Ex-employee's lawsuit claims improprieties in engine shop at RCR UPDATE Statement by Childress: .A lawsuit filed by a former Richard Childress Racing employee includes specific allegations that engines the team used in events at 2006 Speedweeks at Daytona were designed to defeat NASCAR rules. The team denies the allegations. Anthony Corrente, who lost his job as assistant manager for engine research and development for RCR earlier this year, filed his suit Wednesday in Mecklenburg County superior court. It alleges wrongful termination, defamation and breach of contract against the team, which fields Nextel Cup cars for #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton and #07-Clint Bowyer. Corrente said he inspected an engine from Harvick’s #29 Chevy after the Budweiser Shootout and found it had been altered to allow more air to enter, which would be contrary to the purpose of carburetor restrictor plates used at the Daytona track. “Inserts were placed in the four outside corners of the cylinder head where the manifold is attached,” the lawsuit says. When tightened, the bottom of the bolts hit these inserts, leaving room for air to get in between the intake manifold and the cylinder head. Such air would get to the engine beneath the restrictor plate, which is designed specifically to limit the flow of air. More air means more power, at least in theory. The suit also says that Burton won the pole for this year’s Daytona 500 with another engine that had the same modifications. Burton’s engine passed NASCAR inspection following the qualifying session. David Hart, a spokesman for Richard Childress Racing, said Thursday that Corrente’s allegations are untrue. “We will deal with them in the courts,” Hart said. Corrente left Joe Gibbs Racing in July 2005, signing a three-year contract with a two-year renewal option at RCR. He said he was fired after a conversation with Harvick in May during a test at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, where Harvick’s team had tested an engine built to Corrente’s specifications that differed from what the team had been doing. See full story by David Poole at ThatsRacin.(9-21-2006)
    UPDATE Statement by Richard Childress: The following is a statement from Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing (RCR), regarding allegations made in a lawsuit filed by a former employee: "The allegations made about RCR in a lawsuit filed by a disgruntled former employee are absolutely untrue. Specifically, our cars passed NASCAR inspection both before and after qualifying for the 2006 Daytona 500. Additional allegations made are also untrue. We will make no further comments until after the issue is resolved in a court of law."(RCR PR)(9-22-2006)

  • DirecTV back on the #07 at Dover: For the third time this season, Clint Bowyer's #07 Chevy will sport a DIRECTV paint scheme. DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital television service provider. DIRECTV is also the official satellite television service provider of NASCAR. The team's customary primary sponsor, Jack Daniel's, will be featured on the car's lower-rear quarter panels and deck lid. (RCR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(9-20-2006)

  • Peters to RCR? UPDATE: Dodge released Timothy Peters as driver of the Craftsman Series #4 truck, Bobby Hamilton Racing announced Tuesday. However, Peters shouldn’t be without a ride for long. After racing for two seasons with Bobby Hamilton Racing, Peters is expected to sign with Richard Childress Racing as early as this weekend in New Hampshire. Phone messages left with Richard Childress Racing were not immediately returned, and Peters said he couldn’t comment on his future. “I’m not at liberty to say anything,” he said. In 17 Truck Series races this season, Peters has one top-10 finish - placing sixth on June 23 at Milwaukee. He has three career top-10 finishes in 33 Truck Series starts, and is currently 19th in the points standings. “We brought Timothy Peters in as a rookie, and with some seat time under his belt he has proven to be a hot commodity,” team owner Bobby Hamilton said in a release. A potential deal with RCR would join Peters with Danville native Peyton Sellers, who is in RCR’s development program, and South Boston native Jeff Burton. For now the plan is to team back up with his Bailey’s South Boston team for the Bailey’s 300 late model race at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 1.(Danville Register Bee)(9-15-2006)
    UPDATE: Richard Childress Racing has signed Timothy Peters as a driver for its 2007 NASCAR Busch Series program. Peters raced the past two seasons in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Bobby Hamilton Racing. A determination is forthcoming as to which of RCR’s Busch teams he will drive for. RCR is also scheduled to field a car for Peters in the Oct. 7 ARCA race at Talladega.(RCRRacing.com)(9-19-2006)

  • Happy Birthday Jack scheme at Bristol: Mr. Jack . Bowyer's Jack Daniel's Chevy will sport a commemorative "Happy Birthday Jack" paint scheme this weekend at Bristol. Jasper Newton 'Jack' Daniel would have turned 156 in September.(RCR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(8-24-2006)

  • Downhome Punch at MIS for Bowyer: Clint Bowyer’s #07 Chevy will feature a Jack Daniel’s Downhome Punch paint scheme this weekend at MIS. John Carlson of Grove City, Ohio is the lucky winner of the Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails “Chose Your Favorite Car” sweepstakes. In addition to a Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails Racing Party Pack, Carlson will attend this weekend’s race at MIS as a guest of Jack Daniel’s and meet Bowyer on Sunday morning prior to the race.(RCR PR) see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(8-16-2006)

  • Bowyer to test for road course today: On Wednesday, August 9, #07-Clint Bowyer will spend the day at Carolina Motorsports Park, a 2.2-mile road course in Kershaw, S.C. testing transmissions as the Nextel Cup Series heads into its final road race of the season.(RCR PR)(8-9-2006)

  • Pocono Combatants Called in by NASCAR to talk: #20-Tony Stewart, #07-Clint Bowyer and #99-Carl Edwards were called to the NASCAR hauler Saturday for a chat with NASCAR president Mike Helton. Those three drivers were involved in a crash two weeks ago at Pocono when Stewart deliberately turned into Bowyer, causing Bowyer to hit Edwards. No one was saying exactly what was discussed, but no doubt Helton warned the drivers to mind their manners today in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.(Dallas Morning News)(8-6-2006)

  • Bowyer not satisfied with Stewart 'apology': #07-Clint Bowyer said Friday he and #20-Tony Stewart had talked about their incident at Pocono Raceway last weekend, but Bowyer didn't sound like he was satisfied with the discussion. Stewart bumped Bowyer on lap 32 of the Pennsylvania 500 after what Stewart later described was a lack of patience on Bowyer's part. On Monday, Stewart issued an apology to the media, but Bowyer said his talk with Stewart didn't seem like an apology. "I don't know exactly what you'd want to call it," Bowyer said. "I don't know if Tony knows what an apology is. It's probably as close as you're going to get with Tony." Bowyer didn't speak with the media at Pocono, leaving the garage area after also failing to talk with Stewart. But Bowyer did speak his mind to reporters at Gateway. "We drove from 14th to sixth in the first run, in 12 laps," Bowyer said. "It wasn't like we didn't have a fast car. It's a very long race. We over-adjusted a little bit and got the car too loose. I basically was giving spots up. I gave away four before him. I moved over to let him have it, but instead of going to the inside, he went to the outside. I guess he thought I was racing him. That's the biggest thing about the whole thing: I was trying to get out of his way. Somehow, he took it the wrong way and wrecked me for it."(SceneDaily.com)(7-30-2006)

  • Tire Air Pressure Tricks? A number of stock-car crews have been playing with tire tricks the past year, trying to prevent excessive air pressure build-up and improve handling over long runs. Two of the tricks have been installing illegal air-pressure bleeders in the valve stems, and the drilling of very tiny holes in the sidewalls, which is not specifically illegal. So when NASCAR officials confiscated Clint Bowyer's left-front tire at Martinsville after Saturday's Busch race, there were a lot of questions in the Nextel Cup garage at Pocono Speedway. But Mike Dillon, the director of team operations for Bowyer's car owner, Richard Childress, said that it was much ado about nothing. "Our left-front was leaking," Dillon said. "It was a valve stem leaking, but it was leaking at the rim, a bad seal or just not tight. A lot of people have been experimenting with bleeders, and I know there are guys drilling holes in sidewalls, too, to control the air. But if you wanted to use a bleeder at Martinsville, you'd want your left-rear to bleed.I don't think anything will come from it. We've talked with our crew chiefs, and they assured us there wasn't anything going on." Crew chiefs say that some tires have such naturally thin sidewalls that, even without doctoring, if they were submerged in a big vat of water, air would bubble out from a number of areas. "I had a tire at Michigan that actually lost seven pounds of air during a tire run, instead of having an air pressure build-up," one team manager said.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-25-2006)

  • Sylvania colors for Bowyer at NHIS: Clint Bowyer's #07 Chevy will sport an orange, white and black Sylvania paint scheme this weekend at NHIS. Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American lighting operation of OSRAM GmbH. Together they are the second-largest lighting and materials enterprise in the world, serving customers in more than 140 countries. Bowyer's standard primary sponsor, Jack Daniel's, is featured on the car's lower-rear quarter panel and on the trunk lid this week.(RCR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(7-12-2006)

  • Childress interested in Gilliland: [#07,#29,#31] team owner Richard Childress said Sunday [at Infineon Raceway] that he is among those interested in signing David Gilliland to a contract. Gilliland, currently driving without a contract for a part-time, unsponsored entry in the Busch Series, has seen his stock skyrocket since winning the June 17 Busch race at Kentucky, then getting a weak car into Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Sonoma. "He's probably the hottest young commodity out there today," said Childress, who currently fields three Cup cars and won six Cup championships with the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. "There are several teams here that will be after him, but he'd definitely be a good fit for us." Childress noted that Gilliland's good character and family background (his father Butch was also a NASCAR driver) play into the 30-year-old's favor. Childress didn't shy away from expressing his interest in Gilliland, but said the driver might be better served to get more time in the Busch Series. Gilliland has just seven career Busch starts and made his Cup debut Sunday. "I think he has all it takes to become a Cup driver, I'll put it like that," Childress said. "I think he could win races in the Cup Series. I believe if I was him, I'd run a few more Busch races (first)."(Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)(6-26-2006)

  • Harvick & Bowyer skipping Happy Hour: #29-Kevin Harvick and #07-Clint Bowyer will skip Saturday morning's final 45-minute Nextel Cup practice session at Infineon Raceway to give them a little extra time to get to The Milwaukee Mile for the Busch Series race that night. The first practice for NASCAR's Cup teams ends at 10:15 a.m. Pacific - 12:15 p.m. in Milwaukee - and Harvick and Bowyer will leave after that. Four other drivers doing the double - #11-Denny Hamlin, #99-Carl Edwards, #18-J.J. Yeley and #5-Kyle Busch - all plan to stay for the final 45-minute session, which ends at 1:55pm/ct. All of the drivers have substitutes ready to practice and qualify: Harvick has Randy LaJoie, Bowyer has Brandon Miller, Hamlin has Aric Almirola, Yeley has Casey Atwood, Edwards has Hank Parker Jr. and Busch has Dennis Setzer.(SceneDaily.com)(6-24-2006)

  • DirecTV back on the #07 at Pocono: For the second time this season, Clint Bowyer's #07 Chevy will sport a DIRECTV paint scheme. DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital television service provider. DIRECTV is also the official satellite television service provider of NASCAR. The team's customary primary sponsor, Jack Daniel's, will be featured on the car's lower-rear quarter panel and deck lid.(RCR PR), the scheme also raced at Martinsville in April and is scheduled to race at Talladega in October 8, see images on my #07 Team Schemes page.(6-8-2006)

  • Get Well: Barry "Hillbilly" Sheppard, transporter driver for Richard Childress Racing's #07 Jack Daniel's team, is resting comfortably at his home in Stuart, Va., after falling ill May 4 at Dover International Speedway. Tests at Kent General Hospital in Dover ruled out a cardiac episode as originally suspected though an exact cause of his illness is yet to be determined. He is expected to make a full recovery but will be off the road until he receives full medical clearance. Jeff Price will fill in for the Jack Daniel's team until Sheppard's return.(RCR PR)(6-8-2006)

  • Special #07 Scheme at LMS: Clint Bowyer’s #07 Chevy will sport a Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails paint scheme during this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 festivities at LMS. Bowyer will travel to the Pocono Mountains on Tuesday to participate in the Stock Car Experience at Pocono Raceway to help familiarize himself with the tricky, triangular-shaped track. Bowyer has yet to race or see the 2.5-mile racetrack.(RCR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes age.(5-25-2006)

  • New colors for Bowyer at Richmond: Clint Bowyer's #07 Chevy will feature a new look this weekend to highlight Prilosec OTC's sponsorship of RCR. Bowyer's mainstay sponsor Jack Daniel's will be featured on the car's lower-rear quarter panel and on the deck lid.(RCR PR), see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(5-3-2006)

  • Childress Vineyards Set to Release Racing Collection: Childress Vineyards is set to release its first collection of race-related wine sets celebrating the championship style of RCR Racing, one of NASCAR’s most winning franchises owned by Richard Childress. The Collector’s Edition sets will feature “Champion’s Blend” Meritage Red Wine individually boxed with two etched crystal Childress Vineyards logo wine glasses. Each of RCR’s car numbers, #29, #31, #21, and #2, will have its own label while a special bottling, called “Legendary,” is planned for the #3. The “Legendary” Limited Collector’s Edition will come in a boxed set along with two etched crystal wine glasses, featuring the number 3. Members of Childress Vineyards Fast Track Wine Club will have the first opportunity to order the Collector’s Edition boxed sets until April 30. Remaining supplies will go on sale to the general public on Monday, May 15 with a limit of 3 per person. The sets will be sold exclusively at the winery in Lexington, N.C. Each will retail for $99.99. Wine club members will receive a discount of 15%.(RCR)(5-3-2006)

  • New spotter for Bowyer: Fedawa: Busch Series veteran driver Tim Fedewa has joined Richard Childress Racing (RCR) as the spotter for Clint Bowyer's #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy in the Nextel Cup Series and the #2 ACDelco Chevy in the Busch Series. "It's pretty exciting to be part of a championship organization like RCR," said Fedewa. "Up until just a few weeks ago, I was spotting some Busch races on Saturday's but I knew I wanted to work on Sunday's too. (Mike) Dillon saw me on the spotter's stand and asked me who I was spotting for and I told him who it was, but that it was only on a temporary basis. He asked me if would consider spotting for Clint on both days. It was too good of an offer to turn down. We've got a couple races under our belts already and it seems to be working out pretty well."(RCR PR)(4-26-2006)

  • #07 Team Takes PIt Crew Honors at Phoenix: Clint Bowyer's pit crew captured the Checkers / Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge competition in Saturday night's race at Phoenix International Raceway, helping propel its rookie driver to a Nextel Cup career-high fifth-place finish. The program awards $10,500 per week to the [eligible] pit crew of the car spending the least amount of time on pit road. In addition, the pit crew with the most wins will be awarded a $105,000 bonus at the completion of the 36-race schedule. "The guys did a good job on pit road," said Gil Martin, crew chief of Bowyer's #07 Chevrolet. "They stayed in sync pretty well and Clint did a good job getting on and off pit road. The guys were consistent and we did what we needed to do. They beat everybody off of pit road towards the end of the race, so that shows how well they kept their composure. All-in-all, it was a very good night." Bowyer's Jack Daniel's machine spent 266.258 seconds on pit road during the 312-lap race. Bowyer's over-the-wall crew consists of: Carey Wimbish (jackman), Dail Long (front-tire carrier), Shane Westerberg (front-tire changer), Dustin Stanley (rear-tire carrier), Tommy Wallace (rear-tire changer), Ron Liddell (gasman), Clint Almquist (catch can) and Troy Welty (windshield). The team's pit stop coordinator is Corinne Mauldin. Bowyer's crew, part of the Richard Childress Racing stable, becomes the sixth different team to win the Checkers/Rally's weekly competition. Pit crews for Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, Elliott Sadler, and Denny Hamlin have also scored wins. The Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge is in its second season with the Nextel Cup Series.
    Checkers/Rally's is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR, more info at checkers.com.
    2006 Nextel Cup Winners
    Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge
    Daytona (2/19) Jimmie Johnson Team
    California (2/26) Jimmie Johnson Team
    Las Vegas (3/12) Kyle Busch Team
    Atlanta (3/20) Tony Stewart Team
    Bristol (3/26) Tony Stewart Team
    Martinsville (4/2) Elliott Sadler Team
    Texas (4/9) Denny Hamlin Team
    Phoenix (4/22) Clint Bowyer Team
    (DMF Communications PR)(4-26-2006)

  • Sylvania scheme on #07 at Phoenix: Clint Bowyer's #07 Richard Childress Racing Chevy will sport an orange and white Sylvania paint scheme this weekend at Phoenix. Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American lighting operation of OSRAM GmbH. Together they are the second-largest lighting and materials enterprise in the world, serving customers in more than 140 countries. Bowyer's standard primary sponsor, Jack Daniel's, is featured on the car's lower-rear quarter panel and on the trunk lid this week.(RCR PR), no image yet, but Bowyer ran a Sylvania scheme on RCR's #33 Chevy last year in this race.(4-18-2006)

  • Rule Violations Result in Suspension, Fine for #07 Team: NASCAR has announced that one member of the #07 Jack Daniel's/DirecTV Chevy team has been suspended and another has been fined, as a result of rule violations during this past Sunday’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event at Martinsville Speedway. Crew member Clint Almquist has been suspended from NASCAR until April 19, 2006 [misses Texas] and placed on probation until June 7, 2006 for violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rule book. During Sunday’s race, Almquist on one occasion did not place racing fuel in the designated collection area. Crew chief Gil Martin was fined $2,500 for violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 9-4-A (crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members).(NASCAR PR)(4-5-2006)

  • New look for #07 at Martinsville: The #07 Chevy will sport a new look this weekend as DIRECTV assumes the primary sponsorship role on Bowyer’s Chevy. DIRECTV will also be showcased on his entry in June at Pocono and this fall at Talladega. Bowyer’s customary primary sponsor Jack Daniel’s will be featured on the car’s lower quarter panels and the trunk lid. DIRECTV is also the entitlement sponsor of this weekend’s race.(RCR PR), see an image on my #07 Teams Schemes page.(3-29-2006)

  • DirecTV to sponsor RCR? UPDATE 2: looks like DirecTV will be an associate sponsor on the #07 Jack Daniel's RCR Chevy Clint Bowyer will drive in 2006. See the schemes on my #07 Team Schemes page.(1-31-2006)
    UPDATE: NASCAR partner DIRECTV has announced an official partnership with Richard Childress Racing (RCR), one of NASCAR’s premier racing teams. Through the partnership, DIRECTV will be an associate sponsor of the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevy and its driver, Clint Bowyer, during the 2006 Nextel Cup Series season. The association with RCR aligns DIRECTV with one of the sport’s most well-respected racing programs and one of the sport’s most exciting young drivers. DIRECTV also will be primary sponsor of the #07 Chevy at three Nextel Cup Series races this season at Martinsville (April 2), Pocono (June 11) and Talladega (October 8).
    As the nation’s leading digital TV service, DIRECTV has a long history with NASCAR, though this announcement marks the company’s first official sponsorship of a Nextel Cup team. The service has become an integral part of the sport by providing millions of fans the opportunity for the most enhanced, unique NASCAR viewing experience at home and trackside. DIRECTV has also become a critical piece of racing equipment for crew chiefs, as teams up and down pit road rely on the digital picture and sound to aid spotters and monitor car performance throughout the entire race. The partnership with RCR and Clint Bowyer will enable DIRECTV to create consumer marketing and retail promotions targeting NASCAR's loyal fan base. In addition, the relationship will provide DIRECTV the opportunity to increase awareness of its new DIRECTV Plus ® DVR among race fans and emphasize current and future features that will enhance their race viewing experience.(RCR Site)(2-10-2006)
    UPDATE 2: RCR, along with DIRECTV, will unveil a new look for the #07 Chevy Friday, March 24 at 10a.m. in Victory Lane at Bristol Motor Speedway. The #07 DIRECTV Chevrolet will make its debut the following weekend in the DIRECTV 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Driver Clint Bowyer, crew chief Gil Martin and senior vice president of advertising and public relations, Jon Gieselman, from DIRECTV will be on hand for the unveiling.(RCR PR)(3-22-2006)

  • HBO's Sopranos to sponsor #07 Chevy at Las Vegas: The Soprano will join the NASCAR ranks by sponsoring Richard Childress Racing’s (RCR) #07 Chevy and driver Clint Bowyer in the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The one-race sponsorship is part of HBO’s marketing campaign to promote the hit drama’s season premiere, which will air Sunday, March 12 at 9:00pm/et. The Sopranos logo will be showcased on the hood and on the quarter panels of Bowyer’s #07. Some of the show’s other businesses are also getting into the act, as the Bada Bing logo will be on the car’s rear quarter panel. The #07 team’s crew uniforms will also include a patch advertising Satriale’s Pork Store.(RCR PR), See am image on my #07 Team Schemes page.(2-23-2006)

  • Jack Daniel's sets pace with new public service announcement: Working with NASCAR and the Century Council, the Jack Daniel Distillery is launching a new public service announcement as part of its ongoing efforts to encourage adults of legal drinking age to drink responsibly and know their limits when consuming alcoholic beverages. The debut of the :30-second spot titled "Pace Yourself" will coincide with the beginning of the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup season. The public service announcement features Master Distiller Jimmy Bedford - who's also a farmer - cruising the country roads of Lynchburg, TN in what at first glance appears to be a car. As the camera pans out, however, you see him on a tractor being followed by a long line of cars. As he travels at his own pace, he suggests that friends of Jack Daniel's do the same, reminding them to "know your limits, no matter what everyone else is doing around you. Pace Yourself. Drink Responsibly." The spot then directs viewers to b4udrink.org, the Century Council's website to educate the public on drinking and driving laws in each state. The site's Blood Alcohol Educator (BAE) helps educate the public about Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels and how alcohol affects you as an individual. By using the BAE, a person can quickly learn how alcohol affects their BAC level in a safe and alcohol-free environment. In addition to national distribution of the PSA, the "Pace Yourself" spot will also be featured on the Jack Daniel's racing website, jackdanielsracing.com, as well as Richard Childress Racing's site rcrracing.com.(RCR PR)(2-10-2006)

  • Special JD schemes: #07-Clint Bowyer is scheduled to run a Jack Daniel's Country Cooler's scheme at Lowe's Motor Speedweay in May for the Coca-Cola 600 a Jack Daniel's Soprano's scheme at Las Vegas in March. See the schemes on my #07 Team Schemes page.(2-8-2006)

  • RCR Personnel Moves: Mike Brown has been named director of licensing for Richard Childress Racing (RCR), replacing Chuck Spicer who has assumed the new position of director of competition business operations. Brown is responsible for all aspects of RCR's licensing programs. He has been involved in the sales, marketing and licensing end of the NASCAR industry for more than a decade, most recently in a three-year stint as director of sales and marketing with Team Caliber. Prior to that, he spent more than four years as director of licensing for International Speedway Corporation (ISC), establishing and then supervising the sales, marketing, licensing and purchasing activities of its Charlotte office. Spicer's new responsibilities include RCR's driver development and diversity programs, team travel, engine department business opportunities, and to serve as the liaison between the competition and business sides of the company. He served as RCR's licensing director since moving from Bill Davis Racing in December 2000.(RCR PR)(1-22-2006)

    2005 News

  • Hamlin leaves RCR for BDR? hearing [or have learned] that crew chief Kevin Hamlin has left Richard Childress Racing and will be the new crew chief at Bill Davis Racing for Dave Blaney and the #22 Caterpillar Dodge with former #22 crew chief Derrick Finley moving over to the #55 NAPA Auto Parts Dodge that Michael Waltrip will drive in 2006.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio show/Sporting News)(11-29-2005)

  • Blaney to the #22 car? Bill Davis Racing is expected to announce soon it has signed Dave Blaney to replace Scott Wimmer for next season [in the #22 Caterpillar Dodge]. Mike Brown, general manager at Bill Davis Racing, said the team has made its selection and expects to make an announcement in about 10 days. Brown wouldn't confirm Blaney as the choice, but acknowledged Blaney would make a good fit for the High Point-based team. "It would be a welcome sight for the guys at the shop," Brown said of Blaney returning. Blaney drove for the team from 1999-2001. He also drove six Cup races for Davis in 2004 before joining Richard Childress Racing for this season.(Roanoke Times)(11-19-2005)

  • Blaney hopes to sign 2006 deal soon: Dave Blaney is still in search of a full-time ride. He's been rumored to be a leading candidate with more than one team, including former associate Bill Davis Racing. Blaney confirmed Tuesday that he expects to seal a deal for a full-time ride perhaps as soon as next week. He's in negotiations with more than one team. Once a contract is completed, the owner could have an announcement shortly thereafter. "Hopefully, we have a contract done enough where they can announce it when they want," Blaney said. "All I can say is that I think we're close."Tribune Chronicle)(11-10-2005)

  • RCR Shuffles Cup Series Crew Chief Lineup: Two of Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) NASCAR Cup Series teams will swap crew chiefs next week in preparation for the 2006 season. Scott Miller, current crew chief on the #07 Jack Daniel's team, will assume the crew chief position on the #31 Cingular Wireless team with driver Jeff Burton for the final two races this season and next year. Kevin Hamlin, current crew chief on the #31 Cingular Wireless team, will move to the #07 Jack Daniel's team for the rest of this season with driver Dave Blaney. He will be assisted by Gil Martin who, it was announced in October, will be the crew chief for the team next year with new driver Clint Bowyer. Hamlin has been offered another position within the RCR organization at the conclusion of this season. "We're making these moves next week to get a head start on 2006," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "We had already announced that Gil was going to be the Jack Daniel's team crew chief for 2006 so it made sense to get him running as quickly as possible. We have put Scott Miller and Jeff Burton together on the Cingular Wireless team in an effort to take the success the team has had this season to the next level. Kevin Hamlin has been a valuable part of RCR for many years and we look forward to him continuing to contribute to our success in the future." Martin will remain as the crew chief for Bowyer and the #2 ACDelco team in their quest for the 2005 NASCAR Busch Series championship. Jeremy Bullins, the team's engineer who will also move to the #07 Jack Daniel's team next season, will assist Hamlin and Martin for the balance of the season. "This in no way will take away from the effort Clint, Gil and the ACDelco team will give toward winning the Busch championship," said Childress. "They've still got a good shot at it and Gil has great guys working for him on both teams so we won't let him get overloaded from either direction."(RCR PR)(11-2-2005)

  • Blaney Looking: Dave Blaney, current driver of the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy, reported he had no change in the prospects in picking up a ride for next season. He did say he would consider going back to Bill Davis Racing to take over the #22 next season as replacement for released Scott Wimmer.(High Point Enterprise)(10-29-2005)

  • Jack Daniel's Texas Scheme to be unveiled Nov 2nd: Race fans in the Lone Star State have spoken and the special "Pride of Texas" paint scheme for the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy will be unveiled at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday, November 2nd. The special unveiling will take place at the AAC in the West Concourse at 6:30pm, prior to the Dallas Star's hockey game. The #07 Chevy will sport the special Texas-themed paint scheme in the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 6th. Jack Daniel's Master Distiller Jimmy Bedford will be on hand to sign autographs, and race fans are invited to bring their cameras and take pictures of the special Lone Star State design that won the most online votes among three different paint schemes. Race fans and folks in Texas have been going to the Jack Daniel's racing website (www.jackracing.com/texas) for the past month and choosing their favorite from three different paint schemes for the car - all specially designed to honor the great state of Texas. Car owner Richard Childress, driver Dave Blaney and Bedford will also be making appearances throughout the weekend.(RCR PR), see the choice on my #07 Team Schemes page.(10-26-2005)

  • What's up with Blaney for 2006: Dave Blaney, who will be replaced by Clint Bowyer in the #07 RCR car in 2006, has spoken with team owner Cal Wells [#32 Tide Chevy] but is waiting to see how Silly Season shakes out before committing to a ride.(Sporting News)(10-17-2005)

  • Blaney out? Bowyer in? UPDATE 2 OFFICIAL Jack Daniel's extends: Richard Childress Racing has a press conference scheduled this Friday afternoon at Lowe's Motor Speedway and speculation is the team will announce current Busch Series driver Clint Bowyer as the new pilot for the team's Jack Daniels #07 NEXTEL Cup ride next year. Bowyer would replace current driver Dave Blaney in a move that could possibly include another full-time Busch season in the team's AC Delco #2 in addition to the NEXTEL Cup slate.(RacingOne)
    NOTE: the LMS press confernence sched has the RCR press conference being on Saturday, Oct 15th not Friday.(10-12-2005)
    UPDATE: Dave Blaney is looking for a new job now that Busch Series driver Clint Bowyer is taking his seat at Richard Childress Racing. The Bowyer announcement is scheduled for Saturday, but Blaney is already working the garage looking for new work. "I don't know where I'm going to be at next year. That's all I know," Blaney said. "There's still a lot things that could happen with other things going on, obviously with Penske and Roush and Ganassi and all that. So, who knows? Hopefully in the next couple of weeks, we'll know."(ESPN.com/AP)(10-15-2005)
    UPDATE 2 - OFFICIAL: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and the Jack Daniel Distillery announced today that Jack Daniel's has extended its primary sponsorship of RCR's #07 Chevy through 2009. At the same time, both organizations announced that Clint Bowyer, a native of Emporia, Kansas, will drive the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy for the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series campaign. Bowyer, currently second in the NASCAR Busch Series championship chase, will be accompanied by crew chief Gil Martin as the proven duo pursue the 2006 NEXTEL Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award. Bowyer will also race for the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series title returning to the seat of RCR's #2 ACDelco Chevy.
    "RCR is very pleased to take our partnership with Jack Daniel's to the next level," commented Richard Childress, President and CEO of RCR. "Clint Bowyer has done an exceptional job driving the #2 ACDelco Chevy in the Busch Series and has certainly proven himself worthy of this opportunity. I have no doubt he's ready to take the next step and move to the NEXTEL Cup Series. Clint and Gil (Martin) have great chemistry and have demonstrated they are a winning combination. We have very high expectations for this program and are confident that both Clint and Gil will be excellent representatives for Jack Daniel's both on and off the track."
    "I would also like to thank Dave Blaney for everything he's done, not only for RCR but for all he's done for Jack Daniel's as well," added Childress. "Dave is a first class driver and I'm proud to say he drove for RCR. We were lucky to have him and wish him nothing but the best."
    Bowyer, 26, made his NEXTEL Cup Series debut earlier this season at Phoenix International Raceway, posting a 22nd-place finish driving the #33 Sylvania Chevy. A veteran of 48 NASCAR Busch Series starts, Bowyer scored his first career Busch Series win earlier this season at Nashville Superspeedway. The Emporia, Kan., driver also owns 14 top-five and 25 top-10 finishes in a scorecard that reads like that of a NASCAR journeyman.
    "It's a dream come true for me," explained Bowyer. "This is exactly what I've worked my whole life for - trying to get a shot. Fortunately, I'm getting a shot with one of the best car owners in the business and one of the newest and coolest sponsors in the series. I'm really excited to be a part of it. At the same time I'm excited about what Gil and I have built on the Busch side with the ACDelco team. Hopefully we can continue that success and take it to the next level in the NEXTEL Cup Series."
    "We can't thank Richard Childress and his team enough for everything they've done to make our entry into NASCAR racing so special," said John Hayes, Vice President Americas Brand Director for Jack Daniel's. "We couldn't have chosen a better partner than RCR, and we are excited to extend this relationship and continue to build excitement around the Jack Daniel's racing team, the 07 Chevy and our 'Pace Yourself. Drink Responsibly.' message. Richard Childress is a winner. Clint Bowyer is a winner. And we're confident it won't be long until the Jack Daniel's Chevy pulls into Victory Lane." Bowyer will make his debut in the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy at the Daytona 500 Sunday, February 19, 2006 at Daytona International Speedway.(RCR PR)(10-15-2005)

  • Congratulations to Jack Daniel’s Racing Team car chief Kirk Almquist and his wife Elisa on the birth of their first child. Kody Joseph Almquist was born on Tuesday, September 27 at 11:04 a.m. and weighed in at eight pounds four ounces.(RCR)(9-28-2005)

  • RCR Joins The Motorsport Industry Association: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has been accepted as the newest international member of the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA), and the UK association's first US-based NASCAR stock car racing team organization. The MIA works tirelessly to strengthen its network of contacts within the worldwide motorsport industry, including the NASCAR sector, and the membership for RCR will open up the world market through the MIA's membership on all continents.
    Chris Aylett, CEO of the MIA, said "North Carolina, USA and Motorsport Valley in the UK are far closer than geography suggests. The culture of the motorsport businesses in both of these highly successful business communities is based on success. RCR's decision to join the MIA and become the first NASCAR team to do so cements the closeness of those relationships. The MIA will offer access to a truly global motorsport business network from which RCR will gain commercial and competitive advantage. I am delighted that this outstanding company has chosen to join our membership, and we look forward to helping them succeed in whatever way we can."
    "RCR is honored to be the first NASCAR team to be accepted into the Motorsport Industry Association," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "The process began when we hired Nick Hayes (former technical director for Cosworth) earlier this year to head our engine research and development program. Gaining a competitive edge in racing is very important, whether it's NASCAR, Formula 1 or at the local dirt track. Being an MIA member will provide RCR with the opportunity to build relationships to achieve that edge and we hope to be able do the same for other members."
    The MIA is a truly global network and has a strong presence in both the UK and the US as well as a liaison office in the Far East. The MIA offers a wide range of motorsport-specific services including market research, conferences, networking events and exhibitions, as well as a number of trade missions to events in the US, the Gulf, and the Far East. For more info on the MIA and its international events, see the-mia.com.(RCR PR)(9-24-2005)

  • New Hires at RCR: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has hired Tom Knox as its managing director of business development and promoted Jason Garrow to the director of sponsor services. Knox will be responsible for evaluating and pursuing new business opportunities, leading the efforts to add to RCR's family of sponsors and technical partners and working with RCR's sponsor services group to bring additional opportunities to its partners. The Wayne, N.J., native comes to RCR from Rusty Wallace, Inc., where he had been since 1999 and last held the position of vice president of business development. From 1997-99, he was a sales account manager with NASCAR's New York office. Knox earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Fairfield University in 1994 and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from Seton Hall University in 1997.
    Garrow will oversee day-to-day business activities and client activation with current sponsors, manage sponsors' event and at-track activities, work with RCR partners to leverage their sponsorship assets and help develop new marketing activities and services for RCR. The Marshall, Minn., native had been RCR's senior sponsorship manager since February 2003. A 1992 graduate of Augustana College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration/Economics, he earned a Master of Science degree in Sports Management in 1996 from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.(RCR)(9-15-2005)

  • DEI and RCR...merge? a merger between RCR and Dale Earnhardt Inc. is rumored to be in the works. Although DEI vice president Richie Gilmore says the partnership will involve nothing more than promotional plans, the two organizations enjoyed a beneficial aerodynamic alliance several years ago. Considering the strength of powerhouses Roush and Hendrick Motorsports, a marriage between RCR and DEI would move their programs up a level. Another benefit? Dale Earnhardt Jr. could follow in his late father's footsteps in an RCR car.(Sporting News)(9-5-2005)

  • Blaney and Burton testing at Milwaukee: Dave Blaney and the #07 Jack Daniel’s Racing Team and Jeff Burton and #31 Team Cingular are scheduled to test at The Milwaukee Mile on Wednesday, August 31 in preparation for the upcoming Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway.(RCR PR)(8-31-2005)

  • Jack Daniel's Birthday Celebration at Bristol, special scheme: It might be a couple days early, but the folks at the Jack Daniel Distillery are planning to celebrate the birthday of their founder, Mr. Jack, on August 27th with the 160,000-plus race fans at the Bristol Motor Speedway for the Sharpie 500. "We annually celebrate Mr. Jack's birthday in September across the world, but due to our affiliation with Richard Childress Racing and the millions of race fans across the country, we decided to kick off the celebration a little early with the fans at Bristol," said John Hayes, Jack Daniel's National Brand Manager. "We certainly couldn't pass up the chance to celebrate his birthday in the home state of the Distillery. We think Mr. Jack would be proud, and we're looking forward to one heck of a party." To mark the special occasion, the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet Monte Carlo will feature a "Happy Birthday, Jack" special paint scheme during the Bristol race. The open-to-the-public Birthday celebration will kick off at 9 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m., giving plenty of time for race fans to get to their seats for the big race. The Jack Daniel's Experience - a 53-foot tractor trailer filled with artifacts, state-of-the art video monitors, sound system and graphics will be on hand to give race fans a "taste of Lynchburg and the Distillery." #07 driver Dave Blaney, Master Distiller Jimmy Bedford, Richard Childress and other Jack Daniel's personalities will be on hand through out the day to meet with race fans. Other highlights will include a racing simulator, the #07 Jack Daniel's show car, live musical entertainment, games, Bedford's Jack Daniel's 100th anniversary Heritage Soft Tail Harley-Davidson, and, of course, birthday cake in honor of the Distillery's founder- who would have turned 155 this September!
    Jasper Newton 'Jack' Daniel was the first to register his distillery with the federal government in 1866. Still today, the Distillery in Lynchburg (pop. 361), Tenn., is where every drop of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey is produced, bottled and distributed to the more than 140 countries where Jack Daniel's is sold today. Jack Daniel's reminds its friends to Pace Yourself. Drink Responsibly.(RCR PR) see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(8-23-2005)

  • Miller takes over as #07 Crew Chief: Scott Miller will assume the crew chief duties for Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) #07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet and driver Dave Blaney effective immediately. Miller moves over to the #07 camp after being team manager/engineer for RCR's #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy and driver Kevin Harvick. He boasts two career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series wins as a crew chief, most recently in April at Bristol Motor Speedway where he led Harvick to Victory Lane in Todd Berrier's absence. The Bardstown, Ky., native also won in March of 2003 at the famed Darlington Raceway while calling the shots for Ricky Craven [when in the #32]. "The performance of the Jack Daniel's team was not where we expected it to be so we decided to make this change and bring Scott Miller over from the Goodwrench team to be the crew chief for the (No.) 07 team," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "Scott brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience to the Jack Daniel's team. He called the GM Goodwrench team's victory this year at Bristol when Todd was out so he knows how to win races as a crew chief at the NEXTEL Cup level. We want to give Dave Blaney the best opportunity we can and I think moving Scott in as crew chief for him is a step in the right direction." Former crew chief Philippe Lopez has been offered a position in RCR's research and development department. Andy Street will fill Miller's former role with the GM Goodwrench Team.(RCR)(8-15-2005)

  • Childress says all 3 teams will remain intact for 2006: [Team owner Richard] Childress said his three teams will return intact next season: "We're pretty much set on everything right now." All three drivers, #31-Jeff Burton, #29-Kevin Harvick and #07-Dave Blaney, will be back with their current crew chiefs, Kevin Hamlin, Todd Berrier and Philippe Lopez? "Yes, as far as I know," Childress said.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-25-2005)

  • Marlin to the #43? Contrary to the belief held by many, Sterling Marlin will not replace Dave Blaney in the Richard Childress Racing-owned #07 Chevrolet in 2006. On the surface, that move made sense, as the sponsor of the #07 is Tennessee-based Jack Daniels Whiskey, and Marlin is one of Tennessee's favorite sons. But it's not happening. [Yahoo] originally heard Marlin was heading to the #0 Chevy to replace Mike Bliss, but banter now has Marlin going to Petty Enterprises and the #43 to replace Jeff Green, as Marlin and his father Coo Coo have been longtime friends of the Petty family. Green isn't necessarily happy at Petty, anyway, as that team isn't giving him a car good enough to show off his talents. As for the #07 in '06, Blaney's not going anywhere – he's a lock to stay in the car for next season, providing a good buffer to teammates Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton. It doesn't hurt that Blaney is one of team owner Richard Childress' favorite people in racing.(Yahoo Sports)(7-25-2005)

  • RCR makes changes in the engine dept: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) continues to make personnel moves to improve its championship-winning engine department. Engine shop manager Spenny Clendenen, an RCR employee since 1985 and head engine builder from 1995 to 1997, has been named to the position of general manager in charge of the department’s business and administrative responsibilities. He will also be the focal point for RCR’s customer engine program, which furnishes engines for Kevin Harvick, Inc. (Busch and Truck), PPI Motorsports (NEXTEL Cup) and Morgan-Dollar Motorsports (Truck). Rick Mann has been named chief engine builder and will oversee all competition-related responsibilities. He brings 17 years of NASCAR engine building experience and nearly 30 years of overall engine building experience to his new position. Assistant engine shop manager Danny Lawrence, an RCR employee since 1985 and head engine builder from 1998 to 2001, has been named assistant chief engine builder. He will responsible for all at-track activities involving RCR’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series team engine tuners and will assist Mann at the shop. "I think the reorganization we’ve made is a positive new start to our entire engine department,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. ”We’ve had tremendous growth at RCR over the past couple of years and the workload we’ve asked our management group to be responsible for was keeping us from achieving the success I know we’re capable of. These moves, in addition to bringing on Nick Hayes to head up our engine research and development department, have put RCR in a much better position to reach the goals we’ve set for ourselves.” A new engine shop manager will be named at a later date.(RCR Site)(7-8-2005)
    AND Nick Hayes has been named by Richard Childress Racing (RCR) as its engine research and development director and will lead all RCR engine research and development activities from a newly-created R&D facility at the RCR complex. Hayes comes to RCR after a well-documented yet unique career at Cosworth, which is based in England, including spells in Formula One engine design, development and track support before rising through the ranks to lead its F1 program through the late 1990s. Recent years saw him leading all technical activities at Cosworth as Technical Director. The move to RCR marks the start of a new chapter in Hayes' illustrious and successful race engine career that has covered a wide variety of series but, until now, has not touched NASCAR significantly.(RCR PR)(7-10-2005)

  • RC Wine...the good stuff: A bottle of 2004 Childress Vineyards' Barrel Select Pinot Gris was chosen as one of the top wines produced by celebrity wine proprietors in today's USA TODAY. Legendary NASCAR championship team owner Richard Childress is also the proprietor of Childress Vineyards, located at the gateway of the Yadkin Valley in Lexington, N.C. In a "Food & wine" column ("Heard about stars through the grapevine", July 8, 2005), columnist Jerry Shriver wrote about celebrities involved in winemaking and the taste test USA TODAY entertainment reporter Donna Freydkin conducted with 11 wines having celebrity connections. Freydkin mentioned the Childress Vineyard selection first, commenting that she "preferred the smooth, easy-to-drink-while-sitting-on-your-porch character" of the North Carolina wine crafted by award-winning winemaker Mark Friszolowksi.
    The list of celebrities, other than Richard Childress, proprietor of Childress Vineyards president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, included: movie director Sofia Coppola; her father, director Francis Ford Coppola; the rock band Doobie Brothers, music legend Bob Dylan; golfers Ernie Els, Greg Norman and Arnold Palmer; Vince Neil, lead singer for Motley Crue; and acting legends Fess Parker and Fred MacMurray.(RCR PR)(7-10-2005)

  • Marlin in Childress car? or maybe Yates? Jack Daniels Distillery says it is not lobbying for Columbia's Sterling Marlin to be the driver of the Nextel Cup car it sponsors, but it expects to be "consulted" about the decision. "We will support whatever decision (team owner) Richard Childress makes, but we will be consulted," said John Hayes, brand director for the Lynchburg-based distillery. Marlin said he was offered the job near the end of last season but turned it down to honor the final year of his contact with Chip Ganassi Racing. Childress hired Dave Blaney on a one-year contract. With Marlin now officially out at Ganassi after this season, there is speculation that he might join Childress and drive the Jack Daniels Chevrolet next year. Through 17 races, Blaney has one top-ten finish and is 27th in the standings. "Dave is a great guy and has been an excellent representative for us," Hayes said. "He is a talented driver but has had some bad luck this season. We got into this a little late (waiting for NASCAR to approve sponsorship by companies that produce hard liquor) and everything considered, Dave has done a good job." Jack Daniels has a multiyear contact to sponsor a Childress Nextel Cup car and Hayes said it is important that the car be "competitive." "We're the world's No. 1-selling whiskey, and being competitive is important to us in whatever we do," he said. "We're in the big leagues now." Although Blaney has not been in contention to win, Hayes said the company is "very satisfied" with the exposure it has received during the first half of the season. "Our consumer research has been very positive," he said. "We rank seventh or eighth in merchandise sales and considering that we're competing against drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon, that's very good. Right now we're very happy with where we are and we will definitely be back next season." Marlin said recently he hopes to learn his plans for next season "in the next few weeks."(Tennessean)
    or Yates: hearing that Marlin could be in a third Robert Yates Racing Ford in 2006, if they decide to field a third team. Yates recently said he had no plans for a third Cup team and would run the Busch team another year, while it was mentioned a few weeks before that RYR was looking into a third team with CitiFinacial sponsoring the team.(7--2005)

  • Sad News: Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) fabrication shop manager Paul Wise passed away this morning after a brief illness. He was 58. Wise was employed by RCR since January 2003 after spending two-and-a-half years in a similar position with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. All six RCR cars competing this weekend at Daytona International Speedway, in both the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series, will carry "In Memory of Paul Wise" decals. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at Charity Baptist Church, 2420 Brantley Road in Kannapolis, N.C. The Rev. R.J. Hammond and the Rev. Gene Beaver will officiate. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. Internment will follow at Carolina Memorial Park in Kannapolis. The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday, June 29, at Charity Baptist Church.
    Born Jan. 6, 1947, in Cabarrus (N.C.) County, Wise was the son of C. Winfred Wise and Ethel Howell Wise of Kannapolis. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War and was a recipient of the Air Force Commendation Medal. He worked with many NASCAR teams during his career. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Paula Jean Wise, Feb. 14, 1975.
    In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Barbara Austin Wise; son, Jason Paul Wise and wife, Brittany Cromer Wise, and granddaughter, Jayleigh Austin Wise of Kannapolis; sister, Anne W. Watts and husband, Charles, of Raleigh; brothers, Phil Wise and wife, Lynda, of Kannapolis and Mark Wise and wife, Derlene, of Raleigh; along with 13 nieces and nephews.
    Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, Dancers for Cancer, c/o Carolina Dance, 2353 Concord Lake Road, Suite 110, Concord, N.C. 28025.(RCR)(6-28-2005)

  • Black Jack for Blaney: The #07 Chevy with Dave Blaney driving will sport the Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails paint scheme featuring Black Jack Cola for the Batman Begins 400.(RCR), image on my #07 Team Scheme page.(6-15-2005)

  • Sad News: Robert Ray "Bud" Hutchens, 63, father of Richard Childress Racing's Bobby Hutchen's, passed away Saturday, June 11, 2005, at his home. He was retired from Leaseway Motor Cars. Mr. Hutchens was an avid NASCAR fan and had cars that raced at Bowman Gray Stadium for over 40 years. Surviving are his wife of 46 years, Mrs. Carol Long Hutchens; two sons, Bobby Hutchens and wife Sharon, Kenny Hutchens and wife Robin, all of Winston-Salem. NC; a daughter, Lisa Thomas and husband Chris of Greenville, NC; seven grandchildren; and two sisters, Margaret Edwards and Nancy Tulbert, both of Winston-Salem. A graveside service will be conducted at 11:00am/et Monday, June 13, at Waughtown Cemetery with the Rev. Norwood Green officiating. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 this evening, June 12, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, 4A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407 or to the Bowman Gray Neurosurgery Dept., Medical Center Blvd. Winston-Salem, NC 27157.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-12-2005)

  • Country Cocktails Scheme for Blaney: The #07 Chevy of Dave Blaney will once again sport the Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails paint scheme for the Coca-Cola 600.(RCR)(5-25-2005)

  • Edwards/Blaney to run Modified race at LMS Dirt Track: Carl Edwards will kick off Coca-Cola 600 week by competing in the Ferris Commercial Mowers presents the Eckerd 75 DIRT big-block modified race Wednesday night, May 25, at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway. Edwards is scheduled to drive a second #3 Page Trucking and Transportation entry as a teammate to multi-time DIRT modified champion Brett Hearn of Kinnelon, N.J. While Edwards has very little experience in the big-block DIRT modifieds, he is no stranger to dirt-track racing. The second-generation driver captured the 1999 modified title and the 2000 pro modified championship at Capital Speedway, a dirt track near Jefferson City, Mo., while working his way up the racing ladder. The Ferris Commercial Mowers presents the Eckerd 75 will start a busy week for Edwards as he will also drive the #60 Charter Communications Ford in the inaugural nighttime running of the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 on Saturday, May 28, and he'll be behind the wheel of the #99 Scotts Ford for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 29. Tickets for all May events at Lowe's Motor Speedway and The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway can be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.(5-24-2005)
    AND #07-Dave Blaney. the 1995 World of Outlaws Champion will race the #74 Smith Brother’s entry on Wednesday night, May 25 when the Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series returns to the Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.(RCR)(5-25-2005)

  • Bass Pro Shops to sponsor #07 at Richmond; #31 at Chicago IMAGE: Bass Pro Shops will be the primary sponsor of Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) #07 Chevrolet in this weekend's Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond International Raceway (RIR) and its #31 Chevrolet in the July 10 Chicagoland 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Driver Dave Blaney's full-time sponsor, Jack Daniel's, will be prominently featured on the #07 car's lower quarter panels and deck lid this weekend. In turn, Cingular Wireless, Jeff Burton's primary sponsor, will receive prominent placement on the #31 car highlighting Bass Pro Shops ongoing involvement with RCR. The outdoor retail giant is also the primary sponsor of RCR's #33 Chevrolet four-race superspeedway program with driver Kerry Earnhardt. For more information go to www.basspro.com.(RCR)(5-10-2005)
    IMAGES: see a few images on my #07 Team Schemes page.(5-13-2005)

  • Ganassi has no plans for Marlin, to the #07? #40-Sterling Marlin said last month that he didn't think he'd be back at Chip Ganassi Racing next year because the car owner had been reluctant to discuss a new contract with him. Ganassi said Marlin can change that via on-track performance. "Right now, we don't have a plan for Sterling for next year,'' Ganassi said. "But if he wins a couple of races, it's not like we can't change our plans.''
    Assuming he needs a new job next season, garage speculation has him moving over to Richard Childress Racing to drive the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy that Dave Blaney currently pilots. Jack Daniels is a Tennessee-based company that would love to be represented by a homestate driver. Busch series driver David Stremme, who is part of Ganassi's development program, is most commonly mentioned to replace Marlin in the #40 Dodge.(ESPN.com RPM), NOTE: have heard that Marlin has already met with Jack Daniels's reps and is a front runner for a Jack Daniels's sponsored ride, it could be in the #07 RCR Chevy or Jack Daniel's coud move to another team.(5-8-2005)

  • Dickerson may have a new gig UPDATE RCR? DEI?: Chassis and body guru Eddie Dickerson, who was released by Hendrick Motorsports after being arrested in the early-morning hours at Daytona in February (disorderly intoxication), could land at Richard Childress Racing, sources in the garage said.(Speed Channel)(4-11-2005)
    UPDATE: Former Hendrick Motorsports chassis director Eddie Dickerson will interview with Dale Earnhardt Inc. this week. DEI is starting an in-house chassis program, and Dickerson could use his magic to develop better-handling cars for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who complains about the drivability of his cars.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(4-13-2005)

  • SKF to Sponsor Blaney, #07 Chevy at Martinsville: SKF, the world's leading manufacturer of bearings, seals and related products dedicated to improving today's automobiles, trucks and machinery, will sponsor driver Dave Blaney and Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) #07 Chevrolet in the April 10 Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Jack Daniel's, the team's primary sponsor, will be prominently displayed on the car's rear quarter-panels and deck lid in the one-race program highlighting RCR and SKF's technical partnership. "It's extremely exciting to ride with the No. 07 Team as its primary sponsor at Martinsville Speedway," said Per Jacobsson, director of marketing communications, SKF. "We are proud to be a team sponsor and a technical partner with the Richard Childress Racing organization, and we look forward to our continued contributions to the No. 07, No. 29 and No. 31 teams throughout 2005 and beyond." Together, SKF and RCR engineers research and develop products designed to perform under the harsh conditions of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series in an effort to improve the quality and reliability of every day vehicles.(RCR)(3-24-2005)

  • Snap-On Tools to be featured on the #07 at Atlanta IMAGE: Snap-on Tools Company will be the primary sponsor of driver Dave Blaney and Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) #07 Chevrolet in the March 20 Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jack Daniel's, the team's fulltime primary sponsor, will assume a secondary role in the one-race program designated to commemorate Snap-on's 85th year as a worldwide leader dedicated to supplying professional tool users with unmatched quality and innovation. The move also opens up an opportunity for both Snap-On and Jack Daniel's to explore the potential of a business-to-business relationship. Since 1994, RCR teams have utilized Snap-on tools exclusively in the shop and at the race track. Headquartered in Kenosha, Wis., organization also supplies RCR with custom-built work stations. About Snap-on Tools . For info on the Snap-on Tools Company, see snapon.com.(RCR)(3-15-2005)
    IMAGE see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(3-16-2005)

  • Special Jack Daniels scheme: Dave Blaney will feature Jack Daniels newest Country Cocktails, "Black Jack Cola" on his #07 Chevrolet at Pocono and Michigan in June.(RacingOne)(3-12-2005)
    IMAGE: see an image of the scheme on my #07 Team Schemes page.(3-14-2005)

  • Childress and Blaney visit JD: Nestled in the tiny town of Lynchburg (POP. 361), Tenn., sits an American icon. Lynchburg is home to the world-renowned Jack Daniel Distillery and is the primary sponsor of Richard Childress Racing’s (RCR) #07 Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by Dave Blaney. On Jan. 24, Childress, Blaney and members of the RCR staff made the pilgrimage to Lynchburg to see how Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey is made and what makes it one of the most popular brands of whiskey in the world. The answer is simple, time. Much like RCR hand-crafts every one of its race cars in Welcome, N.C., every drop of Jack Daniel’s is charcoal-mellowed, aged and bottled in Lynchburg today in the same time-honored tradition as it was when Jack Daniel himself registered his distillery with U.S. Government in 1866. Childress, Blaney and company were treated to a guided tour by Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Jimmy Bedford himself. At the end of the tour, Bedford presented Childress with a hand-selected barrel of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey.(RCR Site) - Jayski has been there three times, the last in Oct 2001 for the World Championship Barbecue, great little town and a lot of fun.(2-5-2005)

  • Childress Team Member Leaves: NASCAR's controversial decision to allow liquor sponsorships has caused a popular personality in the garages to quit because of his religious convictions. David Smith, a former crew chief for the late Dale Earnhardt and team manager and pit crew coach for Richard Childress Racing, told Childress during the offseason that he couldn't work on a car backed by a liquor company. Last season, Childress teams were sponsored by AOL, Cingular and Goodwrench. When AOL dropped out, Jack Daniels took the spot. "The absolute hardest part of this deal was to tell Richard that I was leaving after 25 years," said Smith, who in four decades has been a six-time all-pro jackman. I had a great job, the best anybody could ask for. I may never have a job as great as that again, but I'll have peace of mind from knowing that what I did was the right thing to do. That's worth more than money." Liquor sponsors Jack Daniel's, Jim Beam and Crown Royal will be prominent throughout the sport this season. Smith said his decision actually was made years ago when he gave up his wayward ways to become a Christian. "I trusted the Lord with my life, and He changed it around for me," Smith said. "I went to work for Richard in 1979 and told him when I went there that I'd work for him as long as he didn't have an alcohol or dirty magazine or gambling sponsorship on his car. And he was OK with that." Dave Blaney, who drives the #07 [RCR Chevy] sponsored by Jack Daniel's, said he's not much of a drinker, but he's proud to be associated with his sponsor. Childress said that although he and Smith are on different sides of the liquor issue he still respects him highly. "I've admired David Smith for years," Childress said. "I've always said I wish I could have been as strong a man as he was many, many years ago."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(1-21-2005)

    2004 News

  • SKF to RCR? UPDATE: hearing longtime #99 Roush Racing Asscoiate sponsor, SKF, will move over to the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevy that Jeff Burton will drive in 2005 and the other RCR teams [#07, #29]. Burton had driven the #99 Ford since its inception.(12-5-2004)
    UPDATE: SKF announced the expansion of its NASCAR NEXTEL Cup involvement, signing a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Richard Childress Racing (RCR). With the start of the 2005 NASCAR season, SKF will hold sponsorship positions on the #07 of Dave Blaney, the #29 of Kevin Harvick and the #31 of Jeff Burton. Additionally, the agreement includes a technical partnership between RCR and SKF engineers. Both parties will communicate worldwide to develop new technologies focused toward building on RCR’s racing performance, as well as new products intended to increase the safety and performance of consumer vehicles. For the past seven seasons, SKF has utilized its NASCAR involvement to promote its products, services and industry activities. SKF actively communicates the messages of the Be Car Care Aware Campaign and the Right to Repair Act through its NASCAR relationships.(SKF PR) and a note on the SKF site.(12-6-2004)

  • OFFICIAL: Jack Daniel's to RCR, #30 becomes #07, Blaney to Drive: The Jack Daniel Distillery [jackdaniels.com] ]announced today it has entered into a partnership with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) as the primary sponsor of the #07 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series with veteran driver Dave Blaney and crew chief Philippe Lopez. “We are thrilled to be making this announcement and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with RCR,” said Mike Keyes, senior vice president of Brown-Forman Beverages and global general manger for Jack Daniel’s. “Richard Childress is a legend in NASCAR racing and we believe that this is the beginning of an excellent partnership. Putting together two iconic brands like Jack Daniel’s and RCR opens up a wealth of opportunities and we couldn’t be more excited for our consumers, fans and everyone who loves this sport.”
    The company applauded NASCAR’s decision to allow distilled spirits sponsorships next year in the NEXTEL Cup. Keyes noted that the company’s marketing, advertising and public relations campaigns have always been grounded in responsibility and that will continue with the RCR sponsorship. “This sponsorship makes sense from a business standpoint – and it also makes sense from a responsibility standpoint,” continued Keyes. “We will be promoting our key message, “Pace Yourself, Drink Responsibly” on a recurring basis and, like everything we do, our marketing will be directed to adult audiences of legal drinking age.”
    Blaney, the 1995 World of Outlaws sprint car champion, is a veteran of 163 NEXTEL Cup Series starts since 1992. The 42-year-old Hartford, Ohio native began his tenure with RCR in June at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, taking over the reigns of the No. 30 Chevrolet. He was instrumental in advancing the program to a new plateau and was immediately on Childress’ short list to be the team’s full-time pilot in 2005. “I couldn’t be more excited about representing the Jack Daniel’s brand for RCR next season,” said Blaney. “Promoting responsibility and moderation are hallmarks of Jack Daniel’s and those are exactly the messages we want to convey -- not only to Jack Daniel’s consumers but to NASCAR fans all over the world. We have a great platform in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series to continue this very important message of responsibility. We’ve got a great team in place with Philippe leading the way. We’re looking forward to running up front right out of the box with the No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet at Daytona in February.”
    Childress is a nine-time NASCAR championship team owner with more than 125 victories. RCR was the first NASCAR organization to win championships in the NEXTEL Cup Series, Busch Series and Truck Series. In 2005, RCR will continue to field three teams in NASCAR’s top division with Blaney wheeling the #07 Jack Daniel’s entry, Kevin Harvick driving the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet and Jeff Burton moving to the #31 Cingular Wireless Monte Carlo. “We’re thrilled to enter into such a landmark agreement with Jack Daniel’s,” commented Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. “The folks at Jack Daniel’s have prided themselves on excellence since 1866. What’s most impressive to me is that the company not only strives to put a superior product into the hands of its consumers, but they advance a positive and responsible message to the public. We’re going to focus on the same goals. RCR will provide outstanding equipment on the race track and promote responsibility at the same time.” The #07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet will make its debut Feb., 20, 2005, at Daytona International Speedway.
    About the Jack Daniel Distillery: Officially registered with the U.S. government in 1866, the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, Proprietor, is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Based in Lynchburg (pop. 361), Tennessee, the Jack Daniel Distillery is the maker of world-famous Jack Daniel Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Jack Daniel’s encourages its friends to drink responsibly.(Richard Childress Racing Site), note: been asked, yes the #07 will be able to utilize the #30 Owners Points for the first 4-5 races in 2005.(12-3-2004)

  • Sounds like Blaney to RCR UPDATE 3 Friday Announcement and IMAGEs: just an update on the Blaney/Lopez/Jack Daniel's to RCR for the past - there is a ton]......
    Dave Blaney is expected to be named as the fulltime driver for Richard Childress' third racing team during the events surrounding the awards banquet. Speculation is that Jack Daniels will sponsor the team and that Philippe Lopez will serve as crew chief. The news couldn't come at a better time for the Hartford [OH] native and Badger High School graduate. Blaney is coming off a season in which he wasn't able to land a fulltime ride. He had a few rides for Bill Davis Racing's #23 team early in the season, and he landed a spot on RCR's #30 AOL team for a few races. With sponsorship money hard to come by and Blaney at the age of 42, it appeared he might not get another chance at NASCAR's elite circuit. "It crossed my mind,'' he said. "But I really thought the way things were going that I would get a chance to get with a good team and have a chance to continue on with my career.'' Childress, who also owns teams for drivers #29-Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon [and Jeff Burton, Gordon is no longer at RCR in 2005], has reportedly long been impressed with Blaney's driving skills. Blaney likes what Childress has to offer in terms of support. "It's not like we knew each other (well),'' Blaney said. "I knew him and had respect for what he's done. He's a really good guy. He's hard working. He's got his stuff together. He knows what he's doing and can make things happen.'' Childress called on Blaney midway through the season when rookie Johnny Sauter was dropped from the AOL car. Blaney thought there was a chance that the deal might have secured him a ride for the remainder of the season, but he was replaced after Jeff Burton was released from Jack Roush Racing. "It was kind of a race-to-race thing,'' Blaney said. "He (Childress) told me up front that they were trying to sign Jeff Burton, so it wasn't a shock to me. When he told me I didn't think it would happen because I didn't think Roush would let Jeff Burton go. But what are you going to tell Richard Childress, no, I don't want to drive your car?"(in part from the Tribune Chronicle)(11-28-2004)
    UPDATE: hearing the announcement will be Friday [NOT Saturday] morning [12-3] in New York City.(11-30-2004)
    UPDATE 2: the Sponsor/Driver/Crew Chief announcement and car unveiling will be on Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 at 11:00am/et in NYC.(12-1-2004)
    UPDATE 3: scored an image of the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy, see my #07 Paint Scheme page.(12-2-2004)
    AND added more images of different schemes of the #07 to the #07 Paint Scheme page.(12-3-2004)

  • Childress Announcement? in NYC? UPDATE 2 GM Goodwrench reassessing?: hearing that an announcement scheduled at RCR's on Wednesday to announce Dave Blaney/Jack Daniels/Phillipe Lopez deal.(11-17-2004)
    AND? have heard Nothing about an announcement.(11-18-2004)
    UPDATE: had heard that the announcement would be on Saturday morning at Homestead, but now hearing the announcement will now be made in New York City the week of the Nextel Cup banquet [Dec 3rd on TNT].(11-19-2004)
    UPDATE 2: Richard Childress' sponsorship announcements will apparently be postponed until NASCAR's postseason New York City awards banquet. Childress is expected to announce Jack Daniel's as a sponsor, with Dave Blaney as the driver. And Childress is expected to announce renewal of the long-running Goodwrench sponsorship. However, there has been speculation recently that General Motors has been reassessing its Goodwrench sponsorship because Childress' operation hasn't delivered socko returns over the past few years. But GM's Doug Duchardt said his company understands the ups and downs of racing: "This business is cyclical. One thing I see is that there has been some stability since Jeff Burton has come. We've seen them start to run better. How many times have we seen Robby Gordon in the top-five and Kevin Harvick, only to have some issues? "I expect Richard to get back. Kevin was fifth last year in points. So those guys have the potential to do it; they just have to get back on their game."(Winston Salem Journal)(11-21-2004)

  • Lopez to Gibbs? BDR? RCR? UPDATE 3: Philippe Lopez, a crew chief who has been working in research and development at Joe Gibbs Racing [JGR] since August, was missing in action at Phoenix. Several possible scenarios were presented by garage sources: Lopez was offered the crew chief job on Gibbs' #18 (Bobby Labonte) but turned it down, Lopez has discussed the #22 (Scott Wimmer) crew chief job with Bill Davis Racing, and Lopez could be reunited with Dave Blaney at Richard Childress Racing. "It's a possibility," Richard Childress says.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(11-8-2004)
    UPDATE: been told that Lopez has left JGR, no word on any more info.(11-9-2004)
    UPDATE 2: hearing Lopez is the leading canidate to go to the #22 team, not sure what current crew chief, Frank Stoddard would do, another position with BDR or go to another team.(11-10-2004)
    AND: also hearing that Lopez will be the crew chief for Dave Blaney at RCR in the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevy.(that is one diecast I will buy)(11-11-2004)
    UPDATE 3: Philippe Lopez is expected to start work at Richard Childress Racing this week. An announcement that Lopez will be crew chief for the #30 Chevrolet in 2005, reuniting him with Dave Blaney, could come at Homestead. The #30 crew will rejoin RCR crew chief Kevin Hamlin next season on Jeff Burton's #31 car, so Lopez can pick much of his staff.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(11-15-2004)

  • Looks like Dave, Jack and #07.....and Philippe? Richard Childress is expected to announce a Jack Daniel's sponsorship, to replace AOL, for his third team, for which Dave Blaney is expected to drive.(Winston Salem Journal) and the number switched from #30 to #07 and [see next blurb] Philippe Lopez as crew chief.(11-11-2004)

  • Special Scheme for the #30 at Phoenix: the #30 AOL Chevrolet will sport special black-and-blue paint scheme as part of the AOL "Pick the Paint" Sweepstakes. AOL members chose from three different Sam Bass designed AOL paint schemes. A grand prize winner was chosen from the group who picked the winning paint scheme. Ron MacDonald, of Scottsdale, Ariz., won an autographed original Sam Bass print of the winning paint scheme along with a VIP weekend for him and a guest at PIR consisting of all accommodations and a meet and greet with Jeff Burton.(RCR PR)(11-3-2004)

  • No announcement on RCR 3rd team until Homestead: Richard Childress said he would field three cars for the fourth consecutive season. An announcement on the third car's sponsor and driver could come at the season finale in Homestead, Fla. AOL isn't expected to remain with the {#30 to be #7?] team.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-31-2004)

  • RC to announce most of 2005 plans at AMS UPDATE 3 Surprise...Burton to the #31: Richard Childress said he'll lay out most of his 2005 season plans on Friday in a press conference in Atlanta, and yesterday he declined to confirm - but wouldn't deny - widespread speculation that he would name Dave Blaney as his new driver, replacing Robby Gordon, and Jack Daniels as a new sponsor, replacing AOL. Childress also had little to say, either way, about rampant rumors he planned to swap crews among his teams [see below or my #30 Team page or #31 Team page for the past news/rumors/links]. "All those announcements are in the coming," Childress said. Jack Daniels is owned by the Louisville, Ky., business Brown-Forman, which did $578 million in sales last year.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-25-2004)
    UPDATE: An announcement on who will be the driver of the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet in 2005 will be made this Friday, Oct. 29, at 2:00pm/et in the infield media center of Atlanta Motor Speedway.(RCR PR)(10-26-2004)
    UPDATE 2: the RCR press conference is now listed at 8:45am/et on Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Been told Blaney will be named driver, not sure if the 'team swap' will be announced or anything on the sponsor [AOL? Motorola? Jack Daniel's]..yet.(10-28-2004)
    UPDATE 3, It's Official Burton to the #31: Jeff Burton will finish the season behind the wheel of Richard Childress Racing’s (RCR) #30 AOL Chevy and then move to its #31 Cingular Wireless team for the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. Cingular Wireless has also extended it contract with RCR through 2007. The Atlanta-based telecommunications leader has sponsored the team since 2002. “I’m excited about driving for Cingular Wireless and continuing on with RCR,” Burton said. “In the short time I’ve driven for Richard, it’s already been proven that we can be successful. I’ve had a tremendous amount of fun and I am looking forward to greater things. It is my intention to get RCR and Cingular Wireless in position to contend for a championship. Cingular Wireless is a household name and it’s an honor to represent a company that has such a quality product and is so supportive of motorsports.” Burton will replace Robby Gordon in the #31 Chevrolet. It was announced earlier this week that Gordon and RCR were parting ways at the end of the season, with Gordon stepping up to the ranks of NASCAR Cup Series ownership in 2005. RCR will announce the remainder of its 2005 plans in upcoming weeks [like the #30 team, driver and sponsor](RCR Site)(10-30-2004)

  • AOL done with NASCAR? UPDATE 4 RCR to Jack Daniel's #7? or #07?: Garage insiders indicate that America Online may want to scale back their involvement in the sport next season. Currently, they sponsor the #30 Chevy of Jeff Burton.(Motorsports.com)(9-11-2004)
    UPDATE: Car owner Richard Childress is expected to sign a sponsorship renewal with AOL, according to sources.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-18-2004)
    AND/OR? Richard Childress is negotiating with AOL, sponsor of his #30 car [Jeff Burton], but says he has a backup plan if that sponsorship falls through.(FoxSports/Sporting News) OR? Motorsport.com is reporting that AOL is leaving the sport of NASCAR next season to become the title sponsor of another stock car racing series. While they will remain in the sport on a lesser basis than the head sponsor of the #30 Richard Childress Racing Chevy, RCR has been shopping for a new sponsor. Word is that they found one this week and are good to go for next season.(9-20-2004)
    UPDATE 2 AOL OUT: hearing AOL will NOT be back with the #30 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Chevy in 2004 and is leaving the sport, supposedly AOL does not see NASCAR as a viable tool in their marketing/business plan.(10-21-2004)
    UPDATE 3 - Jack Daniel's and #7: Rumor is that the #30 Chevy will change sponsors and car number next season. Plausible sponsor: Jack Daniels. New car number: 7 - for 'Old Lucky 7'.(Motorsport.com), actually, being a Jack Daniel's buff myself [see Kurt's old Jack Decanter's site], it is not 'Old Lucky 7', Jack Daniel's is known for the #7 and is called 'Old No. 7 Brand' why? no one knows for sure why Jack Daniels named it Old No. 7 [per the Jack Daniels site].(10-23-2004)
    UPDATE 4: Car owner Richard Childress is ready to make some announcements about his roster for 2005, and it looks as if he'll have a new car number for one of his teams, 07, to go with new sponsor Jack Daniels. That sponsor could replace AOL. If so, Jeff Burton might wind up in Childress' Cingular-sponsored car.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-24-2004)

  • Another RCR Swap in the works? UPDATE 3: hearing that Richard Childress Racing could swap entrie teams again, with the current #30 driver, Jeff Burton and crew going to the #31 Cingular Wireless Chevy, currently driven by Robby Gordon. Cingular Wireless can stay in the sport, only if they stay on the #31 Chevy with RCR. The crew of the #31 could go to the #30 with either Gordon [unlikely] or another driver [Ricky Craven? Dave Blaney?], have hear that AOL may or may not be back in 2005, but Richard Childress has said before, if AOL opts not to to return, he has another option for a sponsor.
    AND Richard Childress said that he would be making announcements soon, possibly by the end of October. In the Nextel Cup Series, RCR has Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton signed with multi-year deals, but Childress will have to make the decision whether to retain Robby Gordon. Childress is also working to make sure AOL returns as Burton's sponsor in 2005. "We're probably going to make those announcements around Atlanta or a little after," Childress said. "We pretty much have everything in place. You know, we are going to make adjustments all throughout or organization. We're going to make a few adjustments, everything from Cup to Busch."(NASCAR.com)(10-8-2004)
    AND II: hearing if AOL doesn't come back to the #30 car, the sponsor could be Motorola.(10-9-2004)
    UPDATE: Several Nextel Cup teams – Roush Racing and Richard Childress Racing among them – are primed to sign sponsorship deals with hard-liquor companies, including Diageo and Jack Daniels.(ThatsRacin.com)(10-15-2004)
    UPDATE 2: Expect Richard Childress to make more changes before the start of the 2005 season. An announcement the last week of October at Atlanta should clarify the situation, at least partially. Jeff Burton could move from the #30 car to the #31.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(10-18-2004)
    UPDATE 3: Garage buzz indicates that Dave Blaney may fill the seat of the No. 30 when Jeff Burton moves to the #31 at the end of the season. The #30 crew is expected to follow Burton to the 31 ride.(Motorsport.com)(10-23-2004)

  • NASCAR to Allow Hard Liquior Sponsors? UPDATE 2: With both NBC and Fox having apparently approved hard-liquor sponsorship of a Nextel Cup car, the ball is in NASCAR's court in the debate over whether to allow Diageo, makers of Crown Royal and other alcoholic beverages, to sponsor a car on the Nextel Cup tour next season, and sources say NASCAR has decided to allow the company to sponsor a Cup car. NASCAR vetoed Jack Roush's [#99] sponsorship plans earlier this season. For much of the year the debate has been in the network offices of Fox and NBC, where executives have been against allowing TV ads for products like Crown Royal, even while allowing their cable subsidiaries to accept such ads. The Fox Speed channel is carrying the Crown Royal-sponsored IROC series. But ABC's decision to allow Jim Beam sponsorship during the Indianapolis 500 apparently broke the long-time network ban, and Fox and NBC are willing to let Nextel Cup teams carry such sponsorships too - once NASCAR executives work out their own details - according to sources.(Winston Salem Journal)
    AND rumors are circulating that if NASCAR allows hard liquior as a sponsor in the Cup Series, they may raise the minimum age requirement to 21. If so, would that stop Kyle Busch's possible move to the Cup Series in 2005? Brian Vickers couldn't race in the Crown Royal IROC Series and the Bud Pole stickers on the #25 [and Busch's #84 Cup car] says 'Pole Awards' with an Anheuser-Busch logo, NOT "Budweiser Pole Award".(9-18-2004)
    UPDATE: NASCAR has considered changing the minimum age to compete in the Nextel Cup Series to 21, but NASCAR Vice President Jim Hunter said he "doesn't know of any plan to do that." Speculation is that the change could come if NASCAR allows hard liquor companies to sponsor teams.(NASCAR Scene Print Edition)(9-25-2004)
    UPDATE 2: NASCAR is set to rescind its ban on hard-liquor sponsorships beginning next season, ThatsRacin.com has learned. The move should bring an influx of new sponsorship money into the sport. Several Nextel Cup teams – Roush Racing and Richard Childress Racing among them – are primed to sign sponsorship deals with hard-liquor companies, including Diageo and Jack Daniels [Jayski says YES!], sources said. On Friday, NASCAR officials insisted they had not made a final decision. "We are currently evaluating the policy we have in place regarding liquor sponsors but no official decision has been made at this time in regard to any changes," NASCAR spokesman Mike Zizzo said. NASCAR has allowed beer companies to sponsor cars and its Busch series has been sponsored by Anheuser-Busch since 1982. In recent years also has allowed hard liquor companies to advertise their malt beverage products. For instance, Smirnoff vodka is not allowed, but Smirnoff Ice is allowed as an associate sponsor on Matt Kenseth's #17 Ford. Several other racing series already allow hard liquor advertising. Crown Royal began sponsoring the International Race of Champions series this season. NASCAR will likely provide several guidelines overseeing the marketing of the hard liquor sponsorships, but is not expected to alter its 18-year-old minimum age requirement for its three national series – Craftsman Trucks, Busch and Cup, sources said.(ThatsRacin.com)(10-15-2004)

  • Burton tests at Caraway: Jeff Burton and the #30 AOL Race Team tested Caraway Speedway (Asheboro, N.C.) Tuesday, Oct. 5 in preparation for the upcoming Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway.(RCR PR)(10-8-2004)

  • AOL Scheme at RIR: Jeff Burton’s #30 AOL Chevrolet will exchange its normal blue and yellow paint scheme this weekend at Richmond International Raceway (RIR) for a psychedelic blue and black design as part of Chevrolet’s Rock & Roll 400 promotion. Country music band “Big & Rich” will adorn the hood and quarter panels of the car for the Saturday night event. Big & Rich has been nominated for two Country Music Association awards for Best New Group of the Year and Duo of the Year. Their album “Horse of a Different Colour” currently sits atop the Billboard Country Charts.(RCR PR)(9-9-2004)

  • NASCAR Teams Using Facilities at ORNL to Increase Performance: More and more, NASCAR teams seeking a racing edge are making pit stops at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's High Temperature Materials Laboratory [ornl.gov / Oak Ridge, TN] for high-tech tips to better performance. "ORNL facilities that are used to test and develop transportation and materials technologies are gaining popularity among the NASCAR set," HTML Director Arvid Pasto said. "HTML provides a means for racing teams to study ways to enhance a car's ability to race at high speeds." Pasto said the HTML helps solve problems in advanced energy conversion systems -- such as race cars -- to make them more efficient and reliable. Engineers with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) of Welcome, N.C., which includes three cars [#'s 29,30,31] on the Nextel Cup circuit and two more in the Busch series, said they have been able to improve performances of their cars during the first half of the 2004 season based in part on research conducted last fall at the HTML.(more at azom.com.(9-1-2004)

  • RC Mum on 2005 plans, but says RCR is set: #29, #30, #31 Team Owner Richad Childress says "everything is set" for next season with his three teams "but I'm not announcing anything on my sponsors until late October or December, later this year." There has been intense speculation that AOL may not return as sponsor for the team Jeff Burton drives for, and there is also speculation that the future of the Cingular sponsorship depends on Robby Gordon being firmly in the top 20 by some unspecified September deadline. However, there is also speculation that Gordon may be leaving Childress.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-23-2004)

  • Two RCR sponsor's contract up at end of 2004; Cingular stays with RCR or is out of NASCAR: it's not a lock that the team [RCR - Richard Childress Racing] will have three primary sponsors next season; RCR's contract with the #30 car's sponsor, America Online, is up for renegotiation. Cingular sponsors the #31 car currently being driven by Robby Gordon. And if they want to stay in NASCAR as a sponsor, the 31 car is their only option. NASCAR's sponsorship contract with Nextel prohibits competing telecommunications companies from sponsoring cars. Previously existing sponsorships such as Cingular's were grandfathered in, but the sponsor may not leave to sponsor another car. Cingular has been extremely supportive of