Richard Childress Racing has, at least in recent history, been a team that cultivated talent and took chances on drivers. Clint Bowyer was plucked from relative obscurity and Kevin Harvick was given a shot after two mediocre Truck seasons with Spears and Liberty Racing. 21 Cup wins later, Richard Childress has proven himself very capable of driver development.
Currently the team fields Childress grandson’s Austin and Ty Dillon as well as Tim George and Joey Coulter in various series. All drivers have had varying degrees of success with the team. All are notably also in their rides, in part, because of money, or family.
As the future of RCR continues to be a discussion in the Cup Series, we’re hearing changes are coming to the team’s lower ranks. Tim George, who has been with the team in the ARCA Series for the last two seasons is said to be making a full-time move to the Truck Series in 2012. George has made select starts with RCR in the Truck and Nationwide Series over the last two years – including a DNQ last weekend at Montreal.
It’s been reported, and we continue to hear that 18-year-old Ty Dillon will join George in the Truck Series in 2012. Ty has been a dominant force in the ARCA Series this year winning seven of 14 races and building a 415 championship point lead over second place Frank Kimmel.
Childress has long said Austin Dillon would make the jump to the Nationwide Series next year.
What all this means for Joey Coulter is not entirely clear.
It’s interesting to see how RCR is positioning itself for the future. In recent years the team has brought on more “funded” drivers like George, Coulter and John Wes Townley – a practice it hadn’t really engaged in before.
And then there is the continued progression of the Dillon boys, who most certainly have a place at the team, but to what ends is not clear. Will there be room for both to have Cup rides in the not too distant future, or are tough decisions going to have to be made?
Watching how teams develop talent and plan for the future is always so enjoyable to watch because it’s so different from other sports. As guys like Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick inevitably age and shift priorities, it’ll be interesting to see how RCR changes. It’s certainly a different team than it was just a few years ago.
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