Richard Childress

Richard Childress (born September 21, 1945 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) is an American former NASCAR driver and the current team owner of Richard Childress Racing (RCR). He became one of the wealthiest men in North Carolina. In 2004, he opened a vineyard in the Yadkin Valley AVA near Lexington. He was on the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association. His grandsons Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon are NASCAR drivers.

Childress's career in NASCAR started in 1969 when a drivers' strike at Talladega Superspeedway left NASCAR president William France Sr. looking for replacement drivers. By 1971, Childress was racing as an independent driver, using the number 96. He changed to number 3 in 1976 as a tribute to Junior Johnson. Although he never won as a driver, he nonetheless proved to be capable and consistent behind the wheel, registering six top-5 finishes, seventy-six top-10 finishes, and five Top 10 point finishes, with a career-best ranking of fifth in 1975. He did, however, win the unofficial invitational Metrolina 200 in 1974.

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Richard Childress (born September 21, 1945 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) is an American former NASCAR driver and the current team owner of Richard Childress Racing (RCR). He became one of the wealthiest men in North Carolina. In 2004, he opened a vineyard in the Yadkin Valley AVA near Lexington. He was on the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association. His grandsons Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon are NASCAR drivers.

Childress's career in NASCAR started in 1969 when a drivers' strike at Talladega Superspeedway left NASCAR president William France Sr. looking for replacement drivers. By 1971, Childress was racing as an independent driver, using the number 96. He changed to number 3 in 1976 as a tribute to Junior Johnson. Although he never won as a driver, he nonetheless proved to be capable and consistent behind the wheel, registering six top-5 finishes, seventy-six top-10 finishes, and five Top 10 point finishes, with a career-best ranking of fifth in 1975. He did, however, win the unofficial invitational Metrolina 200 in 1974.

Subject ID: 50984

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