Ty Dillon (L) and car owner and grandather Richard Childress (R) celebrate the ARCA Racing Series championship during the annual awards banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center (Photo Credit: ARCA)

Enter Ty Dillon, 19, the grandson of the six-time Sprint Cup championship team owner and Scott Naset, Dillon’s crew chief who is a longtime employee with the organization. He has worked with several of Sprint Cup’s best drivers in the role as general mechanic and car chief over the past 12 years.

One could say youth and experience meshed quite well in 2011, as Dillon and Naset’s teaming produced seven wins, 16 top-fives, 19 top-10s, eight pole positions and best of all, the ARCA Series championship completing the full 19-race schedule.

- Lexington Dispatch

No. 33 Rheem / Menards Chevrolet Impala

In addition to competing at the 14-turn road course, Papis will serve as a driver coach for fellow RCR teammates, assisting in strengthening their road-course racing skills.

“It is an honor to join a history-making team like RCR and continue what I started with Kevin Harvick Inc. the last couple of years,” stated Papis. “I feel ready to win races in NASCAR and, at the same time, I’m honored to have the chance to pass all the experience I built in my last 20 years of competition around the world to real racers like Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon and doing it with my never-give-up attitude that brought me all the way here.”

Papis, a native of Italy who now resides in North Carolina, has nine road-course races on his Nationwide Series resume with his career best finish of second coming at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in August 2009. The 2004 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series champion has also competed in six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series road-course events, posting his best finish of eighth at Watkins Glen International in the same year.

“Max is a great addition to our driver lineup and to RCR overall,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “He has shown his talents in many different forms of auto racing all over the world and will be able to share that knowledge with our less experienced drivers. He’s the perfect driver for the No. 33 Menards Chevrolet when the NASCAR Nationwide Series gets to Road America. Max also has a tremendous amount of enthusiasm wherever he is, at the track or the shop.”

The 2007 Petite Le Mans race winner made his NASCAR debut in 2006 when he joined the 43-car field in the Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen International, posting a 14th-place finish. Since then, he has competed in 88 races across NASCAR’s top three national series, accumulating two-top five and seven top-10 results.

Papis is scheduled to share the No. 33 Nationwide Series ride with teammates Brendan Gaughan, Kevin Harvick, Paul Menard and Tony Stewart for the 2012 season.

For additional information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit www.rcrracing.com.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its current Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser/Rheem/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties/BB&T Chevrolet). Its Nationwide Series program includes Elliott Sadler (No. 2 One Main Financial Chevrolet), 2011 Camping World Truck Series champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Advocare/American Ethanol/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Kevin Harvick/Brendan Gaughan/Paul Menard/Tony Stewart/Max Papis (No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino/Menards/Hunt Brothers Pizza/Armour/Fast Fixin’/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. and Brendan Gaughan (No. 2 Potomac Family Dining Group/South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet), Joey Coulter (No. 22 RCR/Armour Chevrolet) and 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion Ty Dillon (No.3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) will compete in the 2012 Camping World Truck Series season.

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

AdvoCare Logo

As the primary sponsor of the No. 3 car, AdvoCare will take the AdvoCare No. 3 Bus on tour in 2012 to build support for Richard Childress Racing and Austin Dillon during the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. The popular AdvoCare energy drink mix, Spark®, has been specially rebranded for the tour and free samples will be available at every destination. “Our goal is to promote health and wellness through our products and opportunity. One way we do this is by partnering with top sports figures in every field,” said AdvoCare President and CEO Richard Wright.

“Over the last year, we have become more involved in motorsports, and it’s a privilege to have this partnership with Richard Childress Racing and a young and successful driver like Austin Dillon. We’re looking forward to being actively involved in this year’s NASCAR Nationwide Series with the No. 3.”

The AdvoCare No. 3 Bus will begin its nationwide tour in Dallas and Fort Worth January 23-25, and continue to the following areas during the first quarter of 2012:

Jan. 26-27: Austin, Texas

Jan. 28: San Antonio, Texas

Jan. 29-31: Houston, Texas

Feb. 2-3: Shreveport / Bossier City, Louisiana

Feb. 4-5: Alabama

Feb. 8-9: Atlanta, Georgia

Feb. 11-12: Charlotte, North Carolina

Feb. 15-16: Northern Florida

March 4-8: Ohio

March 26-27: Phoenix / Tuscon, Arizona

AdvoCare hosts its Success School for Distributors twice a year. The January 2012 Success School, held at the Fort Worth Convention Center, is the largest to-date with nearly 10,000 Distributors attending.

About AdvoCare

Since 1993, AdvoCare has offered nutrition, weight loss, energy and sports performance products of the highest quality developed through comprehensive research and backed by a Scientific & Medical Advisory Board. AdvoCare offers more than 70 exclusive products and a business opportunity that empowers individuals to explore their ultimate potential. AdvoCare is headquartered in Plano, Texas. For more information on AdvoCare, visit www.advocare.com or call 800-542-4800.

- The Harrell Group Press Release

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

It’s an adage that certainly does ring true these days for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

In one of the biggest season-to-season upheavals since the formation of the series in 1995, the 2012 season will feature wholesale changes from 2011.

And the changes run deep.

In addition to a major influx of new faces in new places, the Truck Series’ annual calendar has been trimmed by three races from its 2011 slate.

Now featuring just 22 events, the series will no longer compete at Nashville Superspeedway (previously two dates), New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway and Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.

The trucks will debut at Rockingam — which last hosted a NASCAR national series in 2004 — as Iowa picks up a second race.

An even more seismic shift, however, involves the drivers and teams.

Gone is Kevin Harvick Inc., which dominated much of 2011 but closed its doors at the end of the season.

Also missing will be reigning series champion Austin Dillon, who has been promoted to the Nationwide Series to compete for grandfather Richard Childress’ team.

But the Truck Series won’t be completely devoid of Dillons. Austin’s younger brother, 19-year-old Ty, has seized his brother’s former seat in the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.

Despite being just a rookie, the 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion could contend for the title with last year’s NCWTS championship-winning team.

- SPEEDtv.com

University of Northwestern Ohio Logo

The University of Northwestern Ohio’s (UNOH) College of Applied Technologies offers a unique curriculum to young people interested in professional motorsports competition as a career. The University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and the College of Applied Technologies is accredited by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation. The University also has a College of Business, College of Occupational Professions, College of Health Professions and Graduate College offering Associate and Baccalaureate Degrees in Accounting, Business Administration, Marketing, Sport Marketing, Information Technology, Medical Assisting and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

The College of Applied Technologies offers associate degrees and diploma programs in High Performance Motorsports. Student interns training in this curriculum will be assisting RCR Development at the track during race weekends.

“The University of Northwestern Ohio is honored to continue and expand our relationship with Richard Childress Racing and Ty Dillon,” said Dr. Jeffrey A. Jarvis, President of the University of Northwestern Ohio. “Ty Dillon’s personality and professionalism along with his championship ability, makes him the perfect fit to represent UNOH.”

Dillon, 19, takes the next step in his motorsports career after earning the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards championship. In his first full ARCA season, he earned seven victories, seven pole qualifying positions and 16 top-10 finishes in 19 races. He made his debut and competed in three Truck Series races during the 2011 season, finishing third November 4 at Texas Motor Speedway in just his second start.

“I’m really excited to have the University of Northwestern Ohio on the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for my rookie season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series,” said Dillon. “UNOH has been a big supporter of mine, with both my dirt car racing and last season’s ARCA Series championship. It’s great to have them move up with me and the No. 3 team.”

RCR competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series from its inception in 1995 through 1999 before returning to the series in 2009 with Ty’s brother, Austin Dillon, who went on to claim the 2011 Truck Series championship. It has earned 24 victories, as well as the inaugural series championship with driver Mike Skinner. RCR’s three-truck lineup for 2012 consists of Ty Dillon in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, Joey Coulter in the No. 22 RCR Chevrolet along with Brendan Gaughan and Tim George Jr. in the No. 2 South Point Hotel & Casino/Potomac Family Dining Group Chevrolet.

“The University of Northwestern Ohio has great educational programs, from motorsports to business to health care, as well as a program to earn your degree online,” said Richard Childress, President and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Everyone at UNOH has been great to work with this season and we’re proud to continue our relationship with them in 2012 as Ty takes the next step in his racing career in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.”

For additional information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit www.rcrracing.com.

About UNOH

The University of Northwestern Ohio is an entrepreneurial, not-for-profit, university founded in 1920. There are five colleges within the university: The College of Applied Technologies, College of Business, College of Occupational Professions, College of Health Professions, and the Graduate College. UNOH has taught students from all 50 states and 16 foreign countries, and currently has more than 4500 students enrolled from 36 states and 6 foreign countries. UNOH offers more than 60 different programs of study including Master’s, Baccalaureate, Associate, and Diploma programs.

The University is situated on a 200+ acre campus and is in the midst of a 10-year expansion plan that includes new apartment-style dormitories and a new academic building that will house Health and IT classrooms along with a new library, student learning center and food services. The University of Northwestern Ohio also offers a variety of athletics including Men’s & Women’s Basketball, Men’s & Women’s Tennis, Men’s & Women’s Golf, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Bowling, Men’s Baseball, Men’s Soccer and six Co-Ed Motorsports teams.

The University of Northwestern Ohio has an impact of more than $250 million on the local economy. Limaland Motorsports Park, which is owned by UNOH, has an additional $15 million impact.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its current Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser/Rheem/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar/Wheaties Chevrolet). Its Nationwide Series program includes Elliott Sadler (No. 2 One Main Financial Chevrolet), 2011 Camping World Truck Series champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Advocare/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Kevin Harvick/Brendan Gaughan/Paul Menard (No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino/Menards/Hunt Brothers Pizza/Armour/Fast Fixin’/ Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. and Brendan Gaughan (No. 2 Potomac Family Dining Group/South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet), Joey Coulter (No. 22 RCR/Armour Chevrolet) and 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion Ty Dillon (No.3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) will compete in the 2012 Camping World Truck Series season.

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

Ty Dillon (L) and car owner and grandather Richard Childress (R) celebrate the ARCA Racing Series championship during the annual awards banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center (Photo Credit: ARCA)

Dillon and his No. 41 Chevrolet team were officially crowned ARCA champions at the series’ annual Championship Awards Banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. The 19-year-old from Lewisville, N.C. was among 15 drivers from the top 20 in the final point standings to be honored on stage, and left with more than $100,000 in point fund and special award earnings, as awarded by the numerous series partners at the ceremony.

To honor Dillon’s position as the 29th ARCA Racing Series champion in 59 seasons, ARCA president Ron Drager presented the driver a letter signed by North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue, as well as a series championship ring and a leather championship jacket featuring the series logo.

As is the custom, a video tribute featured photographs from the champion’s youth and ascent to championship status; special additions to this season’s video included special messages from Richard Childress Racing drivers Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton, as well as a collection of footage showcasing Dillon’s use of the word “awesome” in Victory Lane interviews.

Joining Dillon on stage were his grandfather and team owner, Richard Childress, grandmother Judy Childress, and crew chief Scott “Flash” Naset, who was joined by his wife Stephanie.

“It doesn’t really hit you, how special it is to do something like this, until you’re up on the stage like this and all these people you’ve worked so hard against all year are staring up at you and you’re getting crowned the champion,” said Dillon, who finished the season with seven wins, 13 top-fives, and 16 top-10 finishes. “It hit me pretty hard, and I’m just proud to be with the group of guys I’m with. It’s almost just surreal, to finally take it in. This experience right here has changed me a lot.”

Among the top awards Dillon and his team received were: $10,000 for winning the Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell after securing seven poles in 2011; $6,000 from Sunoco Race Fuel; $5,000 for winning the Aaron’s Lap Leader of the Year Award; $5,000 from Messina Wildlife Management; $5,000 from Hoosier for most wins by a car owner; $2,500 from the University of Northwestern Ohio; and the Fast Track High Performance Driving School Award. Jeff Abbott of Menards presented Dillon a check representing his winnings from the series points fund.

Naset also visited the stage on his own to accept the Cometic Crew Chief of the Year Award.

David Ragan, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and ARCA Racing Series race winner, served as the Guest of Honor. SPEED television analyst Phil Parsons acted as the banquet host for the third consecutive year.

Chris Buescher, who drove to second place in the final standings for Roulo Brothers Racing, received the $10,000 ARCA Rookie of the Year Award, as well as $2,500 in cash and product certificates from Print Resources and $500 from JRI. Buescher also accepted the $15,000 Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Award and the R.E. Lightning Challenge Award, among other prizes.

Buescher won three of the season’s last four races, and the team’s Russell Roulo won the Klotz Engine Mechanic of the Year Award. Gary Roulo joined Buescher on stage when he was introduced for finishing in second place.

The team left with more than $100,000 in point fund and special award earnings after a season in which Buescher drove to three wins, 14 top-fives, and 16 top-10s.

Frank Kimmel was recognized on stage for finishing third in the series standings, as well as for winning the CGS Imaging Hard Charger of the Year Award and the S&S Volvo Laps Completed Award. He was joined for a final time on stage by brother and crew chief Bill Kimmel; the two will separate for the 2012 season with Frank Kimmel moving to ThorSport Racing.

Chad McCumbee, who finished fifth in the final series standings, joined owner Jennifer Belmont on stage to accept the Bill France Four Crown Award for his combined performances at New Jersey, Michigan, Springfield, and Salem.

Fourth-place driver Grant Enfinger and owner Mike Allgaier were introduced, as were fellow pairs from the top 10 in the final standings: Tom Hessert and team owner Ken Schrader (sixth); Tim George Jr. and crew chief Gere Kennon (seventh); Chad Hackenbracht and team owner Greg Hackenbracht (eighth); Sean Corr and team owner John Corr (ninth); and Darrell Basham (10th).

The top-10 honor – Basham’s first since 1976 – turned out to be the second recognition of the night for Basham. Earlier, he was honored with his second Spirit Award, following the same honor in 2003. The Spirit Award is given to a person for dedication and support of ARCA, uplifting spirit by way of example, perseverance, and positive attitude. Despite a late 2010 garage fire that destroyed nearly all his race equipment, Basham displayed all of those characteristics in driving to his best season finish in 35 years.

Nick Ramey accepted the Crane Cams Engine Builder of the Year Award on behalf of Roush Yates Engines, and Ramey himself was presented the H.G. Adcox Sportsman of the Year Award for his consistent willingness to assist any team in the garage.

In addition to stepping to the stage with Hessert, Schrader appeared to accept the Marcum Award, annually presented to an individual or entity whose positive efforts have elevated ARCA’s motorsports stature to the benefit of all associated. Schrader is a 15-time winner in the ARCA Racing Series, and continues to promote the series today as a team owner and television broadcaster.

Cathy Venturini and Nate Thiesse, the fourth and 10th-place owners, respectively, both spoke on stage.

To complete the honoring of the top 20 drivers, James Hylton (11th), Brad Smith (12th), Levi Youster (14th), Will Kimmel (15th), and Maryeve Dufault (16th) visited the stage to receive congratulations.

Jeff Kettman accepted the Manufacturer Championship on behalf of Chevrolet.

Andy O’Neal, dean of the College of Technology of the University of Northwestern Ohio – ARCA’s Official High Performance Education University – awarded a group of ARCA scholarships on behalf of the university.

Likewise, Parsons announced the winners of the Bob Loga Memorial ARCA Scholarships. Brianna Peterson – granddaughter of ARCA competitor Wayne Peterson – won $1,500. Peterson, of Hoover, Ala., holds a 4.23 grade point average as a sophomore veterinary student at Auburn University. Brittany Gaddis of Romulus, Mich. won $500. She is the daughter of ARCA Figure 8 driver Danny Gaddis, attends Romulus High School, and plans to study nursing at Wayne State University in Detroit.

The ceremony concluded just after 10 p.m. with a special video featuring an interview with Mildred Marcum, known widely as an ARCA founder. The interview led into a short mention of ARCA’s 60th Anniversary Season and the surrounding celebrations that will occur throughout 2012. A press conference in the afternoon included major series and team announcements.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards featured 19 events at 16 tracks on its 2011 schedule. The series has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 28 states since its inception. In 2011, the series has tested the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course.

The 2012 ARCA Racing Series schedule is currently available at ARCARacing.com. Testing for ARCA’s 60th Anniversary Season will begin Friday, December 16 at Daytona International Speedway. The season’s first race is scheduled for Saturday, February 18 at Daytona.

Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

Richard Childress Racing (RCR)

Gaughan, 36, is the 2002 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year and competed fulltime in the Nationwide Series in 2009 and 2010, earning one pole and 17 top-10 finishes in 71 career starts. He finished ninth in the 2009 driver championship point standings and 11th in 2010. The two-time NASCAR Camping World Series West champion (2000-2001) has also earned eight victories and 63 top-10 finishes in 187 Truck Series starts, finishing 12th in the 2011 driver championship point standings. Gaughan was also part of the five-driver lineup that won the GT3 division of the 2011 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona sports car race at Daytona International Speedway.

“The last few years, I have been racing for teams that try to buy their engineering or equipment from organizations as great as RCR, but doing that is never the same as racing for RCR,” said Gaughan. “I have always steered away from switching to a part-time schedule in the past but I had to look at where I would have the best opportunity to win races again and the opportunity to race for Richard Childress is one I couldn’t pass up. By sharing the Nationwide Series seat with RCR’s Cup Series drivers, I know I’m going to be in the best equipment in the garage and have the best opportunity to win races to get myself back to where I want to be and that is to compete fulltime again.”

Brendan Gaughan

The Las Vegas native’s 18-race schedule will kick-off with the Truck Series event at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and includes visits in both series to his home track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Gaughan’s Nationwide Series events include races at Iowa Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Dover (Del.) International Speedway and Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway among others. His Truck Series line-up includes events at Texas Motor Speedway, where he is a four-time winner, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and others, as well as the 2012 season finale at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.

“Brendan is a proven race winner and champion so we’re excited to have him driving for RCR,” said Richard Childress, president and chief executive officer of Richard Childress Racing. “He will be a great addition to RCR’s overall driver lineup as we re-launch our NASCAR Nationwide Series program and continue the strength of our Camping World Truck Series program in 2012.”

The complete crew chief and remaining driver lineup for the No. 33 Nationwide Series team and the No. 2 Truck Series team will be announced at a later date.

For additional information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit www.rcrracing.com.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its current Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser / Rheem / Jimmy John’s Chevrolet) and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar / Wheaties Chevrolet). Its Nationwide Series program includes Elliott Sadler (No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet), 2011 Camping World Truck Series champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Advocare Chevrolet) and Brendan Gaughan (No. 33 South Point Hotel & Casino/Menards Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. and Brendan Gaughan (No. 2 Potomac Family Dining Group/South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet), Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Chevrolet) and 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion Ty Dillon (No. 41 Chevrolet) will compete in the 2012 Camping World Truck Series season.

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

Richard Childress Racing (RCR)

George, a New York, N.Y. native, is fresh off his best ARCA Racing Series run, finishing the 2011 season seventh in the final championship point standings on the strength of his first-career win at Pocono Raceway in June, eight top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. The 30-year-old driver made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in November 2009, one year after claiming victory at New Jersey Motorsports Park in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. He began his racing career in 2005, driving in the Skip Barber Racing School Southern Series and finished second in his class the following year on the heels of five victories.

“Tim has shown a great amount of improvement, running in the ARCA Racing Series these past few years that included his first career win,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “We’re ready to further strengthen his skills and moving him to the Camping World Truck Series is the next logical step. Having Ty Dillon and Joey Coulter as his teammates will help support his learning curve and I’m excited to see how he’ll perform.”

Tim George Jr.

Potomac Family Dining Group is the exclusive franchisee for the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants in the Washington, D.C. and surrounding area.

“Having an association with Tim this past year has proven to be an exciting experience for us,” said PFDG President Jim Rieger. “Quite frankly, the positive feedback from both our guests and our employees, has exceeded our expectations. And, since so many of our guests are also NASCAR fans, this collaboration is a perfect fit.”

Bruce Cook, who has nearly twenty-five years of motorsports experience, will serve as crew chief for RCR’s No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado team. His most recent stint came at Kevin Harvick Inc. where he captured three wins during the 2010 Nationwide Series season with Kevin Harvick and seven in the Camping World Truck Series with six different drivers en route to the 2011 owner’s championship title.

George’s race schedule and further additions to RCR’s competition department will be forthcoming.

For additional information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit www.rcrracing.com

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2011 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet). Its Camping World Truck Series program includes 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Development Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. (No 31 RCR Development Chevrolet) and Ty Dillon (No. 41 Chevrolet) will compete in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

Judy and Richard Childress - Photo Credit: Getty Images

WELCOME, N.C. (December 1, 2011) -

The NASCAR Buddy Shuman Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the growth of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing. The award is named in honor of Louis Grier “Buddy” Shuman, a pioneer NASCAR driver who died in a hotel fire in 1955. It has been presented by NASCAR and Federal-Mogul’s (NASDAQ: FDML) Champion® spark plug brand. Previous winners include Bill France Jr., Richard Petty, Dr. Joe Mattioli, Rick Hendrick, Dave Marcis, Dale Inman, Robert Yates and Jim Hunter.

“It’s a great honor to receive the Buddy Shuman award,” stated Childress. “To have my name associated with previous award winners such as Richard Petty and Bill France Jr., who are heroes of my past, is very special. I would also like to thank Federal Mogul and Champion spark plugs for sponsoring this prestigious award and everything they have contributed to this sport.”

Childress was presented the Humanitarian of the Year Award at the 2008 NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon for his and his family’s efforts to establish the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. The Childress Institute’s goal is to pave the way to help save the lives of severely injured children and help those who survive on the road to recovery.

For more information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit RCRRacing.com.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series lineup included Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet). Its NASCAR Camping World Truck Series program included 2011 Camping World Truck Series Champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and 2011 Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Development Chevrolet). Its 2011 ARCA Series presented by Menards included 2011 ARCA Series Champion Ty Dillon (No. 41 Chevrolet) and Tim George Jr. (No 31 RCR Development Chevrolet).

- Richard Childress Racing, Press Release

Truck owner and Grandfather Richard Childress (L) celebrates the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship with grandson Austin Dillon (R) at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Photo Credit: RCR)

The accomplishment marks the second NCWTS championship for RCR, who earned the inaugural NCWTS series championship in 1995 with Mike Skinner, also in a No. 3 Chevrolet. The 42-year-old racing organization, headed by Dillon’s grandfather Richard Childress, now has 14 motorsports championships overall, spread across the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NCWTS and the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

“It’s so special when you’re family,” said patriarch and team owner Richard Childress. “Our whole family is involved, and I remember the very first championship with Dale Earnhardt. I had the same feeling tonight watching Austin, my grandson. It’s just so special to have the family and know how hard all of them worked. Danny Stockman (crew chief), Bass Pro Shops, everybody on the No. 3 team did so much to help put it together. Austin kept it together so good under the pressure. For a 21-year-old guy, man, to be able to hang in there and do what he did was very special.”

Dillon, the 2010 NCWTS Rookie of the Year, becomes the first driver in the 11-year history of the NCWTS to earn the rookie title and then the driving championship the subsequent year. He also holds the honor of youngest champion to be crowned in the series’ history. Along with Ty Dillon, the 2011 ARCA Racing Series champion, the Dillon’s are the only brothers who have earned same-year championships on a national stock car tour.

“We definitely worked hard this year and accomplished this as a team,” said Dillon. “This was our goal at the beginning of the year and no one ever gave up. Danny Stockman and every member of the Bass Pro Shops team worked nonstop. We rebounded from so many little mistakes and unfortunate incidents this year-the hood flipping up at Kentucky Speedway, for example. It’s the way you react to the undesirable situations that show what a championship team is made of, and these guys reacted in all the right ways. This championship means so much to me and I’m thrilled to be able to represent my family, Richard Childress Racing, Bass Pro Shops and NASCAR as a champion.”

En route to the 2011 title, Dillon and his Danny Stockman-led Bass Pro Shops team celebrated in Victory Lane at Nashville Superspeedway and Chicagoland Speedway, posting an impressive five pole awards among 10 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes in 25 races. Dillon finished second on four separate occasions.

At 29-years-old, the 2011 championship marks crew chief Stockman’s first in only his second year as a crew chief. Prior to joining RCR in December 2009, he earned two championships (’07 and ’09) in the NCWTS as a truck chief at Kevin Harvick, Inc.

“Like Austin said, the last restart was quite gut wrenching,” added Stockman. “Just awesome to be a part of this deal with Richard, Mike, Austin and Tina, and everybody that just let me have this opportunity to be a part of it. Austin Dillon is just a great up-and-coming race car driver. I am just really happy to be a part of it. We have a heck of a good race team, and just got to thank everybody back at the shop for all their hard work.”

The nation’s No. 1 outdoor retail leader, Bass Pro Shops, was positioned as the primary partner on Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet for the duration of the 2010 and 2011 race seasons. A long-time RCR supporter, Bass Pro Shops began its association with Richard Childress Racing in 1998 with associate sponsorship of the No. 3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo made famous by seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt. Bass Pro Shops’ partnership with RCR has also included sponsorship of the No. 29 Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick and primary sponsorship of Earnhardt’s eldest son, Kerry Earnhardt, in RCR’s No. 33 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for six Sprint Cup Series races in 2004. The company sponsored Ty Dillon for his season-finale race in the ARCA Racing Series this year.

“Congratulations to Austin from all of us at Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine and all our Tracker independent dealers,” said Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. “Austin is a fine young man who loves racing, loves the outdoors and has a great future ahead of him. What a proud moment for Austin’s grandparents Richard and Judy Childress and his mom and dad Mike and Tina Dillon.”

Dillon joins an exclusive list of NCWTS driving champions, including Todd Bodine, Ron Hornaday, Jr., Johnny Benson, Ted Musgrave, Bobby Hamilton, Travis Kvapil, Mike Bliss, Jack Sprague, Greg Biffle and Mike Skinner. He will be formally honored at the annual NNS and NCWTS Awards Banquet at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel on Monday, Nov. 21. SPEED will broadcast the banquet on Friday, Dec. 2 from 7-9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

About Bass Pro Shops Group:

Bass Pro Shops -58 retail stores in 26 states and Canada visited by over 110 million people annually, international catalog and internet retailing, American Rod & Gun wholesale division selling to over 7,000 independently owned retail stores worldwide, Outdoor World Incentives also selling Bass Pro Shops gift cards through over 132,000 retail outlets across America and a restaurant division with 26 locations. For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog call 1-800-BASS PRO.

Tracker Marine Group –

Manufactures and sells Tracker, Nitro, SunTracker, Tahoe and Mako boats through Bass Pro Shops retail stores and over 400 dealers worldwide. Visit www.trackerboats.com

Resort Group –

Big Cedar Lodge and other resort properties including restaurants and golf course. Visit www.bigcedar.com for more information.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2011 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Paul Menard (No. 27 Menards Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet). Its Camping World Truck Series program includes 2010 Rookie of the Year Austin Dillon (No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Joey Coulter, Jr. (No. 22 RCR Chevrolet). Tim George Jr. (No 31 Applebee’s / Potomac Family Dining Group Chevrolet) and Ty Dillon (No. 41 RCR Chevrolet) will compete in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release

Austin Dillon celebrates his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship with his Richard Childress Racing team at Homestead-Miami Speedway. - Photo Credit: Jerry Markland, Getty Images for NASCAR

THE MODERATOR: Let’s roll into our championship race team in the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. It’s the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, driver is Austin Dillon, our crew chief is Danny Stockman, Jr., and our owner is Richard Childress. This is Richard Childress’ second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers’ championship. His first came in the inaugural season in 1995 with driver Mike Skinner. And crew chief Danny Stockman, this is your first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship.

Richard, you talked to me out in the hall. You’ve had a lot of championships, but how does this one rank.

RICHARD CHILDRESS: It’s got to be right up there at the top. It’s so special when you’re family. Our whole family is involved, and I remember the very first championship with Dale Earnhardt. I had the same feeling tonight watching Austin, my grandson. It’s just so special to have the family and know how hard all of them worked.

I was at Ohio, Toledo, when Ty won his championship a few weeks ago, and just it’s a dream come true to have both these young men win championships.

And Danny Stockman, Bass Pro, everybody did so much to help put it together, and Austin kept it together so good under the pressure. For a 21 year old guy man, to be able to hang in there and do what he did was very special.

THE MODERATOR: Speaking of which, our championship driver has joined us now. That’s Austin Dillon. He drives the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet. At 21 years, six months and 22 days, he becomes the youngest champion in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series history. Congratulations, Austin. Tell us what it’s like to win a championship in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

AUSTIN DILLON: How does it feel? Amazing, best feeling I’ve ever had in my entire life. I’m so happy for my grandfather. He’s got two champs this year. I’m worried about Ty coming back and beating me for the youngest champion ever. He’s pretty awesome. It’s going to be a wonderful week, a wonderful month. Can’t ask to go out of the Truck Series any better than this, coming out as a champion.

Danny Stockman has done a great job this year. We’re all a family over at RCR, and we fight like dogs, but we love each other the same. It’s cool that we’re out there, a championship. It was wild. The last restart was not the way I planned it. It made it interesting, but we still came out on top.

THE MODERATOR: Danny Stockman, talk about being the crew chief for this championship team.

DANNY STOCKMAN: Yeah, like Austin said, the last restart was quite gut wrenching. Just awesome to be a part of this deal with Richard and Mike and Austin and Tina and everybody that just let me have this opportunity to be a part of it. Austin Dillon being a great race car driver, up and coming race car driver, just really glad to be a part of it. Got a heck of a good race team, and just got to thank everybody back at the shop there. Really good.

Q. Austin, a little more detail on that last restart. Was it a tire issue? And I think Hornaday said when he went by you there that he saw oil or something like that. Was that communicated to you, as well?

AUSTIN DILLON: I didn’t see the oil, but I know right behind the right front fender we were knocked in. I don’t know what happened. I didn’t hit anybody on the track, but I think it happened on pit road. We got really tight once I got back there, but I think it was more the conservative side when I was three wide. We were three wide in the middle, and to force a spot right there is not worth it.

I wish we would have finished I think we had a shot to win the race. We really had a fast race car. When you get back there in that situation, your head tells you to be smart, but at the same time they’re telling you to go because you’re close there. I went as hard as I could, started entering the corner harder at the end and helped us out. But we got really tight when the fender got knocked in. I think it was close really with the fender, but the rain came at the right time, the Lord was looking after us, and it’s really cool to be where we are today.

Q. Austin, I want to say you didn’t really say anything on the radio as you were falling back there or even for the few laps after that. Did you not want to say anything? What was going through your head?

AUSTIN DILLON: There was no need to, just focus and get back on the wheel. When you get down like that, you can’t do anything but drive back to the front, and we’ve done that all year. I’ve struggled in certain spots and restarts. Actually my restarts have been really great to the end of the year. That one wasn’t a bad restart. I kind of Johnny went I didn’t anticipate as well as I needed to, and when Denny stuck me three wide, I probably could have made something out of it in the middle, could have got to the top quicker, but I didn’t know who was out there and no one said clear on the radio, so we obviously weren’t.

When you get three wide, and these trucks, the air pushes you around so much it’s hard to run three wide, and down the back stretch it was really hairy, so I just rolled out a little bit, got back in line and went to working on everybody in front of me and were able to pass quite a few of them.

Q. Can you just talk about what the last six, seven weeks have been like? You’re leading the points coming out of each of these last six or seven races. Has it been nerve wracking or has it been easier to handle than you thought?

AUSTIN DILLON: You know, watching these guys in the Cup Series talk to each other, it’s pretty wild. I listen to Tony Stewart and I listen to Carl Edwards and the different approaches they take to it. Offense is your best defense most of the time in racing, and I felt like today I probably played too much defense. It wasn’t enough offense, and my grandfather got onto me midway through the race and said, You can’t get comfortable here, you’ve got to keep racing. Went back and got on the wheel and drove up through a bunch of them and found ourselves in second.

We had a fast race car there at the end, and when we got three wide, I had to play conservative because it wasn’t worth it. It worked out for the better of everything, and leading up to this week, I’ve just been hunting and fishing, doing stuff I love to do, keep my mind off of it, hanging out with the people I always hang out with, talking to Danny, preparing ourselves the way we do for every race.

There’s no difference coming into the championship. You can’t approach things different. When you’re sitting outside the lead, you can take more chances, that’s for sure. Johnny could take more chances today than we could, Buescher the same way, they have nothing to lose. Stewart is right, he has nothing to lose for Sunday. It’s hard to play offense. You’ve got to play off, though. My best advice to Carl is to go out there and play offense, go out there he knows what he has to do. They have a different situation; they’re very close in points. There’s a benefit there.

I actually talked to Ricky Carmichael, he’s won lots of championships, and I was talking to him and he said the closest championship was probably the easiest because he knew what he had to do. 16th was what we were supposed to finish to win, and we knew that going in, and got us a top 10, so we did our job.

Q. That said, Austin, what was today like, because it wasn’t maybe a normal day because of the rain and everything. Was there a chance for nerves to get in? And with winning the championship, what’s your experience so far? Is it everything you thought it would be?

AUSTIN DILLON: Today with the rain, it did make it you had to think a little bit more, I guess. You could think about it longer. But I actually watched a Clint Eastwood movie during the middle of the day. That was pretty cool. It kept my mind off it. I laughed a few times. It was the one with the chimpanzee. “Any Which Way But Loose” is what I watched today. I watched it with my buddy Tim Dugger and my girlfriend and his girlfriend, we just hung out and watched the movie and waited on everything, and when it got down to it, started listening to my music, had our team meeting. That’s when we all get emotional is in our team meeting because we all know why we’re here, and it was really cool, we all had a big prayer session before, and I told them I was nervous going in, as nervous as they are, but we’ve got to go do our job, and we did it.

Austin Dillon soaks in the glory after becoming the youngest NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion following Friday night's race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images for NASCAR)

AUSTIN DILLON: The championship, yeah, it’s amazing. You get to spray champagne everywhere. You’re on top of the world. It’s the best feeling in the world. You stink real bad. Darrell Waltrip told me the best feeling in the world is going home stinking and having a trophy in your lap, and we were able to do that. I think now I’m more nervous about making a speech Monday, but we’ll figure that out. I’ve got some time.

Q. Going back to your celebration, are you maybe the first NASCAR champion to try planking on concrete?

AUSTIN DILLON: Yeah, the planking is cool. It’s something new. I feel like the good thing about NASCAR, we’ve got some really good drivers coming up. I am friends with a bunch of them that are going to represent the sport well. I think NASCAR has a lot to look forward to going forward. I feel that the newer fans coming in are young, and it’s really cool for sponsors, and I love the social media network, and I’ll be out there having fun any way I can. Yeah, I think that was one of the coolest planks you can do, I guess, winning a championship and then planking.

Q. Maybe your riskiest move of the night, too?

AUSTIN DILLON: That was probably my riskiest move, yeah. But it was wet enough where I could have got a little slide, and I have Sparco suit, so it’s the best suit in the world.

Q. You didn’t think about “Tebowing,” did you?

AUSTIN DILLON: Yeah, I kind of did. I pointed up when I was over the car. I didn’t get down on one knee, but that would have been cool to Tebow. He got it done last night, too; it was pretty impressive.

Q. What were you thinking when the rains came? Did you figure you had it at that particular time?

AUSTIN DILLON: Never thought about it. Andy Houston, my spotter, said, That’s probably going to be it, man, and I stayed in the truck and waited for the signal. It kind of drizzled, it was drizzling, and I knew they had lost the track because it was so slippery driving around under caution, and my grandfather said, Do not spin out under caution; slow down. I said, Wow, if I do this, that would be really a good way to lose the championship, rolling around under rain, so I backed her off and pulled in, and Hermie Sadler told me I won the championship, so I started celebrating and planked.

Actually, you know what, I did play some Xbox this week and tweeted my Xbox Live name and had like 50 people play Xbox Live Call of Duty with me. That was pretty fun, too. That was my RCR clan. It was good. I ended up on top like three times, but it was cool because everybody was going to tune into the championship, and they’re like mention the RCR clan in victory lane. I didn’t do it, but I got it in the media center, so I’m going to go back and play with them and talk to them about the championship. It’s cool, I interacted with fans that way.

Q. For Richard, what do you think allowed him to have the poise and everything to hold onto this lead in the points the last seven weeks, and is there anything that he’s done that you obviously have watched him race since he was little, but is there anything he’s done in the last two months that either particularly impressed you or surprised you?

RICHARD CHILDRESS: I think watching the race at Texas was the key to winning this championship. He was conservative when he had to be and he raced hard when he had to be. I think that was a big win we finished second, but it was a great run, and I think going into tonight, he I haven’t talked to him a whole lot this week because I didn’t want to add any extra pressure. He handles pressure better than a lot of people his age, he and his brother does, Ty. I couldn’t believe with the way he handled himself in the ARCA championship. They must get it from their mom because me and their dad gets a little wound up sometimes.

One other thing: Tonight with Johnny winning, that was 51 wins for ECR, and I told them at our kickoff banquet last year that they won 50 last year, so I told them you’ve got to beat it this year, so tonight made it 51. Great job for ECR.

Q. With the strength and the momentum you have after winning this championship, you’re taking the entire team with you to the Nationwide Series. What are you expecting for next season?

AUSTIN DILLON: Yeah, we’ve built a great team going into 2012. We’ve been working a little bit leading up to this race, and Stockman has been really harping on worried about this race, not worried about next year. But we’re so excited I can’t wait. It’s going to be amazing, feel like we can do it again. Two in a row would be awesome, just keep moving up and doing our job and we’ll be there at the end.

I was able to run some really good races with the Nationwide Series this year, and I feel like we stack up well, and we’ll have similar equipment. RCR and Pop Pop always make sure we have the best, and we’ll go out there and do our job in that No. 3.

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations to the No. 3 truck, Austin, Danny and Richard.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

About Chevrolet

Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com .

- Chevrolet Press Release

Austin Dillon soaks in the glory after becoming the youngest NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion following Friday night's race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images for NASCAR)

“Everyone at Chevrolet is extremely proud of Austin Dillon’s accomplishment this year,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Throughout his young career, he has proven himself to be a very talented driver. After winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of Year in his 2010 debut, to come back and win the championship this year clearly demonstrates the bright future Austin has in NASCAR.

“We are very proud of our long partnership with Richard Childress Racing and couldn’t be more pleased to be a part of every victory and every championship Richard’s teams have won.”

Dillon, 21, led the series with five poles, and added two wins, 10 top-fives and 16 top-10s in 25 races this season.

Dillon, who carried a 20-point lead into the season finale’, is the sixth Team Chevy driver to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship, joining Ron Hornaday Jr. (2009, 2007, 1998 and 1996), Jack Sprague (2001, 1999, and 1997), Travis Kvapil (2003), Mike Bliss (2002) and Mike Skinner (1995).

This is Childress’ second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship; Mike Skinner won the first in the series’ inaugural season, 1995 – also in the No. 3. Childress also won six NASCAR Sprint Cup championships with Dale Earnhardt (1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994).

“It’s been a very successful season for Team Chevy in the Camping World Truck Series,” Campbell said. “We’d also like to congratulate Kevin Harvick Inc. on winning the Owners’ Championship. What a way for KHI to close out a tremendous 10-year run in the series.

“In addition, our congratulations to Joey Coulter for winning the Series’ Sunoco Rookie of the Year.”

Chevrolet earlier clinched the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Manufacturers’ Championship for the seventh time.

Tonight’s season-finale was won by Johnny Sauter, No. 13 SafeAuto / Curb Records Silverado.

About Chevrolet

Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com .

- Chevrolet Press Release

Richard Childress - Getty Images

RICHARD CHILDRESS, TEAM OWNER OF RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING (RCR) met with media following the announcement that

WHAT DID YOU SEE IN AUSTIN DILLON THAT MADE YOU DECIDE HE WAS READY TO MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL?

“I’ve watched him run at some other tracks with the Nationwide guys and run with some of the Cup guys in that series with Carl (Edwards) and Kyle (Busch); I think he ran four races and had two or three top-five’s out of it, which is pretty remarkable for a young kid coming in. And he handles himself well and that’s the biggest thing; we just feel now it’s ready for him to take the next step; we felt we had a plan two years in the Truck Series and if he proved himself in the Truck Series, then we’d move him forward.”

DO YOU FEEL IT WOULD BE PRETTY OBVIOUS IF HE WASN’T READY AND THAT YOU COULD TELL?

“Yes. If we didn’t think he was ready, we wouldn’t be moving him up. Although he is our grandson, we wouldn’t move him if I didn’t think he could go out and represent AdvoCare and do a good job in the Nationwide Series.”

IS IT MORE CHALLENGING TO BE CAR OWNER AND GRANDFATHER AS AUSTIN MOVES UP TO EACH LEVEL, OR DOES IT MAKE IT EASIER?

“It’s always a little more challenging when you step-up from the driver and from the grandfather side; from the owner’s side, we just expect him to go out and perform. But from the grandfather’s side, you just want him to be safe.”

HOW WILL YOU SHIFT YOUR TEAMS AROUND FOR NEXT YEAR? THERE WAS SOME TALK THIS WEEK THAT JEFF BURTON WILL HAVE A NEW CREW CHIEF; WHERE ARE YOU IN THAT PROCESS?

“Believe me, we’ve done a lot of research. We’re watching a lot and looking a lot at the No. 2 and the No. 33 Nationwide teams next year and looking at Ty (Dillon) and what we’re going to do with him next year. There have not been any final decisions made at all. I know there were some rumors about who was going where and what Luke (Lambert, crew chief No. 31) was going to do. We don’t know where anyone is (going or staying). We’ve got a lot of ideas and a lot of plans but they can change in a moment’s notice because we don’t even know where we’re going to be with people yet.”

ON MARK MARTIN’S ANNOUNCEMENT TO GO WITH MICHAEL WALTRIP NEXT YEAR

“Mark loves what he does. I’ve talked to Mark. Mark is not doing it for the money; he loves it because he loves to race. I think he’ll go over there and be competitive and I think that’s what he really wants to do.”

WITH THREE RACES TO GO IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP, EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT CARL EDWARDS AND TONY STEWART, BUT NOT SO MUCH ABOUT YOUR DRIVER, KEVIN HARVICK

“Well we hope they keep talking about them two and let us kind of slip in there. But we haven’t gave up on it yet. We’re still going to fight all the way until we’re mathematically out of it. Anything can happen; just like what happened to us in Talladega. Talladega is what took us out of it. It could happen just as easily the other way.”

GOING INTO HOMESTEAD, IT USED TO BE THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO BE WITHIN 30 POINTS OF THE LEAD TO HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. WITH THE NEW POINT SYSTEM, WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU NEED TO BE WITH KEVIN HARVICK?

“I think you’ve got to be within five or six points; or maybe seven; barring that the competitors don’t have a problem. If you’re going to have to race them for it, you’re going to have to be able to go out and win the race and them finish fifth, sixth, or seventh; something like that.”

YOU’VE SEEN CARL EDWARDS HAVE TWO BAD WEEKENDS WITH PRETTY MIRACULOUS FINISHES; AND TONY STEWART HAD A MIRACULOUS FINISH LAST WEEKEND. AND THEN MATT KENSETH SEEMS TO HAVE LOST THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE LAST 30 LAPS. WHAT’S YOUR GUT FEELING ON THIS CHAMPIONSHIP?

“I think it’s going to come down to the last race. We’re out of Mulligans. If we have another Mulligan, we’re out of the championship. And a couple of those guys haven’t really had a Mulligan yet. Talladega was the one that hurt us but we were there racing and trying to win the race and we got caught up in somebody else’s wreck.”

DO YOU THINK IT’S TIME FOR THE TOP TWO DRIVERS TO HAVE SOME BAD LUCK?

“No, I think if they just have long days like they’ve had at a couple of tracks, we could be right back in it. Tony (Stewart) was out of it what, two weeks ago? He’s back in it.”

IS THERE ANY SCENARIO YOU SEE ON THE NO. 3 RETURNING TO THE SPRINT CUP SERIES?

“Not really; not to stylize No. 3. Dale (Earnhardt) made that thing famous. We don’t have any plans of running it. The No. 3 in the Truck Series was Mike Skinner ran it. The No. 3 in Nationwide, although Dale run it some. But Dale Junior was the one that ran it to make it famous in the Nationwide. Dale Sr. made it famous in the Cup side. We don’t have any intentions of running that in the Cup Series.”

About Chevrolet

Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com .

 - Team Chevy, Press Release

The big change may have happened a few years ago when Frank and Bill Kimmell ran Kimmel Racing but drove that familiar #46 Pork car for Larry Clement who resides in Iowa. The economy hadn’t tanked yet-so the Southern Indiana brothers moved on to try and do their own thing. With little sponsorship-they almost won another title. Then came Menard’s and Ansell -big names, big sponsors, and big dollars. Frank went winless this season-the first time since the mid-nineties. That should not have happened. As a matter of fact-he should have had 5-6 wins and easily by now could have been the all time driver with the most wins in ARCA. Didn’t happen. So, what went wrong. - Louisville Courier-Journal

Team owner Richard Childress, speaks to the media during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, held at Richard Childress Racing on Tuesday in Welcome, N.C. - Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

RICHARD CHILDRESS, OWNER OF RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING (RCR) spoke with media following press announcement to unveil the No. 33 USO/CHEER Chevrolet that will be driven by Clint Bowyer at the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Phoenix. The car

WHAT ATTRACTS THE SPONSORS? “We at RCR do it a little different. We try to sell our whole company and corporation and the driver is a huge part of it because he plays a large role in the marketing of the product but we also try to sell RCR and make sure that we get the return on the investment for all the companies that we’re associated with. At the end of the day I work for every one of these companies and I want to make sure I do a good job to get the return on their investment.”

ARE THEY LOOKING FOR GUYS THAT ARE MARKETABLE OR ARE THEY LOOKING FOR TEAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE UP FORM AND CONTENDING FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS AND RACE WINS, WHAT ARE THEY MOST INTERESTED IN? “In today’s world the sponsors are looking a lot of B to B, they’re looking for a guy that is a good spokesman; they are looking for a team that has a good spokesman with it so it’s been a really good relationship with RCR and all of our sponsors to be able to move forward. With General Mills like this program that we are doing right here, it’s a huge deal to be able to put it out and be able to work with them.”

DO YOU SEE THE BUSINESS MODEL CHANGING FOR NASCAR, WITH SOME OF THE LAYOFFS AND SOME OF THE TEAMS DOWNSIZING, DO YOU SEE YOUR BUSINESS MODEL CANGING? “I think everybody’s business model changed a couple of years ago and we’re all having to adjust to it but at RCR we’ve been very fortunate, we’ve been able to resign sponsors, be able to have really good corporate interest. We’ve got a lot of new companies that are looking at us that hopefully in the near future will be making some announcements.

“So things are looking pretty good for RCR and I think it’s looking good for the sport as well. There’s a lot of interest, TV rating has been up; we’re getting the seats back in the stands so really happy with what I see with the sport today.”

DO YOU SEE COSTS GOING DOWN, WITH DRIVERS SALARIES START COMING DOWN AND NOW THAT THE LOOKS OF THE SOME OF THE COST THAT IT WILL BE MORE INEXPENSIVE? “Well we all have to adjust to the model. It’s just a matter if you’ve got x dollars to race with you have to figure out how to race with it and NASCAR understands the challenges that’s out there today for the teams and they’re going to do what they can to make their adjustments as well. It’s no different than everybody right here that I’m looking at. I’m sure the companies that you work for say well you come in a day later and you don’t show up until then and you stay in this hotel, so all of us have had to make adjustments to the new economic environment.”

WE HEARD CLINT BOWYER’S VERSION LAST WEEK OF WHY HE WASN’T ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH RCR. HE SAID YOU EVEN OPENED UP THE FINANCIAL BOOKS TO HIM. WHY DO YOU THINK IT WAS YOU WEREN’T ABLE TO WORK IT OUT TOGETHER? “It was just we knew what our financial model was and Clint knew where he needed to be and we just couldn’t ever come together to make it work. We had the car completely sponsored but it just didn’t really work out and I’m very sad that it didn’t because I really like Clint. He’s going to be a great driver. Never say never; hopefully he will be back some day at RCR.”

DO YOU ENVISION THE NO. 33 CUP CAR ON THE TRACK NEXT YEAR, OR DO YOU SEE YOUR PROGRAM NOW AS THREE CUP CARS? “Right now we’re looking at three Cup cars with an occasional Cup race. Who knows what may come up between now and then? I’ve had offers to race people and race drivers and had another full sponsorship with a driver; I just want to make sure it’s the right move when we make it. So we’re still as of right now, we’re three Cup teams.”

SO IS YOUR MAIN PRIORITY RIGHT NOW SELLING SPONSORSHIP FOR AUSTIN’S NATIONWIDE RIDE AND TY’S TRUCK RIDE FOR NEXT YEAR? “We’re down the road pretty good with all of that. Like I said earlier we feel pretty good about where RCR is in the future with the sponsors we have over the next two or three years. Couldn’t be happier with a lot of things on the front for RCR sponsorship wise, employee wise and the direction that we are going.”

JUST TO CLAIRFY, YOU MIGHT RUN A FOURTH CAR PART TIME NEXT YEAR IN CUP OR NOT? “I’m sure if we don’t have a team we may stick Austin in another car one or two times. We’ve got a couple of other people that said hey we want to run. If we see it’s the right opportunity for a change that we can test something or look at a driver or something we may do that.”

YOU TALK ABOUT THE BUSINESS MODEL, IF PEOPLE COULD BRING YOU A ONE OR TWO-RACE DEAL YOU COULD INSERT PEOPLE INTO THAT CAR AND HAVE A NUMBER OF SPONSORS AND HAVE A DIFFERENT BUSINESS MODEL. “Yeah, but that’s not really what we want to do. You can’t be competitive like that. I’d rather have three teams that you can be competitive with and occasionally pick up a race or two along the way and if you’ve got something you want to try you do it.”

WERE YOU SURPRISED AT ALL WITH THEJOE GIBBS RACING ANNOUNCEMENT, THE KIND OF DYNAMICS WITH THAT WITH THE HOME DEPOT BACKING DOWN ON SOME OF THE RACES THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE AND 12 RACES GOING TO DOLLAR GENERAL? “I didn’t realize that but that’s the model about all these companies are going to today. They still think it’s a great place to be or they wouldn’t come back. I think that’s going to be the model. You’re going to have to be able to sell off with one or two maybe three sponsors. It makes it a little tougher adjusting the races because everybody would want Daytona or everybody wants Indianapolis but if you’re fortunate and have great companies that will work with you to pick those race tracks it works really good.”

IS IT SAFE TO SAY WITH THE ABSORBTION OF KEVIN HARVICK YOU WON’T HAVE TO LAY OFF STAFF EVEN IF YOU GO TO THREE CUP CARS? “We’re hoping to add a few more people. We’ve got a couple of other good programs working. The number we’re coming up with now is just a few more employees than we have today.”

FUEL INJECTION AND THE CHANGE IN BODIES IN 2013, ARE YOU GOING TO NEED EXTRA STAFF NEXT YEAR JUST BECAUSE OF THOSE THINGS? “I think it’s going to take a different engine tuner. You’ve got to be very up on computers. There’s a lot of stuff that you’ve got to do with computers on fuel injection. The aerodynamics is going to be huge working into our 2013 car. We’re working on it probably June of next year getting prepared. The cost is going to be there.”

COULD YOU CLARIFY SOMETHING PLEASE, LATE IN THE RACE LAST WEEK IN KANSAS CLINT WAS RACING KEVIN SIDE-BY-SIDE, YOU GOT ON CLINT’S RADIO AND SAID GO TO CHANNEL TWO, DID YOU TELL CLINT OF THE SITUATION OR WHY WOULDN’T YOU BECAUSE WHETHER ITS HIM OR ANY OTHER DRIVER BECAUSE YOU’VE GOT ONE GUY COMPETING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP WE’RE STARTING TO SEE WHAT THE VALUE OF ONE POSITION OR ONE POINT IS, IF YOU DIDN’T DO IT WHY DIDN’T YOU DO IT? “I was talking to Shane (Wilson). I asked Shane to go to channel two. I wanted to talk to him about something else. Just use your own instinct on that and answer it yourself.”

MY INSTINCT WOULD SAY YES, I WOULD TELL MY DRIVER …. “I’m not going to tell them what to do. These guys are smart. They all understand. Hendrick’s guys all understand, Roush guys understands, everybody understands; you’re not going to do nothing that’s not legal or not right but you’re going to race hard for your company.”

TALK ABOUT THE CHEERS POST CARDS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT TO YOU… Let me tell you. I’m going to stand on my soap box for a minute about America. We need to do more of this for our troops. We need to do more in our schools to teach our children about America, the flags, patriotism, and how and why we can be where we are today. In today’s schools; I don’t see many of you here that’s old enough, but when I went to school, there was an American flag in the corner of the classroom. Every morning you stood up and pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. I think we’ve got to get back and this is a good step to go out and show the troops and show the families how much they are appreciated. It kind of irritates me sometimes that we don’t stand up more for our troops and we don’t stand up more for the families that sacrificed so much. And if a family has a loved one overseas and they receive a card for any one of ya’ll, it’s going to brighten their day. It’s going to be a cheer; and that’s what this program is all about.

CLINT BOWYER ADDED TO THE COMMENT: “I don’t have a soapbox (laughter). But that was exactly spot-on. We are proud of this. I think it’s very important to be able to give back to the troops and help them out. They’re over there busting their butts so we can do what we love to do in this country. Companies like Cheerios, just doing something little like this, really makes a big difference in people’s lives. So I’m very proud to be a part of it and to represent it.”

About Chevrolet

Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com .

- Team Chevy, Press Release