Key Takeaways:
– Richard Childress has warned Ricky Stenhouse Jr. not to touch Kyle Busch’s car in future races.
– The warning comes after an on-track incident between Stenhouse and Busch during the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro.
– Childress has previously stepped in to defend his racers, confronting Kyle Busch in 2011.
– Despite a tough season for Richard Childress Racing, the team owner remains committed to his drivers.
– The famous “watch” comment retold as part of NASCAR racing folklore.
Headstrong Childress Protects His Own
Richard Childress, the defiant owner of Richard Childress Racing, is well-known for his unabashed combativeness. A clear example of this was in 2011 when he clashed with Kyle Busch in defense of Joey Coulter, an RCR driver at the time. Fast-forward to years later, the 78-year-old racing mogul hasn’t lost his fire, demonstrated in his recent defense of his ace driver, Kyle Busch.
Childress Candidly Stands Up for Kyle Busch
At a recent pre-Patriot Award Dinner, Childress didn’t mince his words when asked about the altercation between his driver, Kyle Busch, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. during the All-Star Race on May 19. “If Ricky touches Kyle’s 8 car at Charlotte, I’ll personally deal with him,” Childress warned.
Invoking a Memory of a Past Tussle
In a jovial nod to the past, this tête-à-tête with Busch brings to mind an incident where Childress asked his grandson Austin Dillon to “hold my watch” before confronting Busch at Kansas Speedway in 2011. Stenhouse couldn’t obscure his own reference to the “watch” story following his encounter with Busch at the more recent race at North Wilkesboro.
Struggles for Richard Childress Racing
Kyle Busch has had a frustrating first half of the 2024 Cup Series regular season, with only five of the initial 13 races resulting in top 10 placements. Notably, two of the races saw him in the top 5 at Dover and Atlanta. Despite his track record as a formidable racer, Busch’s average finishing position sits mid-pack at 16.0.
Busch isn’t alone in the struggle within the Childress camp. Austin Dillon, driving the No. 3 car, has suffered setbacks as well, mainly scoring two top 20s in the first 13 events. Dillon’s poor form has caused him to have an average starting position of 21.2 and an average finishing placement of 25.5. If this continues, Dillon is on track to post his worst career numbers since his full-time debut in Cup racing in 2014.
Rounds and Rounds It Goes
The world of NASCAR racing is no stranger to drama, but Richard Childress’s strong stance for his racers adds a thrilling dynamic. Despite a tough season for both Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon, Childress continues to rally behind his drivers, delivering fiery opines whenever needed. His recent warning to Stenhouse is evidence that even at 78, he’s not ready to back down. As the season races towards its conclusion, it will be interesting to observe how this melodrama unfolds and whether Stenhouse will reconsider before having another go at one of Childress’s top drivers.
The scuffles, the clashes, the dust-ups – they are all part of the dizzying universe of NASCAR racing. One man standing tall amidst this is Richard Childress – a testament to the power of remaining stalwart in the face of adversity and for one’s team.