“I Was Going to Quit..”: Richard Childress Reveals Dale Earnhardt’s Plea Behind Keeping RCR’s NASCAR Legacy Alive

Richard Childress found himself in a conflicting situation after Dale Earnhardt’s passing. The Intimidator was the protagonist and the face of Richard Childress Racing, helping the team enter the NASCAR history books. Seven Cup Series titles and an era of dominance is something very few teams have been able to match in the history of the sport.

There came a point where the team owner, Richard Childress, had a thought about quitting racing altogether. Such was the impact of Dale Earnhardt’s passing for him. Moreover, the bond the two developed over time stretched far beyond the equations of an owner and driver. This connection and relationship encouraged Childress to keep on going, enduring the tough times.

Richard Childress kept the promise he made to Dale Earnhardt

RCR was in deep trouble after losing out on their star driver in a fatal crash during the 2001 Daytona 500 race. The team could’ve easily lost its way and probably exited stock car racing for good. However, Richard Childress mustered up the courage and remembered the time he made Dale Sr. a promise.

The 79-year-old veteran team owner took a stroll down memory lane in sharing the story about the conversation he had with Dale Earnhardt. “It’s a long story, but Dale and I were on a mountain, and his horse flipped over backwards. I went off the mountain, busted my nose, got back to camp, and busted my chest up. But that night at the campfire, we were talking. I said, Dale, if anything ever happens to me, you know you got to go on and race the next week.” He said this while talking on Episode 62 of the Happy Hour podcast.

But the intimidator asked that he would expect a similar outcome in case the role were reversed. “He’s well; if it ever happens to me, you go to do that. And I thought about that. I was going to quit till I thought about that. I was going to quit till I thought of that. And so I knew we had to keep things going for our company, and you were the right person at the right time,” Childress added.

And the very next week, after the crash at Daytona, RCR returned to the North Carolina Speedway. Kevin Harvick was the one who took charge of the iconic #3 Chevrolet in his first full-time Cup Series outing. A decision that Childress feels glad that he made.

Only Kevin Harvick had the potential to take over the #3 car in 2001

The young and upcoming drivers dream of racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. While, a few of them are gifted ones who quickly adapt to the setting, for some it takes some races. But, the situation at RCR was far from optimal for any young drivers to kickstart their NASCAR career, especially after Dale Earnhardt’s demise. But Kevin Harvick was ready to shoulder that responsibility.

Childress couldn’t help but shed light on Harvick’s contribution while highlighting the strength of the entire RCR to pull through after a huge setback. “I ain’t saying this because you’re sitting here. I’ve said it before that I don’t know of another driver that could’ve gotten in that car under the circumstance, and the pressure of driving that car that Dale Earnhardt got. But the thing I remember is how much we all pulled together.”

Continuing the legacy of the legendary racer, Harvick parked the # Chevy in the victory lane at Atlanta in just his third Cup Series start. He rounded off the season by clinching his first Busch Series (Xfinity) championship. Harvick certainly lived up to the expectations and guided RCR to its next chapter in NASCAR racing.