RCR: When I am Wrong, I am Really Wrong   September 18, 2007 Everett Mugg - SCR   For several years I have said Richard Childress Racing (RCR), as a race organization was a washed up team struggling hard to even be considered second tier and that Kevin Harvick was stupid to stay with them. They would not and could not give him equipment anywhere near the level of his driving talent and no matter how good he is he cannot win in junk cars. By the end of last season I was saying how amazed I was at the turn around in RCR, and last year was nothing compared to this year.   As a team this year, RCR has put all three drivers, Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Clint Bowyer, in the Chase for the Championship. They started off with a bang this season at Daytona, placing 1st, (Harvick) 3rd, (Burton), and 18th, (Bowyer), while at Fontana they brought home 4th, (Burton), 6th, (Bowyer) and 17th, (Harvick). Without the late race red flag and subsequent flat tire on Harvick’s car, it is highly likely that not only would all three cars have finished in the top ten, but also Harvick would have won his second straight race. RCR was serving notice that they were the road to go through if one wanted a Cup Championship title.

All three could have run better at Las Vegas but they got right back on track in Atlanta putting two cars in the top ten again. All in all, this season in 26 races leading up to the chase, RCR has placed at least one car in the Top Ten 13 times, 2 cars in the Top Ten 7 times and all three cars 3 times.   Clint Bowyer won the first race of the chase while Harvick and Burton had Top Twenty finishes, leaving Childress drivers 4th, 10th, and 11th in the point standings. Not too shabby.

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The weakness this year for RCR has been wins. Each driver has only won one race so far. Due to the change in the point systems winning races is more important than ever before. Yet in the final nine races, quality finishes rank more than winning a race or two and not finishing other races. Bowyer won his first Cup race ever last week and one wonders now that the taste of winning is in his mouth where it will lead. Harvick has lived on unfulfilled expectations since he came up to Cup. Burton has been close several times with no trophy to put in his case. All three drivers have something to prove and the cars and teams to do it. Will any of the three be the first RCR driver to join Dale Earnhardt in bringing home a Championship to Richard Childress?   Questions, Comments; Email Everett