(L-R) Ryan Newman, driver of the #31 Caterpillar/Quicken Loans Chevrolet; Paul Menard, driver of the #27 Menard’s Chevrolet; Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW/Cheerios Chevrolet; Eric Warren, director of competition for Richard Childress Racing; and Richard Childress, owner of Richard Childress Racing speak with the media during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour at Charlotte Convention Center on January 28, 2014
Photo – Grant Halverson/Getty Images
The close of last season, led to the end of a chapter at Richard Childress Racing. Their top driver for over a decade in Kevin Harvick was moving on. Following Dale Earnhardt’s death, Harvick was the face of RCR. Now that the face of the organization has left, it is time for a new beginning. With Austin Dillon set to compete for rookie honors in the famous No.3 car, RCR has the driver in which they hope is leading them in a new direction.
Austin Dillon
The much-anticipated rookie season for Austin Dillon has arrived. Ever since he started racing full-time in the Camping World Truck Series back in 2010, many have expected his entrance to the Sprint Cup level. It would be the return of Dale Earnhardt’s No.3 car to the highest level of NASCAR. The car hasn’t competed since the fateful day in which its patriarch died while racing at Daytona. Thirteen years later, the emotional return of the No.3 car to the Sprint Cup Series has now arrived.
Daytona will be a whirlwind of emotion for RCR and Dillon, but once the season gets going, the focus for the team is on running well. Dillon is a very promising rookie who has been very successful in the sports’ lower levels and should fit right in with the Sprint Cup drivers. With being expected to fit in right away comes pressure as that is how people will view Dillon throughout the year. The championship is not likely this season, but surely he has a shot at the Rookie of the Year award. 2014 will be a big year for Austin Dillon.
My Prediction: Dillon has a mediocre season that includes occasional top fives and top ten’s. He will be very competitive in the Rookie of the Year race. He will not get to victory lane, but he may get close at the restrictor plate tracks.
Paul Menard
With RCR’s Sprint Cup lineup undergoing change in 2014, Paul Menard is the veteran driver in the stable. Menard has been working with the same team for multiple years now, so team experience plays into his court. 2013 wasn’t the best year for Menard, but now is his chance to rebound this season and put himself back in Chase contention.
My Prediction: The No.27 team will be on more of a consistent level in 2014 and stay right on the edge of the Chase. Menard will come up short on making the Chase, however, as not getting to victory lane will hurt him.
Ryan Newman
2014 presents a new opportunity for Newman. A fresh start at RCR gives him a path to take him anywhere. There is always room for improvement and the time to better himself is here with a new ride. Newman mentioned at Media Day that this is the first time he is going to a fully established team. RCR has a rich and successful history in NASCAR and Newman is ready as a part of their next chapter. The “Rocket Man” had a fairly decent 2013 and building upon that this season could make him a threat in the Chase.
My Prediction: Newman experiences a rather good first year with RCR which will include a spot in the Chase along with many top five and top ten finishes. Also look for Newman in victory lane a time or two.
Great things take time to happen. RCR is not going to jump out this season and compete closely for the championship. They will need to build up to that level. 2014 is a year of learning, growing, and planning out the teams’ next chapter. RCR won’t be irrelevant in 2014, but don’t expect dominance out of them as this is a building year for the organization.