"I know it'll go that far too": When Richard Childress discussed managing Kyle Busch under RCR with Dale Sr. comparison

In a behind-the-scenes look at Kyle Busch’s decision to join Richard Childress Racing for the 2023 season, Richard Childress discussed his confidence in managing the star driver. Additionally, he also drew a parallel to Kyle’s joining the team with his successful partnership with Dale Earnhardt Sr. in the past.

The statement was made by Childress in a conversation featured on Racing America’s YouTube channel, uploaded on September 13, 2022. Talking about his first meeting with Kyle Busch at his vineyard, Childress talked about his excitement about the now 39-year-old joining RCR and the potential to win together.

Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has been a dominating name in the NASCAR racing scene and the seven-time world champion, Dale Earnhardt Sr. has also been a big part of it. After joining the team in 1984, Earnhardt drove the car No. 3, for the next two decades, winning six Winston Cup Series championships in 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1994, respectively.

This is why, when referring to his then upcoming partnership with Busch, Childress pointed to the fact that the media doubted whether his partnership with Dale would last even a year and it eventually lasted for 20.

“When Dale first came to me, the media said it wouldn’t last a year—we lasted 20 years. I know it’ll go that far too; I hope I’m around for it.”

Kyle Busch is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, he joined RCR in 2023 after leaving Joe Gibbs Racing.

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Dale Earnhardt Sr. at Richard Childress Racing

NASCAR: Daytona 500, Richard Childress- Source: Imagn

Dale Earnhardt Sr. began racing in 1975, with his debut in the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. His full-time NASCAR career started in 1979 with Rod Osterlund Racing, where he won at Bristol and had 17 Top 10 finishes. This performance won him the Rookie of the Year title. In 1980, Earnhardt won his first Winston Cup Championship, becoming the first driver to win the title in their sophomore season. He left Osterlund Racing in 1981, as the team was sold off.

Earnhardt briefly raced for RCR in 1981, but after just a few races, he moved to Bud Moore Engineering because of a lack of team chemistry. In 1984, he rejoined RCR, replacing Ricky Rudd in the No. 3 car. In the 1984 and 1985 seasons, he had six victories and then in 1986, Earnhardt won his second Winston Cup Championship, before repeating the feat in 1987. From 1990 to 1994, he added four more championships to his record, tying Richard Petty’s total of seven Winston-Cup titles.

This partnership of two decades with Dale Earnhardt Sr. is what Richard aimed to achieve with Kyle Busch with an aim to bring the team back to its dominant phase on track.