Richard Childress Racing — Team Profile
Series: O'Reilly Auto Parts Series | Manufacturer: Chevrolet Base: Welcome, North Carolina | Organization Tier: Elite
2026 O'Reilly Program
Richard Childress Racing enters 2026 with perhaps the cleanest two-car O'Reilly operation in the field: a defending champion and a veteran title contender, both with stable crew-chief pairings in place for a second consecutive season. The No. 2 of Jesse Love and the No. 21 of Austin Hill give RCR as much championship gravity as any organization in the series.
| Car | Driver | Crew Chief |
|---|---|---|
| No. 2 | Jesse Love | Danny Stockman |
| No. 21 | Austin Hill | Chad Haney |
The Organization
Founded by Richard Childress in 1969 and based in Welcome, North Carolina, RCR is one of NASCAR's most decorated organizations — home to Dale Earnhardt's six Cup championships and a long line of title-contending programs at multiple levels of the sport. The O'Reilly operation has been a consistent championship factor for years, and the 2025 title with Jesse Love reinforced the organization's standing as one of the best development platforms in the series.
2026 Story
The defining question at RCR in 2026 is whether both cars can stay in the championship hunt simultaneously. Love enters as the defending champion with the target on his back; Hill enters with 15 career O'Reilly wins and a season that opened with a Daytona victory.
The organization's most consequential 2026 development came off the track. The No. 8 RCR program, tied to Kyle Busch, became something different after Busch's death on May 21. An announcement at Michigan in June that had been expected to confirm a new contract instead became Childress committing to hold the No. 8 for Busch's grandson, Brexton, a legacy decision rather than the extension the paddock had anticipated.
The internal challenge on the competition side is that two high-ceiling cars create a dynamic between teammates. If one car leads the points and the other is a genuine title threat, the organization has to manage both storylines while keeping its sponsor commitments satisfied. RCR's track record suggests they know how to do it.
Recent Coverage
- The Announcement Was Supposed to Be a New Contract. Childress Had to Make a Different One Instead. (June 7, 2026)
- I Didn't Think I'd Be Writing This One (May 22, 2026)
- Austin Hill Has Won at Daytona Four Times in Five Years. The No. 21 Has a Long Season Ahead. (April 10, 2026)