Talkin’ ‘Bout Teams: RCR Has The Men, What About The Horses?

If talent alone were enough to win races, the trophy case at Richard Childress Racing would be overflowing. With his consistent, cautious approach, Jeff Burton is in the mix every year, and dang near won it in 2006. Kevin Harvick hasn’t had a DNF since 2006, and has a Daytona 500 victory to his credit. Clint Bowyer wrapped up a Nationwide Series title and in spite of some ups and downs during the Chase, made out pretty well in 2008.

Ah, if it were only about talent. Jeff Burton confirmed during Pre-Season Thunder what I think a lot of people have suspected: RCR needs more speed. In far too many races, you’ve got the RCR trio running near the front, only to be overtaken late when the boys from Hendrick, Gibbs  and Roush are going flat out. Burton’s calling for a greater investment in technology, and thankfully, Childress has a track record for bouncing back.

After RCR languished in 2005, Kevin Harvick in particular rebounded for a pretty darn incredible 2006. Bowyer and Burton were also a lot better, and if not for getting collected in a Robby Gordon-induced collision (that’s just racin’), “The Mayor” might very well have a Nextel Cup on the mantle.

So it can be done.

At 41, Burton continues to forge out his legacy as a kind of “Mark Martin with a little more attitude.” The owner of 2 Cup victories in 2008, wound up 6th, though he led for part of the early season and wound up 6th. The guy just doesn’t beat himself, he just needs a little more giddy-up under the hood.

At one time, I would not have considered myself a Kevin Harvick fan. Watching him in 2008 really impressed me. The fact he finished 4th in the points in spite of not seeing victory lane says a great deal about the greater consistency he’s developed. Race after race, you would hear the radio communication suggesting the #29 car was just a mess, and time after time, Harvick and crew chief Todd Berrier would turn it around.

Clint Bowyer continues to improve each and every year. Last season, the Kansan finished 5th in the points and capitalized on the Kyle Busch/ Dale Earnhardt Jr. incident to pick up a win at Richmond. He’s another guy who keeps himself in the mix of things, but on far too many occasions he didn’t have enough car to catch the competition.

This season, Bowyer will move out of the #07 ride to make room for newcomer Casey Mears. The move will put Bowyer in the #33. Mears has great racing bloodlines, the son of open wheeler Roger Mears, and the nephew of Indy Car legend Rick- a Harvick hero. Casey had some decent moments in 2008, but was clearly the 4th best driver and odd man out at Hendrick Motorsports, who released Mears to make way for Mark Martin. For all the potential people envisioned for Mears, there hasn’t been much to talk about concerning his performance after the 2007 Coca-Cola 600 victory at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

To be sure, Dale Earnhardt’s old buddy has an organization in solid shape. The opening of a 4th team managed to land a sponsorship deal with General Mills, a longtime sponsor over at Petty Enterprises. The fact that RCR can field a 4th team when the other teams are merging speaks volumes about the shape Childress is in.

For his team’s sake, let’s hope his engine builders find a way to give the big boys a run for their money.

The talent is here to pull it off.

PHOTO CREDITS: (RCR Sign by carolinabiker. Jeff Burton by sidehike. Harvick, Bowyer and Mears photos by Walter G. Arce. More of their work can be found at flickr.com).