Richard Childress racing Faces Performance Questions as Season Progresses
As the NASCAR season continues, Richard Childress Racing (RCR) is grappling with performance issues that have left both Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon struggling to achieve top finishes. Following a recent race at Dover were both drivers finished outside the top 10-busch in 11th and Dillon in 15th-team owner Richard Childress publicly expressed his dissatisfaction, stating the team needs to “get some racecars” and improve their speed.
Denny Hamlin, speaking on his podcast “Actions Detrimental,” addressed Childress’s candid radio comments. Hamlin defended Childress’s remarks, interpreting them as a challenge to his employees to find solutions rather than a direct criticism of the engineering staff. “He’s not in charge of engineering them,” Hamlin explained. “I think he’s challenging his employees to come up with some different answers. He knows the parts and pieces are the same, but they’re obviously, what I beleive he’s saying is that we’ve got to put them together better.”
The underlying cause of RCR’s performance deficit remains unclear, with potential factors ranging from car design and setup to engine components or crew chief strategies.Hamlin acknowledged the complexity of the issue, suggesting that the problem could stem from various areas, including simulation processes or even differences in tire data compared to competitors. “Well, it could be simulation, it could be tons of things. Maybe they’re getting different answers in the tire department than what others are,” Hamlin speculated. “I don’t know. I’m not close enough to the situation to really know, but I’m here speculating that he’s challenging everyone to, you know, we can’t come back with the same thing. This is not working. We’re not fast enough. We need better cars. We need to give our drivers a better possibility to win races.”
From a driver’s outlook, Hamlin expressed gratitude for Childress’s transparency. He believes that when a team owner openly acknowledges performance shortcomings and places the blame on the equipment rather than the drivers, it fosters a sense of support. “I can tell you this, as a driver, though, you like that,” Hamlin stated. “I would like that. If I know that I’m going to a gun fight with a knife, its like, I want my owner to have my back, saying, it ain’t our drivers.”
Hamlin also considered the potential downsides of Childress’s public critique, noting that it could create pressure on the individuals responsible for car development and decision-making. However, he ultimately concluded that the benefits of such honesty outweigh the risks. “I guess the negative could be is that you know, now you’re going to put spotlights on all those people that are making those decisions, and they could feel pressure from that,” Hamlin mused. “You know, if you can’t stand the pressure, get out of the kitchen. I just think the positives outweigh it. I think when you say that, you’re having the drivers’ back. You’re letting them know that you’re not happy with what you’re bringing for them to compete in. And yet maybe there needs to be a discussion publicly. Sometimes that works best.”
