During a pivotal moment in the ongoing NASCAR antitrust lawsuit on Tuesday, Richard Childress, owner of Richard Childress Racing (RCR), was questioned under oath about recent discussions to sell part of his stake in the famed racing team. The exchange, which took place in court, revealed the involvement of former NASCAR driver Bobby Hillin Jr. as part of a group interested in acquiring a share in RCR—a detail that surprised even Childress, highlighting the gravity of the situation surrounding the Richard Childress RCR sale negotiation.
NDA-Protected Talks Surface Amid Courtroom Tensions
Richard Childress appeared visibly unsettled as NASCAR attorney Chris Yates brought to light confidential sale discussions. Childress had assumed that negotiations were private, protected by a non-disclosure agreement signed by the potential buyers, making NASCAR’s awareness unexpected. The incident underscores the uneasy climate of the trial, which has already featured emotional testimony from Childress and sharp scrutiny from NASCAR officials.
“Under questioning by @NASCAR, Richard Childress was made to admit that @RCRracing has been in talks to sell an equity stake of the team including part of his 60% stake.➡️ Childress said the potential buyer signed an NDA, so he was thrown off that NASCAR was aware of the talks.” — Adam Stern, journalist
Childress, who established RCR in 1969, controls 60% of the stock while Chartwell Investments holds the remaining 40%. The potential sale to the group led by Bobby Hillin Jr., who has not raced professionally since 2009, seems to have centered around selling part of Childress’ majority stake. Reports note that Chartwell Investments has wanted to exit the team for approximately five years, prompting sale considerations to other interested parties.
Contentious Cross-Examination Reveals Fractures Within RCR
The court heard that both Steve Phelps, NASCAR Commissioner, and Richard Childress had completed their testimonies, but it was the questioning about the RCR sale to Bobby Hillin Jr.’s group that sparked the most dramatic reaction from Childress. The deal, discussed under strict confidentiality, became a flashpoint as the negotiations’ details were unexpectedly revealed in court.
“Both Phelps and Childress testimony are complete. Childress got the most animated when being asked about a potential sale of at least part of RCR to Bobby Hillin Jr., a potential deal that has fallen apart. Childress owns 60% of the team and said Chartwell Investments wants out.” — Bob Pockrass, FOX Sports reporter
Despite the fraught exchange, Childress made it clear that the potential sale has collapsed. According to testimony, the deal soured primarily because the prospective buyer group, fronted by Hillin Jr., lacked the required funding.
“they didn’t have the money, period.” — Matt Weaver, Motorsport.com
The mention of an NDA and Childress’s apparent surprise that the negotiations became public knowledge reinforced the strained dynamics between the parties involved. Childress’s testimony was also set within the broader context of leaked, unflattering text messages from NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps, including derogatory remarks directed at Childress in 2022, adding further tension to the proceedings.
Implications for RCR and NASCAR’s Business Landscape
The exposure of confidential sale talks involving prominent figures like Bobby Hillin Jr., alongside the public friction between Childress and NASCAR officials, spotlights vulnerabilities within NASCAR’s team ownership model and the competitive pressures facing established teams such as RCR. The fact that Chartwell Investments is looking to divest after nearly two decades, coupled with failed acquisition attempts, signals possible instability or shifts in team and league economics.
As the antitrust trial unfolds, the revelations around the Richard Childress RCR sale negotiation are expected to amplify discussions about team equity, governance, and financial sustainability within NASCAR. Industry followers, fans, and insiders alike will be watching closely to see how these developments affect the sport’s leadership, its owners, and the evolving strategies for team succession and ownership structures in the years ahead.
Under questioning by @NASCAR, Richard Childress was made to admit that @RCRracing has been in talks to sell an equity stake of the team including part of his 60% stake.
➡️ Childress said the potential buyer signed an NDA, so he was thrown off that NASCAR was aware of the talks.
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) December 9, 2025
Both Phelps and Childress testimony are complete. Childress got the most animated when being asked about a potential sale of at least part of RCR to Bobby Hillin Jr., a potential deal that has fallen apart. Childress owns 60% of the team and said Chartwell Investments wants out.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) December 9, 2025
In cross examination, it was revealed that Richard Childress has explored this year a partial sale of RCR to a group put together by Bobby Hillin Jr. as Chartwell Investments (owner of 60 percent) is looking to exit.
Childress gets agitated that this is getting brought up by…
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) December 9, 2025
