Richard Childress, a pivotal figure in NASCAR for over five decades, is now considering the sale of part of his stake in Richard Childress Racing (RCR), reflecting deep shifts in the sport’s business environment. This potential Richard Childress Racing ownership sale came to public attention during tense legal proceedings, exposing fissures within NASCAR and its relationship with team owners.
Longtime NASCAR Leader Faces Questions Amid Controversy
For 56 years, Childress has guided RCR, achieving legendary status with six Cup Series championships alongside driver Dale Earnhardt. However, leaked communications showing NASCAR executives disparaging Childress have put him, unexpectedly, at the center of a courtroom drama. During a recent trial, Childress took the stand to respond directly to allegations and to clarify rumors regarding his business dealings.
The revelations surprised many, particularly when it emerged that the veteran owner had been engaged in conversations about parting with a portion of his 60 percent ownership in RCR. The situation escalated when Childress was asked, during cross-examination, about private negotiations with a group associated with former driver Bobby Hillin Jr. At that moment, Childress insisted,
“I don’t want to answer that.”
Despite his initial reluctance, further questioning led him to admit that he had sent Hillin a termination letter earlier in the year, explaining,
“They didn’t have the money, period.”
Details of the Attempted Ownership Sale
Both Childress and Hillin’s group had agreed to keep RCR’s financial details confidential. Childress clarified that Hillin’s consortium was mainly looking to purchase the stake held by Chartwell Investments, a partner eager to exit after half a decade. When pressed, though, Childress acknowledged he had considered divesting part of his own shares to Hillin as well. This news marks a rare moment when one of NASCAR’s pillars seriously entertains reducing his direct involvement with his own organization.
Following the jury’s departure, the plaintiffs’ legal representatives petitioned Judge Bell for disclosure of all documents and information linking Hillin’s statements about Childress’s finances to those who had leaked them to NASCAR. This request highlighted the internal pressures and scrutiny Childress now faces within the racing community.
Financial Pressures and Supporting Businesses
Despite speculation about RCR’s profitability, Childress was outspoken about the realities of running a NASCAR team. He revealed a remarkable record: RCR has posted positive EBITA for 55 years in a row. However, he was quick to provide essential context for that achievement, stating,
“I have other businesses to pay our bills for NASCAR. I’d be broke if I was just doing the Cup teams,”
he explained.
Childress’s business portfolio on the RCR campus in Welcome, North Carolina, includes ECR Engines, which focuses on engine development, and RCR Manufacturing Solutions, known for producing specialized military equipment and vehicles. Additional ventures—such as his vineyard in Lexington—supplement income and shield the racing team from financial instability. According to further reporting,
“Regarding RCR profits, Richard Childress says all the other businesses are what boosts RCR, that RCR cant exist by itself Chris Yates pointed to the audited Hillin financial records to suggest otherwise but they didn’t get into the specifics of the financials as there were… https://t.co/87FJ7GOuOW — Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) December 9, 2025”
This underscores ongoing disagreements about the true financial state of RCR, with dissenting views from parties like Chris Yates.
Strained NASCAR Relations and an Uncertain Future
Even as Childress’s financial structure was placed under the microscope in court, he maintained focus on the broader issues affecting NASCAR’s elite teams. Signed alongside 12 peers to last year’s charter agreement, Childress argued that the current model puts overwhelming pressure on team finances—a concern he shares with other leading organizations. He aligned himself with fellow team leaders, complaining that the league pushed through a non-negotiable, “take-it-or-leave-it” proposal, which is now central to litigation between teams and the sport’s governing body.
This shift signifies something profound: Richard Childress, once seen as the embodiment of lifelong dedication to NASCAR, is now exploring options that were once inconceivable, including selling part of his stake in RCR. The outcome of this scenario, both for Childress and for NASCAR as a whole, is likely to influence team economics and ownership trends for years to come.
Regarding RCR profits, Richard Childress says all the other businesses are what boosts RCR, that RCR cant exist by itself
Chris Yates pointed to the audited Hillin financial records to suggest otherwise but they didn't get into the specifics of the financials as there were… https://t.co/87FJ7GOuOW
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) December 9, 2025
