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Childress worthy of hall of fame
May
21
While I am among many who are pleased that Richard Childress was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame on May 15, there was a time it seemed more likely he would be ushered into bankruptcy court.
Long before Childress became a successful NASCAR team owner, he was one of its struggling independent drivers – those not blessed with manufacturer support or major sponsorship.
During the 1970s, Childress was one of those team owner/drivers who did the best he could with the equipment he had. He was no match for the few powerhouse organizations of the day that seemed to win every race.
But a few top-10 runs and some reasonably high finishes in the point standings meant guys like Childress could live to race another year, which Childress did, season after season.
He lived comfortably. No, he wasn’t rich, but he didn’t seem to care. He was always the outgoing guy who always got the most out of what his life had to offer.
What happened to Childress in 1981 is the stuff of Hollywood. At that time he was still a journeyman driver – and probably one near the end of his rope as times were changing.
Through a unique set of circumstances he was presented the offer to put Dale Earnhardt in the driver’s seat of for the final few events of the season and receive sponsorship from Wrangler.
Childress agreed. However, after the 11 races Earnhardt drove for him, the upcoming 1982 season left Childress at loose ends. Should he go back to driving or find a sponsor and continue solely as a team owner?
He opted for the latter after he got Piedmont Airlines as a sponsor and Ricky Rudd as his driver.
Over two years, Rudd provided Childress with his first two wins. Earnhardt returned in 1984, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Childress gave Earnhardt, who won six championships in Childress cars, a lot of due credit for his induction into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame.
But then, consider this: Without Childress, without his cars, his crew, and his willingness to expand his operation and his ultimate gamble, could Earnhardt have really achieved all he did?
I don’t think so. Which means that Childress, a man who made the absolute most of the opportunity afforded him so long ago, is indeed a worthy new member of his state’s sports hall of fame.
Long before Childress became a successful NASCAR team owner, he was one of its struggling independent drivers – those not blessed with manufacturer support or major sponsorship.
During the 1970s, Childress was one of those team owner/drivers who did the best he could with the equipment he had. He was no match for the few powerhouse organizations of the day that seemed to win every race.
But a few top-10 runs and some reasonably high finishes in the point standings meant guys like Childress could live to race another year, which Childress did, season after season.
He lived comfortably. No, he wasn’t rich, but he didn’t seem to care. He was always the outgoing guy who always got the most out of what his life had to offer.
What happened to Childress in 1981 is the stuff of Hollywood. At that time he was still a journeyman driver – and probably one near the end of his rope as times were changing.
Through a unique set of circumstances he was presented the offer to put Dale Earnhardt in the driver’s seat of for the final few events of the season and receive sponsorship from Wrangler.
Childress agreed. However, after the 11 races Earnhardt drove for him, the upcoming 1982 season left Childress at loose ends. Should he go back to driving or find a sponsor and continue solely as a team owner?
He opted for the latter after he got Piedmont Airlines as a sponsor and Ricky Rudd as his driver.
Over two years, Rudd provided Childress with his first two wins. Earnhardt returned in 1984, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Childress gave Earnhardt, who won six championships in Childress cars, a lot of due credit for his induction into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame.
But then, consider this: Without Childress, without his cars, his crew, and his willingness to expand his operation and his ultimate gamble, could Earnhardt have really achieved all he did?
I don’t think so. Which means that Childress, a man who made the absolute most of the opportunity afforded him so long ago, is indeed a worthy new member of his state’s sports hall of fame.
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Comments
1 response to "Childress worthy of hall of fame"
Anonymous said:
May 22, 2008 at 7:04 AMOur family has know the Childress family from 1973. He drove for my father. He is one man that has WORKED to become the man is is today. He is due this and more.
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