Richard Childress Racing Receives Great Weekend

Suddenly, a decent weekend turned into a great one for Richard Childress Racing.

Fresh off Clint Bowyer’s victory Saturday in the Sharpie Mini 300, Childress’ three drivers took advantage of track position and a couple lucky breaks to take the top three spots Sunday at the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Race winner Jeff Burton was the main beneficiary, scooting around stalling leader Denny Hamlin on the first lap of the restart, and earning his first victory at BMS. Kevin Harvick survived a brush with Tony Stewart on Lap 499 to take second, while Bowyer’s team made some late-race adjustments to allow him to take third, earning the first podium sweep in team history at Bristol.

"A great weekend for RCR, but I’m really proud of all three teams," car owner Childress said. "A lot of times, just having three cars finish here is amazing, so I’m really proud of all three teams to finish 1-2-3."

Bowyer looked as though he had the car to beat early, leading 81 of the first 100 laps before his car began to falter. Still, all three cars hung near the front of the pack all day, keeping close tabs while Stewart dominated the second half and led 267 laps.

"We were good under cloud cover," Bowyer said of the early going. "When the sun came out we were way too tight."

Harvick took advantage of slower traffic to remain on Stewart’s tail, passing him on Lap 388 for the lead. When Stewart got the lead back 27 laps later, Harvick didn’t panic, even as Hamlin began to reel him in before debris brought out the yellow on Lap 491.

"We got a little tight in the middle," Harvick said. "We loosened the car up and [crew chief] Todd [Berrier] made a great call to come in and get tires."

Only Stewart, Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. stayed on the track during the caution, allowing all three RCR cars to pick up clean tires for the finish.

After Hamlin got around Stewart for the lead, Harvick made his move to the inside of Stewart, but the two bumped in Turn 2 and Stewart ended up in the wall, effectively ending his day and putting him 14th.

"I thought I left him plenty of room," a sullen Stewart said later. "I’m sure somehow it was my fault. I’m sorry I got in the way."

Though Harvick and Stewart are friends, the wreck conjured memories of a previous confrontation. Last July, Stewart spun Harvick late in the race at Indianapolis to gain the lead and eventually the win at the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. On Sunday, Harvick evened the score.

"[The race] was mine to lose at that point, and I lost it," Harvick said. "I clipped the apron and just lost the thing."

Though he said he "hated" spinning his buddy, Harvick didn’t exactly apologize.

"He didn’t say anything after Indianapolis, and I didn’t say anything here. I made a mistake and they can take it for what it’s worth and go on."

Not helping matters was an apparent comment made over the radio by one of Stewart’s spotters, cursing Harvick. Though he was angered by the remark, Harvick said he and Stewart would get past it.

"Tony and I are friends, we can work it out," he said. "We don’t need some idiot stirring things up."

Regardless of the intent or cause, the crash allowed Burton to dodge his way past Harvick into second when the caution flag flew. When Hamlin slowed after the restart with fuel problems, Burton dodged his way to the checkered flag.

"Obviously, if we hadn’t had a caution we couldn’t win," he said. "Today it worked out for us, and we’ll take it"

Boywer, it seemed, was almost content with his third-place finish as Burton was with the win. Of course, his rain-shortened Nationwide Series win from Saturday likely helped.

"It was a great weekend," he said. "I’m finally starting to figure this place out – I’m a slow learner."

The team’s sweep also puts all three RCR cars in the top 10 in points after five races, a stronger start than Joe Gibbs’ Toyota teams or the mighty Hendrick Motorsports.

"It’s just a great time for RCR," Childress said. "Hopefully, we can win more."