Healing ongoing as RCR returns to prominence

It was in January during a Lowe's Motor Speedway media tour stop at the sprawling Richard Childress Racing complex in Welcome, N.C., when Childress confronted multiple questions about the various changes and challenges facing his race teams this season.

"You're going to have to be on the money this year," Childress said. "You're going to have to be on your game."

No one was on their game more than RCR in the season-opening Daytona 500, when Childress-owned cars finished first and third, respectively. And no one made more money.

Kevin Harvick's stirring victory came precisely six years to the day that Dale Earnhardt died in a last-lap wreck on the same Daytona International Speedway track, and emphasized more than ever the steely Childress resolve not to let his operation suffer the same fate in the aftermath. Childress said after Harvick's win that not a day goes by when he doesn't cherish the memory of Earnhardt, his good friend and longtime driver.

Capturing another Daytona 500 doesn't change that, and never will. But it does help in some small yet significant way with the ongoing mental healing process, which is likely to last the rest of Childress' life.

"You know, winning [the 2007 Daytona 500] is great for today's deal," Childress said. "But I don't think anything will ever replace a friend -- Dale Earnhardt, a great American race driver. Winning the race with him was great.

"I think the healing started for me when Kevin won in Atlanta, the third race [after Earnhardt's death]. I think when Junior won here in the [following] July the Fourth race, that was some healing. And to win this race [again, with Harvick], just everything is healing.

"But we still all miss him today as much as we did the day we lost him."

The day RCR lost the driver of the famous black No. 3 Chevrolet, many thought it spelled the professional end for Childress as a top-notch Cup team owner, too. But he put Harvick behind the wheel the very next week -- albeit not in the No. 3 -- and kept on racing.

With Jeff Burton's No. 31 Chevy placing third in the season-opening 500 this year, and coming off a strong showing last season when both he and Harvick made the Chase, RCR is beginning to take on the look of a program that is closing in on possibly becoming as formidable as it was during Earnhardt's finest hours. Earnhardt captured 67 of his 76 career Cup victories while driving for RCR, and captured six of his seven points championships after joining forces with Childress. (Continued)