WELCOME, N.C. (June 8, 1998)
In an effort to improve the performance of both his NASCAR Winston Cup Series
race teams, owner Richard Childress has made a major change affecting the two
operations. Beginning with this weekend's Miller Lite 400 at Michigan Speedway,
the two teams will trade crew chiefs. Larry McReynolds moves to the No. 31
Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse Chevroletdriven by Mike Skinner,
while Kevin Hamlin takesover crew chief duties for the No. 3 GM
Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt. RCR general
manager and team engineer Bobby Hutchens, who held co-crew chief responsibilities
for the No. 3 with David Smith in 1996, will assist Hamlin at the track.
"As the car owner, it is ultimately my responsibility to our sponsors and fans to provide
the best teams possible," said Childress, who planned to be in Daytona Beach, Fla., on
Tuesday for pre-Pepsi 400 testing at Daytona International Speedway. "We have the
talent and the equipment to win races. It's my hope that this move will be a step in the
right direction in getting both Dale and Mike into the winner's circle. "I believe the style
of the two crew chiefs will mesh better with our two drivers. Kevin is a more
laid-back individual and I think that will work well with Dale, and Larry is more of a
hands-on person and that is what Mike needs at this stage of his career.
"I believe this move will benefit both teams. This is not the ideal time to make
such a move, but I believe it is needed to get both teams in the winner's circle in
the near future."
Both Hamlin, who has been crew chief for the No. 31 since its inception at
the beginning of 1997, and McReynolds, who has worked with Earnhardt since
after the 1996 season, agreed with the owner.
"This is a move to make both teams stronger," McReynolds said. "Richard
believes this move will improve the performance of both teams, and I will do my
best to make sure that is what happens."
"We all believe that this decision will help both teams," Hamlin said. "And
both Larry and I are going to do everything we can to make sure that is the case.
"It's going to give Larry and I both a different perspective of what's going on.
Maybe he can see some things with the 31 that I was missing and I can find
some things in the 3 that he was missing. I don't feel like either one of us can
lose in this deal. It can only make us stronger.
"I think it's gonna be a good deal. Richard thought about this for a long time
before he actually made this change. We're not expecting no miracles overnight,
but hopefully Dale's and my personalities will hit it off and I know Larry will help
Mike a lot."
Hamlin traveled to Daytona to test with Skinner and the No. 31 team, since
he had done the setup work on that car. Meanwhile McReynolds remained at the
31 team's shop to begin work in preparation for the Michigan event.
Earnhardt began this season with a win in the Daytona 500, but things have
not gone as the team would have liked since then. Earnhardt presently stands
12th in the race for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship.
Skinner finished eighth at Daytona, but the 1997 Rookie of the Year and
1995 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion was forced to miss three races
after injuries he suffered at Atlanta and Texas. Skinner is currently 38th in the
points standings.
Richard Childress Racing has won 63 races and six championships in the
NASCAR Winston Cup Series.
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