The Future Is Sooner Than You Think - Richard Childress Racing Edition

In the second part of The Future Is Sooner Than You Think article series we profile Richard Childress Racing and where we could see RCR in a few years and it's drivers and development team drivers like Circle Sport Leavine Family Racing and Michael McDowell along with JTG Daugherty Racing and AJ Allmendinger. Also this will cover the Xfinity Series program! This is the newest The Future Is Sooner Than You Think.

Austin Dillon

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I really could see Austin Dillon at Richard Childress Racing for many years to come. With more years being added to his stat book, Austin is really showing fans that he fits in the #3 Car. With some great sponsors in Dow Chemical, Bass Pro Shops, Cheerios, AAA, along with many others I think Austin is set for at least 5 more years at Richard Childress Racing with some wins on his resume. I think if Austin could continue his momentum and push, we could see him hoisting the Championship at the end of the season very soon.

Ryan Newman

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The first of two Richard Childress Racing drivers I do not see continuing with the team in the future. After leaving Team Penske following the 2008 Season it had seemed that Ryan had found a steady team to stay with for many years in Stewart Haas Racing but after the 2013 Season that would not be the case. Newman landed at Richard Childress Racing taking the place of Jeff Burton but despite almost winning the championship in 2014 Newman hasn't been to victory lane since he won the Brickyard 400 with Stewart Haas in 2013. Despite being close I could see Newman somewhere else in 2017 but I don't really know where he could land.

Paul Menard

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Paul Menard and Ryan Newman, along with Michael McDowell, who we will get to momentarily are all three in about the same boat. Joining Richard Childress in 2011, Paul Menard has only racked up one victory at Indianapolis in 2011. Menard has had a very interesting career driving for Richard Childress Racing, Robert Yates Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc., and Richard Petty Motorsports. With Menards on his back I could see him staying at Richard Childress Racing in the future and tutoring the younger Brandon Jones and Ty Dillon. If Menard doesn't remain at RCR I could see him moving to HScott Motorsports filling the void left by Clint Bowyer. Only time will tell for this driver. 

Michael McDowell

Leavine Family Racing Facebook Page
In his first season driving a car affiliated with Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Michael McDowell has been able to tally a Top-10, Top-15, and 3 Top-25's. McDowell is slated to drive the #2 Rheem Chevrolet Camaro at Road America in a few weeks and that could be where McDowell shows Richard Childress he is ready for a full time ride in the Xfinity Series or Sprint Cup Series. I could personally see Michael be Ty's replacement in the #3 or whatever number used when Ty moves up full time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with a partial schedule with Circle Sport Leavine Family Racing. McDowell is knocking on the door for his first win very soon. 

AJ Allmendinger

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AJ Allmendinger is another driver like Michael McDowell who is driving a Richard Childress Racing affiliated car for JTG Daugherty Racing and he is surely in place to win at many tracks especially at Road Courses like Watkins Glen and Sonoma. Allmendinger is signed with JTG Daugherty Racing. JTG Daugherty Racing has maintained long-term relationships with sponsors Clorox and Kingsford and their associated companies since their time in the Busch series, and the two often appear on the decklid of the car even in races they are not the primary sponsor. The team has also maintained good relations with Bush's Baked Beans and more recent partners Kroger, Kimberly-Clark (Kleenex, Scott Products, Viva) and Charter Communications. That is one good thing for a team to have and it's something that could land Allmendinger in a great car every single weekend sooner than you think.

Ty Dillon

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Ty Dillon will be just like his brother Austin within the next few years if not next year. Ty has really impressed me and has shown it isn't his name but his talent getting him that ride and I feel he has shown he can hold his own with the big guns in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Ty has raced in a few NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races with both Circle Sport and Circle Sport Leavine Family Racing over the last few years and has shown that he can hold his own in the car. I could certainly see Ty Dillon in a Sprint Cup Series Car in the Future and I think that Future is sooner than you think. 

Brandon Jones

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Brandon Jones has made 21 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Richard Childress Racing. Brandon Jones raced a limited schedule in 2015 driving the #33 and this season Brandon is driving a full season behind the wheel of the #33. Currently in 7th, Brandon Jones is in the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship. If Michael McDowell moves down to the Xfinity Series, I could see Brandon Jones share the #95 with Michael, The situation in 2017 and beyond with Brendan Gaughan will be predicted below so RCR's Xfinity Program could have a completely different look in the next few years. 

Brendan Gaughan

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The Veteran of the Group, Brendan has done it all when it comes to NASCAR. He's won 8 times in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, 2 times in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and a best finish of 4th in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Brendan is one of the friendliest guys in the garage and has one of the best sense of humors. Rumors have circulated over the season that Brendan would be calling it quits after the 2016 Season but I am hoping those rumors aren't true and that Brendan stays for another few years. 

Blake Koch

Kaulig Racing Facebook
As with Michael McDowell, Blake Koch is just halfway through his first season with a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing and it has been very beneficial for Blake. He has had some of the best finishes of his career including his best career finish of 8th at Richmond. Blake has bettered his finish at most of the tracks he's raced at in the past and will look to continue that trend. Blake currently sits in the Chase for the Xfinity Series Championship. Of the 16 Races Blake has finished in the Top-15 nine times. Blake hinted that he would be racing for Kaulig or something in the Xfinity Series this afternoon during an interview but that is just a speculation. I could see Blake sharing the #95 with Brandon Jones and Michael McDowell in the future. 

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