Richard Childress, the venerable 79-year-old team owner, is poised for a triumphant comeback, eyeing his first championship in six years. His team, based in Welcome, North Carolina, has had a challenging journey since their last taste of victory in the Xfinity Series in 2019 when Tyler Reddick clinched the championship. The subsequent years saw the team being overshadowed by powerhouses such as Joe Gibbs Racing, JR Motorsports, and Stewart-Haas Racing. However, the tide may be turning, with all signs pointing towards a promising season for Richard Childress Racing.
The team’s winless streak could be nearing its end, thanks to an impressive lineup of drivers. While it’s early in the season, the team’s recent performance indicates they are more competitive than ever and could be serious contenders for this year’s championship.
The focus is on the Xfinity Cup 2025, where Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love has made an impressive start. The 20-year-old driver kicked off his 2025 campaign with a victory at the United Rentals 300, earning an automatic spot in the playoffs. Despite being in his second year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Love’s on-track maturity stands out, even against more seasoned competitors.
Love continued his strong performance by securing his third consecutive pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This achievement adds to Love’s impressive record of six pole finishes in his short yet remarkable career. His teammate Austin Hill, a four-time winner at Atlanta Motor Speedway, joins him in the front row, making Richard Childress Racing a strong favourite going into the Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250.
Both Love and Hill seem to be hitting their stride at the right time. Hill, who didn’t have an ideal result at Daytona International Speedway, did secure a victory in last year’s season-opener. With four wins in 2024, he finished fourth in the drivers’ standings, marking his best Xfinity Series campaign to date. The 30-year-old is now focused on improving his performance and clinching the championship at Phoenix Raceway.
Richard Childress Racing’s dominance hasn’t been this pronounced since Tyler Reddick’s successful run in 2019. The current underperformance of Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon in the Cup Series has opened up the possibility of a deep playoff run and a championship trophy. This potential success might persuade Childress to promote Hill to NASCAR’s premier series in 2026, an achievement that could breathe new life into the team and redefine their Cup Series future.
Historically, Richard Childress Racing has had remarkable success at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with seven wins in NASCAR’s second tier. Austin Hill has been instrumental in maintaining this record, winning three consecutive races in 2022, 2023, and 2024. As a result, expectations are sky-high for the team as they approach the second race of the Xfinity Series season, and their qualifying results are promising.
Hill, a native of Georgia, has a special connection with Atlanta Motor Speedway. Despite only six starts on the track, he has already amassed four wins and a second-place finish. He’s led at least one lap in each of his appearances, dominating a total of 218 laps at the venue. As the second race of the season approaches, anticipation around Hill’s performance is mounting. Only time will tell if he can live up to these high expectations and help Richard Childress Racing cinch their first championship in six years.