Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing (RCR), received the NASCAR Buddy Shuman Award during the 2011 NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon Dec. 1 in Las Vegas. One of professional stock car racing’s oldest and most prestigious honors, the Shuman award is presented annually by NASCAR and Federal-Mogul’s Champion spark plug brand to an individual who has played an integral role in the continued success of Sprint Cup Series competition.
The Shuman Award was established in 1957, two years following the death of one of NASCAR’s most beloved personalities, Louis Grier "Buddy" Shuman, a pioneer Grand National driver and chief technical inspector. The "Performance Driven" Champion brand has presented the award for 55 consecutive years.
Childress, who has built one of NASCAR’s largest and most successful teams, has been involved in racing since he purchased his first racecar for $20 at age 17. He later posted 76 top-10 finishes over a 12-year driving career before turning over driving duties to Dale Earnhardt. Childress and Earnhardt went on to win nearly 70 races and six Cup Series titles together.
RCR, which employs hundreds at its race operations complex in Welcome, NC, will campaign three Sprint Cup cars in 2012 – the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick, the No. 27 Menards Chevrolet driven by Paul Menard, and the Jeff Burton-driven No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet. The company will also operate teams in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series.
"Richard has been one of the most influential figures in NASCAR racing over the past 30 years," said Michael Proud, director of marketing, North America, Federal-Mogul. "His success as a team owner is matched only by his kindness and generosity. He embodies the values on which this important award is based."
In addition to leading one of NASCAR’s most successful teams, Childress is known for his philanthropic efforts. In 2008, he and his family founded the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma in Winston-Salem, NC. The Institute’s goal is to help pave the way for others in the nation searching for ways to help save the lives of severely injured children and help those who survive on the road to recovery. In recognition of his role in the facility’s creation, Childress received NASCAR’s 2008 Home Depot Humanitarian of the Year Award.
