CONCORD, N.C. – Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing have won a combined 369 points races at the top level of stock car racing. Now the powerhouse teams will work together to enhance Chevrolet’s NASCAR engine.
In preparation for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, the two championship organizations will formalize a joint venture focused on engine R&D and the establishment of a common Chevrolet engine specification. The effort will be led by Jeff Andrews of Hendrick Motorsports and Richie Gilmore of RCR.
Andrews, who earlier this week was promoted to executive vice president and general manager, told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio the concept of a partnership with RCR has been discussed for quite some time.
“We started talking about this about two years ago,” Andrews said. “The day was going to come when we really needed to figure out how to get these two programs together. (There’s) a tremendous amount of talent and people, and a tremendous amount of equipment and resources between the two programs.”
The goal, Andrews said, is to “produce the ultimate powertrain for Chevrolet NASCAR.” He also noted the timing of the project will benefit Chevy teams as they prepare for NASCAR’s introduction of its new “Next Gen” car in 2022.
Although Hendrick Motorsports and RCR will collaborate on research and development, they will maintain separate engine shop operations that will continue to function independently.
“We look forward to working together to fully leverage the knowledge and intellectual property of our two successful programs to advance Chevrolet’s engine for NASCAR,” the teams said in a joint statement.
Engines produced by Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing, via ECR Engines, have earned a combined 39 NASCAR national series championships, including 20 at the elite Cup Series level.