NASCAR: Richard Childress Racing 2018 outlook

By Tyler Callaway | Jan 25, 2018

CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 28: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Salutes Veterans Chevrolet, celebrates with team owner, Richard Childress, after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. /

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CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 24: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Newman (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 24: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Newman (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

Ryan Newman

Good ol’ Ryan Newman. He’s just about the most reliable racer you could ever find. He’s not flashy, but he is always out there with a passion for racing and giving his all each race. He is always consistent. He continued to show these traits last year and was able to land himself in the playoffs and be the most reliable driver for RCR.

It’s expected to be a usual season for Newman, averaging about a 15th place finish and probably netting a win. If RCR’s program hits the ground running in 2018 for reasons I mentioned with Austin Dillon, then I could see a strong playoff run reminiscent of his run in the 2014 season.

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Newman is the type of driver who may not be a game changer like Kyle Busch or Jimmie Johnson, but if you put him in good equipment, you will get good results. Unfortunately it has been a few seasons since RCR have been able to deliver that for him.

But, Newman has had an average finishes of 13.3, 15.2, 14.1 and 17.1 in his past four seasons with RCR. I would expect no worse than these averages even if the team’s overall performance remains the same.

Don’t be surprised to see Newman come out of nowhere and be a dark horse this season if RCR are able to get their Cup program back on track.

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I’m interested to see not just how Newman and Dillon will fare this year, as I feel RCR are on the cusp of breaking back into the top tier of NASCAR, but also how their alliances will affect teams like Richard Petty Racing with rookie Darrell Wallace Jr. and Leavine Family Racing with Kasey Kahne.