It has been a long time coming. Austin Dillon has often fueled speculation about Richard Childress’ eventual retirement by candidly admitting that his grandfather is beginning to slow down and spend more time away from the grind of NASCAR. While praising Childress as “the rock” of the team, Dillon admitted on the Dale Junior Download that family conversations about RCR’s future leaders are happening more often. So, is the 80-year-old’s time as the NASCAR owner coming to an end faster than expected?

Richard Childress entered NASCAR as a driver in 1969, never imagining he’d build a powerhouse team that would claim six Cup Series championships. His journey from independent racer to RCR founder created a lasting family legacy. Now, attention turns to his grandson, Austin Dillon, who could steer the team forward. And one NASCAR fan just dropped the hammer on RC’s retirement.

Taking to NASCARonReddit, one user didn’t shy away from announcing his source: “I have insider knowledge that he is, in fact, retiring and an event will be held this weekend. I have family attending. Family member used to work for a company that supplied items for RCR. We used to get garage passes for Dover all the time from his company.”

Richard Childress built his empire with a relentless mindset, working late at night in garages, personally overseeing car setups, and embodying the owner-driver ethos. Even today, at age 80, he is often seen trackside, clipboard in hand, actively steering the team. That presence sets the tone for RCR’s work ethic, but it also becomes a testament to how heavily the team still leans on his leadership and values.

In 2025, Dillon has expanded his role beyond just driving. He is involved in crew chief selection, technical partnerships, and mentoring younger engineers and mechanics, especially with new figures like Richard Boswell stepping into leadership. This evolution comes on the heels of a lean 2024, when RCR failed to score a Cup victory and finished uncharacteristically low in the standings.

Austin Dillon’s dual role, evangelizing RCR’s legacy while coaxing it toward innovation, positions the team at a crossroads: honor what made them legendary while racing smart in a sport that has never been this competitive. And now, with this rumor underway, many believe that Dillon will slip in next.

While speculation is mounting that the 2026 season could mark the 35-year-old’s final full-time run behind the wheel, there are growing beliefs that he will transition into a leadership role at RCR. His recent comments about RCR slowing down and the family prepping for the future have only added fuel to the narrative, especially as rumors continue to swell about a potential Dodge return to NASCAR in 2027.

Many in the garage see Dillon positioning himself as the natural successor to guide RCR through that manufacturer shift and the next phase of the team’s legacy. But he stressed his current focus on driving, saying, “Yeah, I think. Right now, I can be- I have to brag lot of the team, but we’re the best team that I’ve been a part of. I feel that way. So if we can’t go out and compete, you know, the rest of the, the next year, we got to think about you; we have to think about that direction for me.”

However, Dillon will surely need to turn things around for RCR after a lackluster season. If there is one way to sum up Richard Childress Racing’s 2025 journey, it is performance inconsistencies and mounting challenges. Austin Dillon delivered a standout victory at Richmond Raceway, leading 107 laps and repeating his win from the previous year. This made him the first-ever driver to do so after Denny Hamlin’s feat in 2009 and 2010.

On the other hand, despite the ongoing winless streak, Kyle Busch also had brief flashes of powerful form early in 2025. He notched impressive results, including a seventh-place finish at Atlanta, 5th fifth-place finish at COTA, and a solid eighth-place finish at Phoenix. However, with Dillon knocked out in the Round of 16, his recent performance at Kansas hasn’t made it any better…

Austin Dillon endures a frustrating Kansas race as Childress rumors grow

Austin Dillon was left absolutely stunned as his Richard Childress Racing team completely missed the mark with their setup at Kansas Speedway last weekend.

Dillon, who has been vocal about the tough love situation he faces with RC, faced yet another tough situation this race—rolling off the grid in 16th for the Hollywood Casino 400. But it wasn’t long before things unraveled; he tumbled all the way back to 30th in the early stages. And he wasn’t alone in his frustration. Bubba Wallace also aired his grievances after a radio message from his crew chief ignited a response.

With his disbelief going through the team radio, Dillon said, “Unbelievable that we can miss it this bad, guys.” Meanwhile, teammate Kyle Busch, who is generating buzz over plans to extend his racing career, also struggled to find a footing in the early going. Still, he showed resilience with a solid 13th-place rebound last week at New Hampshire.

Do you think he can deliver better results in the coming races? Let us know in the comments.