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NASCAR WCUP: Pre-season personnel moves continue at Richard Childress Racing

7 January 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
WELCOME, N.C.-- Pre-season moves continue at Richard Childress Racing, with the addition of new employees in the race shops and the front office, in preparation for the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Grand National series'.

No. 3 Goodwrench GM Performance Plus Racing Mike Cluka will be the front tire changer in 2000 for the No. 3 team. The Milwaukee native, 33, came to RCR after stops with the No. 36 and No. 90 NASCAR Winston Cup teams. He is a shock specialist at the shop and will perform the same duties at the track.

Ron Otto, rear tire changer for Team Lowe's Racing in 1997 and 1998, returned to RCR toward the end of last season and will serve the in the same capacity for the Goodwrench team in 2000. Otto, 35, spent the first part of the 1999 season with the No. 5 NASCAR Winston Cup team. The Columbus, Ohio, native is a fabricator at the shop and the assistant car chief at the track.

No. 31 Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse Racing Greg Burkhart has joined Team Lowe's Racing as its front tire changer. Burkhart, 22 and a native of Sheridan, Wyo., spent the past three seasons with the No. 43 NASCAR Winston Cup team. His shop duties will be as a cylinder head specialist in the engine shop.

Sam Tubbs, 32, will be changing rear tires next year for the Lowe's team. The Wauchula, Fla., native is a fabricator for the No. 3 RCR Goodwrench team, where he was the rear tire changer last season.

Administration

Carrie Darnell has been hired as RCR's human resources director. She will be responsible for all employee benefits, new employee orientation and departing employee procedures. Her background includes three years' experience in human resources and staffing. Darnell, 31, also spent eight years in the United States Navy, where she specialized in meteorology and oceanography. The St. Louis native attended the University of Maryland for three years while in the Navy. She resides in High Point with her two dogs, Sean and Tommy.

Leslie Britton has joined RCR fulltime as the secretary for both Busch Series teams. She will continue as the scorer for Team Lowe's Racing, a duty she's handled since 1997, and will also score for the No. 2 ACDelco Busch Series team. The 44-year-old Charlotte resident was the secretary and office manager for Team Amick Motorsports the past three years.

Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc., has set the standard for modern era stock car racing teams.Based just south of Winston-Salem in Welcome, N.C., RCR has more than 175 employees and fields the NASCAR Winston Cup teams of seven-time champion and 1998 Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt, and 1997 Winston Cup Rookie-of-the-Year and 1995 Truck Series champion Mike Skinner. RCR is also fielding a two-car NASCAR Busch Series program with drivers Mike Dillon and Kevin Harvick.

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