Richard Childress Racing Unveils Driver Lineup for Xfinity No. 3

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

In addition to having two drivers competing for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver’s Championship, Richard Childress Racing will have a third car competing for the 2018 Owner’s Championship. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Austin and Ty Dillon will be joined by veteran Brendan Gaughan, Jeb Burton, and newcomer Shane Lee behind the wheel of the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro SS. On top of the pit box will be veteran crew chief Nick Harrison.

Austin Dillon, who is entering his fifth full-time season in NASCAR’s Premier Series will be limited to seven Xfinity starts per NASCAR policy. Dillon, the 2013 Xfinity Series Champion, enters the 2018 Xfinity Series season with eight wins, 62 top-fives, 99 top-10s, and 17 pole positions.

Ty Dillon, who is in his sophomore Cup Series season, has one victory in the Xfinity Series, at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 138 series starts, Dillon also has 32 top-fives, 86 top-10s, and four pole positions.

Burton will continue his current role as a journeyman driver. He last competed full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2013 and 2014. There he earned his lone NASCAR victory at Texas Motor Speedway. Burton has 22 Xfinity Series starts with a best finish of fourth at Daytona International Speedway last July.

Gaughan, a 16-year veteran of NASCAR’s National Series is scaling back from full-time competition. A two-time winner in the Xfinity Series, the 42-year-old has 216 career series starts. Gaughan has 20 top-fives, 67 top-10s, and just one pole position. He will return to two of his favorite tracks to compete, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and Road America.

Lee will make his Xfinity Series debut with RCR. He competed full-time in 2017 in the ARCA Racing Series, finishing third in points. In 30 ARCA starts, Lee has nine top-fives, 18 top-10s, and two pole positions. He also has three Truck Series starts with a best finish of 16^th (twice).

“Our goal with the multi-driver Chevrolet Camaro SS is to win races and put ourselves in a position to be in the NASCAR Playoffs at the end if the season to compete for the owner’s championship,” said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of RCR.

With the multi-driver lineup set, RCR will look to secure another Owner’s Championship in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.