In NASCAR, friction isn’t limited to the track; it spills over into off-track clashes, like the ongoing tensions between Richard Childress and league officials as the playoffs heat up heading into Daytona.

Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s President, holds the reins on key decisions, often navigating rough waters with veterans like Childress, who’s been in the sport since debuting as a driver in 1969 and forming his team in 1981. For instance, tensions escalated last season after Austin Dillon’s controversial Richmond win in 2024, where his last-lap moves led to penalties stripping his playoff eligibility.

But that rift has widened even further with Austin Hill’s reckless driving penalty at Indianapolis in July 2025 for wrecking Aric Almirola, drawing Childress’s ire, when the latter said, “Hell no. They didn’t do a damn thing to the 2 car when they wrecked Ty and admitted it…We’re a blue-collar team, they give us trouble all the time.”

This echoes past spats, such as Bill France Sr.’s 1961 ban on Curtis Turner for pushing a drivers’ union, a move that sidelined the veteran for years amid owner-official clashes. But could the recent win at Richmond for RCR signal a thaw?

Steve O’Donnell addresses burying the rift

Steve O’Donnell opened up on the 1-on-1 podcast about patching things up with Richard Childress after a rocky stretch, especially following Austin Dillon’s clutch Richmond victory on August 16, 2025, which locked in his playoff spot after leading 107 laps.

“We’ve had some tough discussions with Richard, and, you know, understandably so, right? He’s a passionate guy. I’ve known him for 30 years,” O’Donnell shared, highlighting their long history amid the strain from Dillon’s 2024 penalty that cost him a championship shot despite a win.

This admission comes as RCR faced scrutiny, with Dillon’s average finish dropping to 22.56 in 2024, fueling those hard talks. The turnaround feels timely, as O’Donnell noted the thrill of Dillon’s redemption. “Seeing Austin able to win and, you know, I talked to him today and texted back and forth with RC; it was cool. It was a cool moment for the sport. He earned it.”

Backed by Dillon‘s two top-10s and two P15s in the last five races leading into Richmond, this win not only boosted RCR’s morale but also eased tensions, much like after Childress’s successful 2010 appeal, reducing a 150-point deduction for Clint Bowyer’s car failing inspection at New Hampshire. O’Donnell’s outreach underscores efforts to keep relations solid with a Hall of Famer like Childress, inducted in 2017.

Playoff pressures add layers, with O’Donnell pointing to the high stakes. “You come in Daytona, you know, that anything goes, really, coming in here, too; a lot of drivers still have a lot on the line to try and get into the playoffs. So it’s exciting for sure.”

As two spots remain open in the standings, this mending could steady RCR, drawing from Childress’s six Cup titles with Dale Earnhardt Sr. between 1986 and 1994. As RCR navigates these shifts, Austin Dillon eyes a bigger role in the family’s legacy.

Dillon’s RCR leadership dream

Austin Dillon shared his aspirations on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, saying, “Definitely, I hope that (becoming the new RCR boss); it’s a dream of mine. I’ve come across the railroad tracks here in Welcome for my entire life. It’s really all I know.” This reflects his deep roots, having grown up around the shop since childhood, with six Cup wins, including the 2018 Daytona 500.

As Childress nears 80 on September 21, 2025, Dillon’s vision aligns with injecting fresh energy into the team, which has struggled with Kyle Busch‘s 16th-place standing this season.

He elaborated on the family dynamic. “You know, we could go into other things, but it’s not what the love and the passion for these people here in Welcome is. That’s what I love. I love this area, the people that I see, and the faces that I know.”

Dillon’s comments highlight his commitment, bolstered by his 2025 Richmond triumph, ending a 68-race drought. With Ty Dillon also stepping up, this transition aims to sustain RCR’s competitiveness, as the team fields two Cup cars and seeks stability amid recent crew changes.

Dillon touched on Childress’s hesitancy. “That’s just who he is and who he’s always been committed to. I think his worry of turning over that position to Ty and me would be that he knows the sacrifices he had to make, and I don’t know if he really wants us to have that.” No formal handover date exists, but Dillon’s expanded duties include strategic input, positioning him to guide RCR forward while honoring its 56-year history.