On Wednesday, Richard Childress Racing announced a slew of changes within the competition department of the two-car NASCAR Cup Series program, and what the changes spelled out is that the 2024 season was not acceptable for the six-time NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning organization.
Richard Boswell, who has served as the crew chief for Chase Briscoe and the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing team in the NASCAR Cup Series since the 17th race of the 2023 season, has been added to the staff and will serve as the new crew chief for Austin Dillon and the No. 3 team in 2025.
In a team press release, Boswell calls landing the role of crew chief of the iconic No. 3 RCR team is a full-circle moment as his father Dickie Boswell competed against Dale Earnhardt as a driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 1982 to 1988.
“I have tremendous respect for Richard Childress, Austin Dillon, and all of the hardworking people at Richard Childress Racing and I am honored to have the opportunity to help contribute to the on-track success of the legendary No. 3 Chevrolet,” said Boswell. “My dad used to race with Dale Earnhardt so he was always a huge fan and the No. 3 was the car we all grew up cheering for in my household so this truly feels like a full-circle moment.”
Boswell, who along with Briscoe broke the heart of Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing team by defeating them for the win in the regular season finale at Darlington Raceway, will join Randall Burnett, who has earned another season as the crew chief for Kyle Busch and the No. 8 team.
With Boswell taking over as the crew chief of the No. 3 team, longtime RCR crew chief, and member of the competition team, Justin Alexander was released by the team. All five of Dillon’s NASCAR Cup Series wins have come with Alexander atop the pit box.
Prior to Rodden being moved to the role of interim competition director, Alexander re-assumed the role of crew chief for Dillon at Martinsville Speedway in April.
On Wednesday, Richard Childress Racing also officially stamped Keith Rodden as the team’s Vice President of Competition. Rodden took over as interim competition director following the sudden retirement of Andy Petree in June.
RCR also added John Klausmeier, a veteran crew chief who picked up three wins with Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series with three different drivers from 2016 to 2023, as the organization’s new technical director.
Klausmeier admits he was an RCR and Dale Earnhardt fan growing up, so he’s pumped to contribute to the team in 2025.
“I’m thrilled to join Richard Childress Racing as technical director,” said Klausmeier. “With such a rich history in the sport, I’m excited to contribute to their groundwork for success. I look forward to working with the team to pursue performance and refine processes, all with the goal of consistently contending for wins and championships. Growing up as a Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress Racing fan, it’s special to join the organization I pulled for in my younger years.”
Richard Childress, the Chairman and CEO of RCR, is hopeful that the moves announced on Wednesday can help turnaround things for his race team in 2025.
“Keith Rodden has stepped up in the interim competition director role this past season and has shown an eagerness to help improve and fine-tune all aspects of RCR,” said Childress. “That enthusiasm and loyalty earned him the title of vice president of competition. I know he will do a great job serving our competition executives.”
Childress continued, “John Klausmeier and Richard Boswell have both been great winners in the garage and I know their experience and skills will contribute to RCR’s overall success. I feel confident that all of our crew chiefs will do a great job leading their respective teams and we will give our partners, employees, and fans plenty to be excited about in 2025.”
