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RCR Announces Major Cup Series Leadership Shake‑Up

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By Sarah Talker | Last updated Jan 14, 2026 1:17 PM ET

Richard Childress Racing (RCR) just made its biggest internal move in years. On Wednesday morning, the team revealed a massive restructuring of its NASCAR Cup Series program. This isn’t just a small tweak. It’s a complete overhaul of the competition ladder designed to sharpen their performance and solidify their direction as they head into the 2026 season.

The timing says it all. We are only weeks away from the season opener at Bowman Gray Stadium, and RCR is planting its flag. Their focus right now is clear: they want stability, deeper technical resources, and everyone pulling in the same direction.

New Leadership Roles Announced

The headline move here is Mike Dillon taking the helm as Chief Operating Officer. A longtime staple of the organization, Dillon now holds the keys to the entire competition side. He will oversee operations, personnel development, and big-picture strategy, putting him squarely in charge of RCR’s competitive roadmap.

Then there is John Klausmeier, who steps in as Technical Director. With a Cup Series win and more than 20 years of engineering experience, he is the guy tasked with leading engineering operations. He will guide technical development and ensure the team stays ahead of NASCAR’s constantly changing rulebook.

Andy Street is moving up to the Performance Director role. His job is all about the dataresearch, development, and competition analytics. But he isn’t leaving the track completely. Street will also serve as crew chief for the part‑time No. 33 Chevrolet, meaning he can apply those R&D discoveries in real time on race day.

Crew Chief Lineup Set for 2026

RCR also locked in their crew chief pairings for the upcoming season: Richard Boswell is staying right where he is, atop the pit box for Austin Dillon and the No. 3 team. Jim Pohlman continues calling the shots for Kyle Busch and the No. 8 crew. Both pairings are starting the year with continuity and organizational confidence.

Official Tweet From RCR

Just after breaking the news, the team took to X (formerly Twitter) to share it.

NEWS: Richard Childress Racing Announces Cup Series Competition Leadership Appointments

For more information, please visit https://t.co/MagVYvAJQv pic.twitter.com/ydDFjAEzTJ
— RCR (@RCRracing) January 14, 2026

Tweet Analysis

Read between the lines, and you see exactly what RCR is thinking. They didn’t go for flashy promises. Instead, they focused on structure and stability. Phrases like “building for the future” tell us this isn’t a panic move. It’s a strategic reset. By mentioning a “strengthened foundation,” they are telling the garage and the fans that the team’s bones are good, but they needed to tighten things up to compete at a higher level.

Why This Matters

This restructuring highlights a trend we are seeing across the Cup Series. It’s not enough to just have fast cars anymore. You need leadership depth and serious engineering muscle. As the field gets tighter and technology moves faster, teams have to invest in their organizational charts just as much as their equipment to stay relevant.

What Comes Next

With the new bosses in place, Richard Childress Racing can finally focus on the car. The real test comes at the season opener. That race will give us our first real look at whether this new corporate structure translates to speed on the track.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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