Rebel Bourbon Rolls Out Rebel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Single Barrel 2026 Selected By Kyle Busch

 

The Official Bourbon of Richard Childress Racing launches annual limited-edition release for a second year with every barrel hand-picked by Busch

Rebel Bourbon fans have a new reason to get rowdy. The official bourbon of Richard Childress Racing announced the release of Rebel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel Selected By Kyle Busch. With guidance from Rebel Bourbon Master Distiller John Rempe, the two-time NASCAR® Cup Series champion and driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet hand-picked every barrel for this limited-edition release, which is bottled at 108 proof (54% ABV) in honor of Rebel's RCR sponsorship.

 

Handcrafted according to Rebel's original time-honored wheated recipe since 1849, Rebel Kyle Busch 108 Single Barrel is aged for a full four years to ensure robust flavor and a velvety smooth finish with a hint of spice. The special edition ships this month and will be available nationwide at a minimum suggested retail price of $39.99 per 750mL bottle.

 

"Kyle and the RCR team stand out as real rebels, doing things their own way with a defiant attitude to drive to win, and that lifestyle is what Rebel Bourbon is all about," said Philip Lux, Rebel Bourbon brand manager. "Every bottle of our new Rebel Single Barrel is a one-of-a-kind, made in tribute to that rebel spirit in Kyle and all of us."

 

Bottled in the signature Rebel Bourbon bottle featuring Lux Row Distillers embossing, Rebel Kyle Busch 108 Single Barrel features a distinctive gold label with a checkered flag pattern underneath bold RCR branding and the No. 8 graphic along with Busch's signature. Each label also displays the bottle's unique barrel details including the number and fill date.

 

NEWS: Rebel Bourbon joins Richard Childress Racing as the official bourbon of RCR and the newest partner of the No. 8 Chevrolet and @KyleBusch.

Read More: https://t.co/qGQCv2OaK9 pic.twitter.com/5XQNkO2UrH

— RCR (@RCRracing) January 9, 2024

"For the third year now I'm proud to race with the Rebel brand, and having the opportunity to create another run of KB 108 with Rebel's John Rempe has been a total thrill," said Busch. "I'm proud to have my name and the No. 8 on every bottle and I think fans are really going to enjoy it."

 

 

 

source: PR Newwire Media

Richard Childress to Receive Prestigious 2026 Horatio Alger Award

Horatio Alger Association recognizes Members for their lifelong achievements and commitment to ensuring the American Dream for future generations.

 

The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit that honors leaders who have overcome adversity and supports young people in furthering their education, today announced that Richard Reed Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, will receive the prestigious Horatio Alger Award and become a lifetime member of the organization. Childress joins 10 other exceptional corporate, civic, and cultural leaders from across the country in the 2026 class of honorees. For the last 79 years, the Horatio Alger Award has recognized esteemed individuals who have reached remarkable success despite significant challenges, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to higher education and philanthropy.

 

Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Childress faced profound loss at five years old when his father passed away. As a young child, he demonstrated a strong work ethic, earning his school lunch in first grade by cleaning the lunchroom and sweeping the hallways. As he grew older, he continued to work, selling peanuts and popcorn at the local stadium on weekends to help support the family.

 

Childress discovered a passion for car racing at a young age, dreaming of one day becoming a racecar driver himself. As a young adult, he turned that dream into reality by purchasing an old taxicab for $20 and transforming it into his first racecar. What began as a one-man racing team grew over decades into one of the most respected organizations in motorsports. Today, Richard Childress Racing employes more than 400 team members supporting full-time operations in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Over his storied career, Richard Childress Racing has amassed more than 200 victories across NASCAR’s top three national series, including 17 championships, three Daytona 500 championships, and three Brickyard 400 victories. In recognition of his remarkable contributions to the sport, Childress was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017.

 

“Throughout my life, I’ve learned how important it is to find your passion and pursue it with relentless dedication. You have to be willing to put everything on the line. My passion for racing began when I was just a kid at the track, and that spark has stayed with me ever since, pushing me to chase success in the sport I love,” said Richard Childress. “But passion alone isn’t enough. Surrounding yourself with people who share your drive is a source of strength that leads to success. That’s why being part of the Horatio Alger Association is so meaningful. This community of dedicated members works together to uplift young people as they follow their dreams. I’m honored to join in that mission.”

 

Beyond his accomplishments on the racetrack, Childress and his wife, Judy, are committed philanthropists. In 2008, they partnered with Wake-Forest University Baptist Medical Center to establish the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, which has grown today into a nationwide initiative dedicated to prevent childhood trauma and life-threatening injury, the No. 1 killer of kids in America. The Institute funds research, education and advocacy to help improve the care and treatment injured kids receive throughout America.

 

“Richard Childress is an exceptional leader whose integrity, resilience, and commitment to excellence has long distinguished him in the world of motorsports and beyond,” said Marcia G. Taylor, President and CEO, Bennett International Group LLC, a 2017 Horatio Alger Award recipient who nominated Childress for the Award. “Through our partnership with Richard Childress Racing, I have seen firsthand how his dedication to his team, his industry, and his community reflects the very qualities that the Horatio Alger Association seeks to honor. I am pleased to support his induction and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.”

 

NEWS: Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, to receive prestigious 2026 Horatio Alger Award.

Read more at https://t.co/F2BXAqYT7i pic.twitter.com/0iY462QKlr

— RCR (@RCRracing) January 27, 2026

Childress and the member class of 2026 will be formally inducted into the Association during the 79th Horatio Alger Award Induction Ceremonies in Washington, D.C. in April. The annual ceremonies coincide with the Horatio Alger National Scholars Conference, which gives more than 100 students the unique opportunity to explore the nation’s capital and to meet and learn from Association Members.

 

 

source: RCR Racing Media

Richard Childress Racing Announces Cup Series Competition Leadership Appointments

Richard Childress Racing announced this week several key NASCAR Cup Series competition leadership appointments ahead of the 2026 NASCAR season.

 

Mike Dillon has been named chief operating officer, a position for the company that will focus heavily on competition administrative functions. Dillon will provide forward thinking and direction in all areas of performance and operations, with an emphasis on recruiting and retaining top talent in the industry.

 

During his long career at RCR, Dillon has been involved in nearly every area in both the business and competition sides of the organization, taking a hands-on approach to leadership. He has served in key roles such as vice president of competition, director of team operations, driver, and spotter. Dillon helped launch RCR’s successful NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program in the late 1990s and has been instrumental in RCR’s driver development program over the years.

 

John Klausmeier will focus on competition leadership for RCR as technical director, overseeing all technical engineering activities for the high-performance motorsports team and focusing his energies on vehicle systems engineering, design and metrology. 

The former Cup Series winning crew chief will continue to provide departmental oversight for RCR’s talented team of engineers and crew chiefs. Klausmeier has more than 20 years of motorsports experience. All competition departments report to Klausmeier, while Klausmeier reports to Dillon.

 

Andy Street has been named performance director for RCR, focusing on research and development and increasing overall on-track performance across the company.

He will also serve as crew chief for RCR’s part time No. 33 Chevrolet entry in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2026. Street brings a wealth of experience to his new position at RCR, with experience as a crew chief, engineering manager, team engineer, and design engineer during his 20+ year career at the company.

 

Richard Boswell will continue his role as crew chief for the No. 3 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series and will be paired with Austin Dillon. 

In their first year together, Boswell led Dillon to a dominating race win at Richmond Raceway in which Dillon led 107 laps, including the final 49 laps, to earn back-to-back wins at the Virginia short track. The win earned the No. 3 team a spot in the NASCAR Playoffs, where they ultimately finished 15th in the point standings.

 

As previously announced, Jim Pohlman will work with Kyle Busch as crew chief for the No. 8 Chevrolet. 

The 2026 season marks the veteran crew chief’s first year being paired with Busch and he joins the No. 8 team with more than 120 starts as a crew chief across the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Pohlman led Justin Allgaier to a NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship in 2024.

 

“RCR has assembled a talented team of professionals to help lead our race team into the future,” said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Mike Dillon has already began assembling top talent for RCR and has a track record of success when working with the competition side of our race team. Similarly, John Klausmeier continues to elevate our competition program. Andy Street stepped up for us this year and will be a great asset for RCR as we focus on increasing performance across the company. I have full confidence in our crew chiefs this year. I know that both Richard Boswell and Jim Pohlman will do a good job leading our Cup teams.”

 

 

source: NASCAR Media