Menard joined RCR in 2011, and drove the No. 27 to a victory in the Brickyard 400 that year.

Team owner Richard Childress said:

It is great to have Paul Menard back in the #27 Menards Chevrolet as our driver. He has shown his ability to be consistent, competitive and win on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series level. He did that in the Brickyard 400 (2011) with us at Indy. Having ‘Slugger’ Labbe (crew chief) and the entire crew coming back gives us something to build on to win more races, make The Chase and contend for a championship. We are very excited to continue our partnership with Menards. They are a great organization with strong customer service values who successfully use their racing program to promote their business. We couldn’t be prouder to represent them as part of our race team and future.

Menard said:

My family, all of our great team members at Menards and I are excited to extend our partnership with Richard and Richard Childress Racing. Being part of a family-owned and operated business I can relate to the team’s goals and objectives. We will continue to grow together and build our relationship, achieving even greater accomplishments in the future.

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In the closing laps of the race, Scott was limping to a 15th-place finish when he got together with Nelson Piquet Jr, which knocked Scott out of the groove in Turn 2. Scott dropped from 15th down to 20th.

On the cool down lap, Scott, of Richard Childress Racing,  cut in front of Piquet, or Turner Scott Motorsports.

When the two cars stopped on pit road and exited their cars, Piquet pushed and kicked Scott, a kick Scott called “below the belt.” The two crews almost came to blows.

Scott said:

I was just showing my displeasure with him after the race and then things escalated. I went to talk to him, I was a little heated and the camera probably shows it, but he kicks me right below the belt, which I think is a below-the-belt type of shot.

Scott and Piquet were called to the NASCAR hauler.

Evidently, an earlier incident between Dillon, also of RCR, and Allgaier, of TSM, caused the tension between the two teams. The incident between Scott and Piquet only intensified the tension.

Later, Henrico County police were called to the driver/owner lot at Richmond and two RCR crew members were arrested. Michael A. Scearce and Thomas F. Costello, of RCR’s No. 2 team, the car driven by Scott, were taken into custody for their part in an alleged assault in which two adult males were injured. Both were charged with misdemeanors and released.

Richard Childress talked about the incident:

I didn’t witness what took place last night outside of the race track. Our team members were walking to their cars and words were exchanged with members from another team, which led to an altercation. I am still learning all the exact details and, because it did happen outside of the track, local authorities became involved. We are working with them to resolve this matter.

Turner Scott Motorsports released a statement:

Turner Scott Motorsports can confirm that an incident occurred near the Driver/Owner parking lot of Richmond International Raceway following the NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Friday, April 26th. Several members of another race team confronted a group that included Nelson Piquet Jr., resulting in the arrest of two individuals from the other race team. TSM will have no further comment on the incident as the matter is an active case with the Henrico Police Department.

Update: NASCAR found that Richard Childress Racing crew members Thomas Costello and Michael Scearce were in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR rule book. Both crew members were suspended for four Nationwide Series events, and both were each fined  $15,000. They were also put on NASCAR probation until the end of the calendar year.

Update 2: Richard Childress Racing appealed the penalties handed down by NASCAR. After reviewing the facts,  the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel decided to uphold the original penalties. RCR can now appeal this decision to the ational Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer John Middlebrook.

The plan seems to be to run Dillon in six to eight, possibly more, Cup races this season to prepare him for 2014.

Dillon will drive for Circle Sport, a satellite team of Richard Childress Racing, the team owned by his grandfather. Dillon will also drive one race for Phoenix Racing and owner James Finch.

Dillon made one start for Circle Sport in the Sprint Cup Series last season, finishing 24th in the No. 33 Chevy in the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Stephen Leicht, Tony Raines, Elliott Sadler, Hermie Sadler, and Cole Whitt also drove for Circle Sport in 2012, with Leicht winning Rookie Of The Year honors.

Childress indicated that he didn’t know how many Cup races his grandson would run, saying that it depended on sponsorship.

Austin’s younger brother Ty Dillon may also run some Cup races. In 2014, the younger Dillon will move from the Camping World Truck Series to the Nationwide Series full time.

Many speculate that the elder Dillon may drive the No. 3 Chevy, which hasn’t been run in Cup since 2001, when Dale Earnhardt Sr died in a last lap crash in the Daytona 500.

Dillon finished third in the Nationwide Series standings, winning two races last year. He will look to improve upon that in 2013.

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Richard Childress Racing expressed an interest in running Patrick in some N’Wide races, but Patrick’s management team preferred to run with Turner because Turner uses Hendrick-prepared Chevys, which are similar to what she will drive in the Sprint Cup Series at Stewart Haas Racing.

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Scott drove for JGR last season, finishing ninth in points, with two top 5s, and 11 top 10s. Scott lost his ride when JGR signed Elliott Sadler and Brian Vickers to drive in the Nationwide Series full time in 2013.

Update: Brian Scott will drive  the #2 Shore Lodge Chevy Camaro for the RCR in the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. Phil Gould, car chief for the No. 2 team in 2012, has been promoted to crew chief for the team.

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Sadler is leaving Richard Childress Racing after finishing second in the points the past two seasons. There was speculation that Sadler would also drive a limited Sprint Cup schedule for JGR, but that is not in the plans according to team president JD Gibbs.

JGR will field a second car that will be driven by Kyle Busch, Drew Herring, and Darrell Wallace Jr.

Wallace may also drive in the Camping World Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

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Harvick said:

I’m looking forward to finishing out this season on a strong note with RCR and continuing to build our program going into the 2013 season with the ultimate goal of winning a championship. Anything beyond that, once I know what my future plans are set, I’ll let you know.

In 2014, Harvick will join the SHR stable, which includes Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, and Danica Patrick.

RCR owner Richard Childress wouldn’t talk about the rumor:

I’ve got a contract for 2013 and this is 2012. I’m not talking to you about nothing (regarding that).

Harvick has 18 career Sprint Cup victories, and has driven for RCR since his Cup career began, the week after Dale Earnhardt Sr was killed in a crash at Daytona International Speedway.

In 2010, Harvick considered leaving the team, but decided to stay in good faith. This time, he chose to leave because he thinks SHR will provide motivation that seems to be lacking at RCR.

RCR shrunk to three cars this season, after Clint Bowyer left due to a lack of sponsorship. Reports indicated that Bowyer had a sponsor lined up, but RCR wasn’t interested. As a result, Bowyer left to join Michael Waltrip Racing and had arguably the best season of his career.

Childress’ grandsons both drive in NASCAR’s lower levels. Austin Dillon is driving in the Nationwide Series, where he sits third in points. Dillon will drive the No. 33 in the Daytona 500 next season.

Ty Dillon drives in the Camping World Truck Series, where he sits second in points.

Childress is grooming RCR for his grandsons to eventually take over. While there is nothing to indicate that this has anything to do with Harvick’s decision, it is possible that it does.

Paul Menard and Jeff Burton have been struggling this season, with both out of the top 15 in the standings and winless.

Elliott Sadler, who drives the team’s Nationwide Series entry, is tied for the N’Wide series points lead. He will not return to RCR next season. He is rumored to be close to a deal with Joe Gibbs Racing. Ty Dillon could move up to the Nationwide Series next season.

Update: Stewart was asked to comment on the rumor. He said:

Well, it’s actually Dale, Jr. And (NASCAR reporter) Marty Smith is actually going to be in the fourth car. Yes, that’s where we are at. I will tell you this, when we have something to tell you guys, we’ll tell you. I’ve always said that. You guys can throw darts, but when we have something to tell you that’s different than what we’ve got going on, we’ll obviously tell you.

Update 2: Kevin Harvick is said to be taking Budweiser and Jimmy Johns with him to Stewart Haas Racing in 2014.

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Blickensderfer replaces Mike Ford, who served as crew chief of the No. 9 team without a contract. Ford is said to have been offered a crew chief job at BK Racing.

Luke Lambert, crew chief of RCR’s No. 2 Nationwide Series team and driver Elliott Sadler, will take over as crew chief of the No. 31 Sprint Cup team in 2013.

In the interim, Shane Wilson will serve as crew chief for Burton and the No. 31.

Team owner Richard Childress said:

I want to thank Drew for all of his effort with the No. 31 Caterpillar team this season. He’s a great crew chief and I can’t say enough about his dedication to RCR. Making the move now, before the season is over, gives Drew some additional time to pursue other opportunities.

Sadler, the current N’wide points leader, drives for Richard Childress Racing, which took over Kevin Harvick’s Kevin Harvick Inc team when that team shut down at the end of last season.

Sadler said earlier this year he wouldn’t be back in the No. 2 Chevy.

He has also said he would also like to get back into the Sprint Cup Series, where he has three wins, as soon as possible.

Rumor has it that Sadler is currently considering three teams, one of which is JGR. The JGR deal is said to be for a full time ride in 2013, with the possibility of a full time Sprint Cup ride in 2014, if sponsorship can be found.

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FRR General Manager Joe Garone said:

Though we have made strides as a resourceful single-car Sprint Cup team, we are not where we want to be, which led us to the difficult decision of making a driver change as we move forward. Kurt’s exceptional driving talent has the capacity to take a team to another level. We look forward to having Kurt join our Denver-based organization and feel his racing experience will play an important role as we plan ahead to 2013.

Busch added:

Furniture Row Racing has the commitment, talent and resources to compete at a high level in the Sprint Cup Series. I have watched with admiration on how this team has grown over the years and that is why I am excited about the opportunity as I eagerly look forward to a new chapter in my racing career.

Busch spoke with Richard Childress Racing about a 2013 Cup ride, if sponsorship could be found. With signing with FRR, Busch moves to a satellite RCR team.

Busch was released from Penske Racing’s No. 22 at the end of last season after a series of high profile meltdowns. He joined Phoenix Racing for the 2012 season, but the team has struggled to find sponsorship.

Update: According to SPEED’s Race Hub, Regan Smith’s final race in the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevy will be the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 7. Kurt Busch will take over driving duties the following week at the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Update 2: With Kurt Busch leaving Phoenix Racing after the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, Phoenix owner James Finch is looking for a driver to take over that car.

Finch, who has run the No. 51 Sprint Cup Chevy without sponsorship for much of the season, said he is looking for a driver who brings financial backing (read: sponsorship) with him.

AJ Allmendinger, who has been suspended since July for failing a drug test and was recently reinstated, could be a candidate, though he doesn’t have a sponsor to bring with him.

Regan Smith could be another candidate, but like Allmendinger, he doesn’t bring sponsorship.

Finch is also said to be considering Camping World Truck Series driver James Buescher  and Nationwide Series driver Justin Allgaier.

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