The Great American State Fair has been a highly anticipated event of the summer as part of America's 250th anniversary celebration. However, nine states have opted out of it. Amidst this, NASCAR team owner Richard Childress is all set to join the event. 

Organized by Freedom 250, the Fair is all set to kick off this weekend. US President Donald Trump will headline the fair.  The event will feature over 150 stalls, businesses, innovators, and civic organizations, blue ribbon livestock competitions, movies, and other things.

Among the nine states that opted out, citing budget constraints, one of them is North Carolina. However, NC will be indirectly represented through Richard Childress Racing and vehicle company, SPEVCO, a partner of Childress-owned Carolina Cowboys.

Speaking about this, NC Governor Josh Stein's spokesperson said (via The Hill):

"He (Josh Stein) is glad that our state will be represented at the fair by two North Carolina companies. Two hundred and fifty years ago, North Carolina led the way to American independence, and Governor Stein is pleased to honor our state’s First in Freedom legacy."

Disaster-response company, Operation Helo, was the third North Carolina-based company that joined RCR and SPEVCO after the spokesperson's statement.

Richard Childress founded the NASCAR team back in 1969 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. What started as a one-man team has now expanded into a multi-faceted organization with the 80-year-old at the helm of it all. Both his grandsons, Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon, have been actively involved in keeping the company running.

With Richard Childress all set to represent the company on a national scale, by providing the No. 3 car and a racing simulator, it is a testament to how far the company has grown. However, the chatter about its future still continues. 

Richard Childress reveals who could lead RCR in the future 

Over the years, Childress has played a key role in the success of RCR. However, in recent years, there has been a lot of talk about the future of the organization. With Austin and Ty Dillon closely involved in the business, it is very clear that the business will be passed down to one of the brothers.

During a NASCAR press conference in Michigan on June 6, Richard Childress was questioned about Austin Dillon taking over the company in the future. He replied (via Cup Scene on YouTube): 

"Yes, he and Ty Dillon both went up the next day (after Kyle Busch's passing) and talked to the whole company the next morning, and I see a role with them being involved both of them."

“Austin, I've got him, he's the general manager over at the Carolina Cowboys, and he's learning how to deal with a sanctioning body. He's learning how to deal with riders instead of drivers, which would be different. He's learning it, and Ty's involved a lot as well. He's there with us. So, it's a family operation, and we're doing our best to keep it like that.” Childress added.

Although the successor remains to be named, Richard Childress has made it clear that keeping the business in the family is the long-term vision.

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yash Kotak