Childress announces Busch lineup for 2003

CONCORD, N.C. -- Richard Childress Racing will be doing things a little different next year in the Busch Series.

First off, Kevin Harvick and Johnny Sauter will share driving duties in the No. 21 Chevrolet. The new sponsor for that ride will be Hershey Foods Corp. with its PayDay candy bar featured on the car.

	Johnny Sauter is 15th in the Busch Series point standings. Credit: Autostock

Secondly, Ron Hornaday has signed a two-year contract to drive the No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet.

Harvick will compete in 15 of the 34 Busch Series races next year with Sauter taking the others. For Harvick, it is a chance for him to return to the series where he earned the 2001 championship. He also earned rookie of the year honors in Winston Cup that year driving for RCR.

"I'm excited to be getting back into the Busch Series," Harvick said. "This year, I didn't have enough to do. To get back in the Busch Series with a high-profile sponsor like PayDay is exciting for myself and everyone at RCR.

"I'm looking forward to it and it's going to be a strong program. We're going to be on the racetrack so much next year, you're going to be tired of seeing us again.

"We're going to work with Johnny and have a successful year."

Sauter is currently 15th in points with one trip to Victory Lane, three top-five and four top-10 finishes. He says the shared duty might be more beneficial to him in the long run.

"Obviously, this season, I tried to run for rookie of the year and felt maybe I made the step too soon. I'm excited to be involved with RCR next year and to work with Kevin (Harvick) and Ron Hornaday.

"I'm just going to take a step back and make a contribution and make myself a better race car driver. I feel like this is the opportunity that I need."

For Hornaday, who currently is driving the No. 26 Chevy for Carroll Racing, racing for RCR is like a homecoming. He burst onto the NASCAR scene, driving to two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championships for Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 1996 and 1998.

Earnhardt drove for RCR, earning six of his seven championships.

DRIVER PAGES  •  Ron Hornaday  •  Johnny Sauter  •  Kevin Harvick    ALSO  •  Sauter content with decision

"I'm ecstatic that I will be driving for RCR and getting the opportunity to drive this championship-caliber car," Hornaday said. "I kind of drive like Kevin Harvick, a little bit. So, we'll have some fun out there on the track."

"This all started when I was running those Winter Heat races and Richard came out one time. He was going to run one guy's car, but I put him in another one so he could go out there and have some fun.

"It was a 25-lap exhibition race and Richard went out there whooped their butt and took home the trophy," Hornaday said. "He thanked me and said that if I ever needed something, to let him know.

"So, I asked him to call Dale (Earnhardt) because he was looking for a driver. And, the next day, Dale called me and asked if I was ready to drive."

As the owner of the operation, Childress likes the idea of Hornaday racing for him -- instead of against him.

"We've raced against Ron for many years," Harvick said. "I knew if we could ever get him in a car, I knew we could get out there and win. I think you're going to see a great grouping with Ron, Kevin Harvick and Johnny Sauter in the cars."