Mechanic Rick Viers helped guide Kevin Harvick and Johnny Sauter to three wins. Credit: Autostock

Veteran mechanic leaves RCR Busch team

WELCOME, N.C. -- Rick Viers, who engineered the 2003 Busch Series owners' championship for Richard Childress Racing, has left RCR effective immediately, the veteran mechanic announced Tuesday.

A spokesman for Childress said the team wasn't ready Tuesday to provide any details about the aftermath of Viers' announcement.

Viers, who has recorded eight wins and four poles over his career and four consecutive finishes of no worse than fourth in the owners' standings for RCR, is looking forward to pursuing new opportunities in the Busch and Nextel Cup Series, he said.

"I've had a long great relationship with Richard and the folks at RCR," Viers said. "I had the opportunity to work with one of the best drivers of all time, Dale Earnhardt, and to crew chief and win races with one of the promising stars, Kevin Harvick, but it was time to move on."

Harvick and Johnny Sauter drove cars wrenched by Viers to the 2003 championship.

In 2005, Viers' drivers scored three wins, 15 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes in 35 Busch races and finished fourth in the owner standings.