WELCOME, North — Carolina -- NASCAR championship-winning team owner Richard Childress realized a long-time dream when he was recently elected to the board of directors of the National Rifle Association.
The NRA Board of Directors is elected by the Association’s four million members and has a broad spectrum of constituents with varying backgrounds, from law enforcement to competitive shooting, political activists to elected officials. Notable NRA Board members include Lt. Col. Oliver North, Karl Malone, Ted Nugent and Tom Selleck. The Board of Directors oversees the policies and programs developed by the organization.
Childress, of Clemmons, N.C., is a lifelong supporter of the Second Amendment, a big-game hunter and an outdoor conservationist. The 12-time NASCAR championship-winning team owner is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association, Safari Club International, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Grand Slam Club/Ovis (Grand Slam #901). He was named a Board Member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation in 2008.
“It’s an incredible honor to have been elected to the National Rifle Association Board of Directors,” said Childress. “I’ve been a member of the NRA for a number of years and have strongly supported our country’s Second Amendment rights. I also applaud the great work they do with their training, education and public service programs. These are very important times for our country and I’m looking forward to being a part of the decision-making process on a number of issues the NRA is currently working on.”
The National Rifle Association was founded in 1871 and is the oldest civil rights association in America. NRA’s tireless efforts in the defense of the Second Amendment earned the association “Top Influential Organization on Capitol Hill” by Forbes magazine.
“We are grateful for the dedication of Childress to the Second Amendment and this Association and his commitment to freedom,” said NRA President Ron Schmeits.
Childress works with local, state and national agencies on wildlife/outdoor conservation efforts and many related charities. He worked with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in 2000 to reintroduce an elk herd into North Carolina for the first time in 200 years. His family recently teamed with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center to create the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma.
The RCR Racing Museum, located at the Richard Childress Racing facility in Welcome, donates $1 from each paid admission to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Ducks Unlimited.
About Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com), celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2009, has earned more than 180 victories and 12 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2009 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Casey Mears (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper). Its 2009 Nationwide Series lineup includes Bowyer, Burton and Stephen Leicht (No. 29 Holiday Inn) and Austin Dillon (No. 2 RCR Chevrolet.)
