 Webster’s Dictionary defines the word excellence in this manner - the quality of being excellent; state of possessing good qualities in an eminent degree; exalted merit; superiority in virtue.
Over the last 35 years, Richard Childress Racing has defined the word excellence. Six NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Championships, two Busch Series titles along with a Truck Series crown is proof positive that RCR will accept nothing short of the best.
But what sets RCR apart from the others? What has propelled Childress’ teams to succeed?
The answer is simple. People.
The Richard Childress Racing Network sat down with Danny "Chocolate" Myers to talk about his years with RCR, to share stories and memories about Dale Earnhardt, and to explain how exactly he got the nickname.
RCRN: Where did you get the name Chocolate?
DM:"I was 10 years old and I played on the Tiny Greyhound little league football team in Winston-Salem, NC. I stayed outside and had a dark complexion. One day, the coach yelled, "Catch the ball, Chocolate Drop." From that day forward I have been know as Chocolate."
RCRN: What is your biggest accomplishment since you have been at RCR?
DM: "My biggest accomplishment is being a part of this team. I don't have any personal accomplishments. The accomplishments here at Richard Childress Racing have not been because of me or anyone else. It has been because of this race team. I tell people the reason we have been so successful over the years is because we started as a smaller team. Things have changed and we realize that, but for a long time we had a core group of guys. We didn't just like each other, we loved each other. We knew when each other's wives were having a bad day. We knew when each of us was having a birthday. Proportionally, racing has gotten bigger and bigger and we have gotten away from that.
As a team, the biggest accomplishments are winning six Cup championships, a couple Busch championships and a championship in the trucks, but being a part of a championship organization is my biggest accomplishment."
RCRN: What are some of your best memories of Richard Childress?
DM: "Richard and I go back to the early days at Bowman-Gray Stadium (race track), before I actually worked here. We go back 36 or 37 years. The fact that Richard has been able to do what he has done and the success he has had is just amazing. I don't think that anyone else I know could have done it. He has been the guy who has made it happen. It really gives me a lot of pride today when people ask, "What does Richard have to do with this place anymore?" I like to tell them that he is in that office working right now and so is Judy (Childress) and they still put 100 percent into this place. Going back to accomplishments, the man is a success."
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