| |
LEXINGTON, N.C. — It looms on a hilltop like an old-world Italian villa, with its gray stone gables, towering arches, tiled roof and gurgling courtyard fountain.
A cobblestone drive winds up the hill overlooking a 65-acre arbor of perfectly-rowed, meticulously-clipped grapevines.
At the crest of the hill is parked a black No. 3 race car. It seems as out of place here as — well, as its owner, Richard Childress, NASCAR team owner and proprietor of Childress Vineyards.
''This is something I've always wanted to do,'' Childress said while taking visitors on a tour of the 35,000 square-foot winery.
''I've always been interested in vintage wines and I thought this would be something that would be fun to do and also be good for my native state.''
Richard Childress Racing, which has fielded some of NASCAR's most famous and fearsome cars over the years, is located a few miles down the road in Welcome, N.C.
The most notable of Childress' entries was the black No. 3 Chevrolet driven by the late Dale Earnhardt. Since Earnhardt's death in the 2001 Daytona 500, Childress retained the rights to the iconic number and paint scheme, and placed them in unofficial retirement.
During his own racing days Childress, now 59, was the prototype Good Ol' Boy, struggling to make ends meet. He recalled his visits to Nashville Speedway in the early days, and of evenings spent with friends at a neighborhood tavern near the track.
There were no fancy wine lists there. The beverages were advertised in neon.
''Yeah I remember it. A lot of used to hang out there,'' Childress said with a chuckle. ''Is that place still there?''
Childress Vineyards is a long way from a ramshackle corner honky-tonk.
Surrounded by cast stone and etched glass is a tasting room, gift shop (''Shoppe''), banquet hall and Bistro restaurant. The winery is open daily to the public for tours, tastings, shopping and lunch.
The winery is just one of Childress's many interests. In addition to his vineyards and his multi-million-dollar racing operation he also owns a ranch on which he raises Black Angus cattle, has a hunting lodge and property in Montana, and travels the world on big-game safaris.
But racing remains his true passion.
''It's what gave us the opportunity to do all the other things,'' Childress said. ''I won't ever get very far away from it.''
RCR is coming off a down season and in the midst of major changes. Neither of his Nextel Cup drivers, Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon, won a race last year or made the Chase for the Championship. Jeff Burton has replaced Gordon and Dave Blaney has come aboard with a new Jack Daniel's sponsorship.
''We're determined to get back to where we used to be,'' Childress said. ''There's no reason why we can't do it.''
Childress also has other racing involvements, including a deal to bring Indy Racing League star Sarah Fisher into stock car racing. Fisher's plans are not specific, but she expects to run a number of races this year in various divisions.
''It's going to be fun to help some of these young drivers develop,'' Childress said.
''To me, that's what it's all about — the building and the developing. I love the challenge.''
Larry Woody writes about auto racing for The Tennessean. Reach him at lwoody@tennessean.com or 259-8019.
|
