Richard Childress has just delivered the most devastating blow to NASCAR since Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s passing.

In an emergency press conference at the RCR headquarters in Welcome, North Carolina this morning, the legendary team owner announced that Kyle Busch and the entire Richard Childress Racing organization will not compete in the 2026 Daytona 500 – and potentially the full Cup Series season – unless NASCAR immediately punishes Bubba Wallace for what Childress called “foul play on the track and insulting remarks off it” directed at the late Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Childress, the man who fielded the iconic No. 3 Chevrolet to seven championships with Earnhardt Sr., spoke with visible anger and heartbreak:

“That was a wrong choice… and NASCAR will regret it.”

He continued: “My driver, my friend, my family – Dale Earnhardt gave everything to this sport, including his life. When someone disrespects that legacy and NASCAR protects them instead of holding them accountable, we have no choice but to stand up. Kyle Busch will not race in the Daytona 500. RCR will not race in the Daytona 500. And if NASCAR doesn’t act, we may not race at all in 2026.”

The announcement comes after NASCAR’s Competition Committee formally rejected a petition – signed by Childress, several other team owners, and dozens of drivers – demanding disciplinary action against Wallace for a combination of:

On-track incidents alleged to involve deliberate contact and reckless driving (most recently the Atlanta multi-car wreck involving Carson Hocevar) Off-track remarks from a 2025 podcast widely interpreted as insulting to Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s aggressive racing style

Childress did not stop at withdrawal. He dropped a long-buried behind-the-scenes secret that has sent shockwaves through the garage:

“There are things NASCAR doesn’t want the public to know – secret agreements, backroom deals, blind eyes turned to certain drivers. I’ve stayed silent for years to protect the sport I love. But if they’re going to protect disrespect toward Dale Earnhardt Sr., those secrets are coming out. I have documents, recordings, internal memos. They go back decades. If NASCAR forces my hand, everything gets released.”

The implication is clear: Childress possesses potentially explosive material related to past NASCAR governance, disciplinary inconsistencies, sponsor influence, officiating controversies, or decisions tied to the Earnhardt legacy and the DEI transition after 2001.

The fallout has been immediate and catastrophic:

NASCAR stock (Liberty Media) plunged 6.8% in after-hours trading. Sponsors of RCR and the No. 3 program issued “monitoring closely” statements while privately demanding emergency calls. Fan reaction split violently: #RCRWithdraws, #ChildressVsNASCAR and #ProtectThe3 trended No. 1 globally.

Kyle Busch, the 2015 and 2019 Cup champion driving the No. 8 for RCR, appeared beside Childress and delivered a short statement:

“I race for RCR because of what it stands for – hard work, family, legacy. If NASCAR won’t stand up for that legacy, I stand with Richard. Daytona won’t feel the same without us.”

NASCAR President Steve Phelps issued a brief response: “NASCAR deeply respects the Childress and Earnhardt legacies. We are in active dialogue with all parties and remain committed to a strong 2026 season. We will address this matter appropriately and expeditiously.”

But the statement did little to calm the storm. Daytona 500 media day begins in days. The Great American Race now opens under an existential shadow. If RCR follows through, the field loses two charters, the No. 8 and No. 3 cars vanish from Speedweeks, and the sport loses two of its most storied organizations just as radical new rules promise a fresh start.

The threat to release “secret agreements” and “long-hidden scandals” is the most terrifying element for NASCAR executives. Sources say the material could trigger federal investigations, class-action lawsuits from fans and sponsors, congressional scrutiny, and long-term damage to the league’s credibility and commercial value.

Bubba Wallace has not yet responded publicly. 23XI Racing issued a short statement: “Bubba respects NASCAR’s history and the Earnhardt family. Conversations are ongoing.”

But private talks may no longer be enough. Childress made it clear: the punishment must be public, severe, and immediate – or the consequences will be permanent and devastating.

NASCAR now faces an impossible choice on the eve of its biggest event:

Punish Wallace and risk massive backlash from younger fans, diversity advocates, corporate partners, and 23XI Racing. Refuse to intervene → loses RCR, potentially JR Motorsports, and whatever remains of its credibility with the sport’s most loyal fanbase.

The Daytona 500 is no longer just about who wins. It’s about whether NASCAR can survive the reckoning it now faces.

A legend’s honor hangs in the balance. A family dynasty is ready to walk away forever. The secrets are ready to be exposed.

And time is running out.