FT. WORTH, Texas (March 31, 2001) -- Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has named 2000 NASCAR Busch Series champion Jeff Green as the driver for the No. 30 America Online NASCAR Winston Cup program for a limited schedule this season.
The Greensboro, Ky., native will debut the No. 30 America Online Chevrolet Monte Carlo at California Speedway on April 29. He is also scheduled to compete at Dover Downs International Speedway (June 3), Chicagoland Speedway (July 15), Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Aug. 5), Bristol Motor Speedway (Aug. 25), Richmond International Raceway (Sept. 8) and Lowes Motor Speedway at Charlotte (Oct. 7). Plans for the 2002 season and beyond will be forthcoming.
"Jeff brings a lot of positives to the No. 30 America Online program so I know he'll be a great fit for the team," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc. "He's a proven winner and champion in the Busch Series and has already tasted success in Winston Cup. His hard-charging yet smooth style is exactly what we need to make the program successful right off the bat."
This is not Greens first step into NASCAR Winston Cup, having run 46 races from 1996 through 1998. He has earned two top-10 finishes in the series, a seventh at California Speedway (6/22/97) and a fourth at Atlanta Motor Speedway (11/16/97).
Green ran 43 NASCAR Busch Series races from 1990-1994 before getting his first full-season ride in 1995 for Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI). He ran two seasons for DEI and overall has earned 11 victories, 16 poles, 63 top-five and 89 top-10 finishes in the series. Green won last years Busch Series championship with, and currently drives in the series for, ppc Racing.
"Its an honor for someone like Richard Childress to ask me to drive one of his race cars," said Green. "I guess its a credit to my ability and my race teams for what weve done over the last couple of years that people are noticing what weve been doing. The NASCAR Winston Cup Series was competitive when I ran it a few years ago and its probably even more so now."
The No. 30 America Online program was originally announced this past February with Kevin Harvick as the driver. Green replaces Harvick, who has moved to the RCR No. 29 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Team.
"We are extremely pleased to have Jeff Green as the driver for the No. 30 America Online program," said Eddie Leonard, America Onlines Vice President of Brand Marketing. "He has already earned a Busch Series championship and I am confident that his return to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series will be a triumphant one. It is great for AOL members to see a driver like Jeff in our NASCAR Winston Cup program."