Kerry Earnhardt gets part-time ride with dad's team

WELCOME, N.C. -- Kerry Earnhardt will get a chance to prove himself in NASCAR's top stock car series with Richard Childress Racing, the team that gave his late father six of his seven Winston Cup championships.

Earnhardt will drive a black No. 33 Chevrolet this year in a limited schedule of Nextel Cup races and help RCR test and develop cars for full-time Cup drivers Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon and Johnny Sauter.

"We're going to have an Earnhardt back in a Richard Childress Racing car," the team owner said Wednesday. "It gives me chills just to say that."

Kerry, the oldest son of Dale Earnhardt and half brother of current Cup star Dale Earnhardt Jr., will drive in five races for RCR, beginning with the event at Talladega Superspeedway on April 25.

The 34-year-old Kerry Earnhardt lost his Busch Series ride with FitzBradshaw Racing midway through last season.

"I've been working with Richard for the last three years trying to do something," Earnhardt said. "Richard has told me in the past he wanted to do something with me and was just waiting for the right time. ... Now, we're just getting some seat time testing and getting back in the groove again."

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2004, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved