Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/801177
58 • S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S Education Challenge." With all of the things he's accomplished, no one could blame Richard if he kicked back and hung up a Gone Fishin' sign. Spending time with Richard, you realize, however, that hitting the brakes is not in his DNA. He's come a long way since trying to coax an old Plymouth around a short track, but you can sense that he's still in the race, still going full bore down the backstretch. It's great to have Richard on our team. And, as he devotes even more time in support of our sporting heritage and freedoms, he's bound to help get a checkered flag that will signify a big win for all of us. n Author's Note: On my pheasant hunt with Richard Childress, I field-tested a 20-gauge Fausti Class SL Upland. The over-and-under's low-profile receiver promotes excellent hand-to-eye alignment, and I was also impressed by the quality of the wood and the precise wood-to-metal fit. This gun carries light, while swinging beautifully. All Fausti shotguns combine Old World craftsmanship with the precision of today's CNC machines. On top of his business responsibilities (Richard continues as chairman and CEO of ECR Engines), his charitable endeavors, (he co-founded the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center with his wife, Judy, in 2008), and his non- racing venture (he established Childress Vineyards in 2004, now one of North Carolina's most award-winning producers), Richard has served two terms on the board of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. He is currently the 2nd vice president of the NRA, and will have the opportunity to serve as president beginning in 2019. "The Second Amendment is about your freedom," he said. "The freedom to choose your firearm, to protect your family, protect your property, and it also gives you the freedom to take a firearm and go hunting or shooting. It's a freedom that we have in this country that many countries don't have, and the NRA has preserved that freedom for many, many years and will preserve it for many, many more years to come. "In my role at the NRA, I want to emphasize how the organization reaches out in beneficial ways to millions of Americans who are not members, especially youngsters through the Eddie Eagle safety initiative and the NRA's Young Hunter packing out. Tough situations like that teach you a lot about yourself." The Richard Childress Racing Museum in Welcome, North Carolina, exemplifies his dual passions. Part of the 47,000 feet of display area features 50 racing vehicles, including those driven by Richard in his early NASCAR days and 25 of the GM Goodwrench Chevrolets driven by Dale Earnhardt. Beyond the racing history, a large portion of the museum also displays a wide range of heads and mounts from around the world. Interspersed among the taxidermy are dioramas featuring the work of America's sportsmen-led conservation groups, from Ducks Unlimited to the National Wild Turkey Federation. It's a testament to Richard's dedication to "get the word out" to the non-hunting public. "Conservation," Richard said, "is a huge part of the future of hunting. Without hunting, for example, there wouldn't be elk here in North Carolina for folks to go up and hear one of these magnificent animals bugle in the morning. And there are similar examples around the country—wildlife success stories for all Americans to enjoy. And a big reason is the more than one billion dollars hunters provide to conservation each year through their license fees and Pittman-Robertson excise taxes." From left: Childress' grandsons Austin and Ty Dillon; Patrick Budd, communications manager for Richard Childress Racing; Childress; and Painter after their duck hunt on the Childress estate in rural Davidson County, North Carolina. photograph by taylor J. pardue