Sports Digest

Viking Motorsports, which will field the No. 99 Chevrolet in the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for Rhinelander native Parker Retzlaff, announced earlier this week that it has entered an enhanced technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing (RCR).

RCR won the drivers’ championship in NASCAR’s second-tier series this past season with driver Jesse Love and accounted for six wins in 2025 between Love and Austin Hill, who finished sixth in the driver standings. 

The collaboration gives Viking Motorsports access to RCR’s support network, operational resources, and collaborative processes, all intended to assist the continued development of the team’s program. Viking Motorsports will continue to utilize Earnhardt Childress Racing (ECR) Engines, providing the team with the same proven power that drives many of NASCAR’s top-performing teams.

“Forming this partnership with RCR represents another important step in our mission to continue improving and growing as a competitive team,” said Jeremy Lange, General Manager of Viking Motorsports. “Our foundation is built on hard work, teamwork, and determination — and with RCR’s engineering expertise and ECR engines supporting our program, we’re gaining the tools and knowledge to take the next step forward.”

Retzlaff announced last week his move from Alpha Prime Racing to Viking Motorsports for the 2026 campaign. He posted three top-10 finishes, including a career-best runner-up finish April 19 at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway during the 2025 season, as he finished 22nd in the drivers standings. Viking Motorsports finished 24th in the owners standings in 2025, competing most of the season with veteran racer Matt DiBennedetto. They parted ways with three races remaining in the season and Connor Mosack finished out the year driving for the team.

It will not be the first time that Retzlaff has been affiliated with RCR, the legendary race team that propelled the late Dale Earnhardt to six of his record-tying seven NASCAR Cup Series championships during the 1980s and 90s. Retzlaff drove one race in the Cup Series in 2024 for RCR-affiliated Beard Motorsports, and nearly pulled off an upset victory in a 400-mile race at Daytona Beach, Fla. He drove to second on the final lap before fading to seventh place at the checkered flag.

“Super excited to get to work, 2026 can’t come soon enough,” Retzlaff posted on social media with a link to Viking’s press release announcing the alliance. 

In three full-time seasons in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Retzlaff has recorded four top-five finishes, 15 top-10 finishes and had a best championship finish of 16th in 2023. 

The 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Series will kick off Feb. 14 at Daytona.