In 2007, all three Richard Childress Racing (RCR) teams qualified for the Chase for NASCAR’s Nextel Cup. On top of this formidable accomplishment, RCR’s top race car drivers did great: Kevin Harvick won the famous Daytona 500, Jeff Burton won in Texas, and Clint Bowyer won in New Hampshire and finished third overall in the Chase.

RCR addresses some of the hurdles faced in competitive NASCAR racing by applying accurate, reliable, and fast metrology. Dimensional measurement is performed in support of development enhancements that are implemented across the company’s entire race car: engine, chassis, suspension, body, etc. Using touch probe and laser sensor measurement, RCR technicians identify subtle differences in part geometry that separate race winners from the pack.

Instead of taking suppliers’ dimensional quality for granted, CMM inspection is used to verify most engine parts that come to in the engine shop. In chassis/suspension design and fabrication, RCR accurately and efficiently measures a series of NASCAR-mandated and RCR engineering point coordinates using a hand-held touch probe in combination with an optical CMM.

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