Career
Richert is best known for winning the Cup championship with Dale Earnhardt in 1980. He started out working for Rod Osterlund as a 16-year-old in 1976. He"d gone to High School in San Jose with Osterlund"s daughter who dated one of his friends, who was interested in racing.
Doug got interested in building dirt cars because his friends were, and one thing lead to another.
In late 1976 he got the chance to move east with Roland Wlodyka who was forming a Cup team, initially living in a trailer on the property at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In May 1980, Crew Chief Jake Elder left the team, and Richert who was still 19, replaced him.
Midway through 1981 Osterlund sold his team to Juris Doctor Stacy, and Earnhardt moved to Richard Childress Racing taking Richert with him. At the end of 1981 Doug left to take a position with Junior Johnson.
From 1984 to 1986 Richert was the Crew Chief for Neil Bonnett in the Number.
12 Budweiser car. Richert joined BK Racing in 2013, and midway through the season replaced Pat Tryson as crew chief for the team"s Number. 83 car; at the end of the season he was promoted to the team"s director of research and development.
He is also the former full-time crew chief for the #15 Ford Mustang driven by rookie Timmy Hill and run by Rick Ware Racing in the Nationwide Series.
In Cup, he has also been a crew chief for Brian Vickers, Robby Gordon and three seasons with Greg Biffle helping him earn 10 wins.
