AndrewBlakeLexington, N.C. – Three masked invaders broke into the home of NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Childress on Dec. 17.
Police said Childress told him that he felt, “the only reason he and his wife were here today was because of God and the Second Amendment.”
Childress was upstairs with his wife at about 10:30 p.m. when he heard glass break downstairs, according to the Charlotte Observer .
The intruders broke a window near a door knob to get in, and that sounded an alarm.
Childress, 72, grabbed his handgun and went downstairs to investigate.
He fired multiple shots at the three invaders and they fled, according to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
No one was injured and nothing was taken from the home, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.
Childress told the police that the three intruders were carrying what appeared to be guns.
He has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspects who broke into his home.
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office released three screen shots taken from video surveillance that showed the covered faces of the suspects on its Facebook page.
Police are currently searching for the suspects, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.
Sheriff’s officials said Childress will not face any charges because the North Carolina Castle Doctrine allows individuals to defend themselves against home invasions such as what occurred at the Childress residence, NBC Sports reported.
Childress was elected First Vice President of the National Rifle Association in May. He is an avid hunter and an experienced shooter.
He has been involved with NASCAR for decades.
Childress is chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, which won six NASCAR Cup championships with Dale Earnhardt. Richard Childress Racing currently has cars driven by Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman.
Childress was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame this year. He is a former NASCAR driver. He owns the Richard Childress Racing Museum in Lexington and also operates the Childress Vineyards winery located a few miles from the museum.
There is a section of Interstate 85 in North Carolina that has been named the Richard Childress Freeway.
Davidson County sheriff’s officials are asking that if anyone has information related to the incident to call Sgt. M. Hanna at 336-242-2105 or the Lexington (N.C.) Area Crimestoppers at 336-243-2400.