This summer has been a whirlwind of reflection and recalibration for Rodney Childers. After parting ways with Spire Motorsports and Justin Haley just nine races into the 2025 Cup Series season, Childers then faced an unexpected pause in his high-octane career. Winning and contending at the sport’s highest level has always been his driving force, but for a while, those opportunities didn’t materialize.

Instead, he returned to his roots, taking the helm in the CARS Tour with Kevin Harvick and young standout Landen Lewis. The duo has dominated, claiming four victories and leading the championship, while Childers also cherished more time at home with his wife Katrina and sons Brody and Gavin. Ultimately, this summer of introspection reshaped his outlook and opened the door to a brand new dream chapter in his racing journey.

Rodney Childers’ future at JR Motorsports

“For me, the last couple of months, I just started to look at things differently,” Childers said. “I always felt like I needed to prove something and needed to win more Cup championships or the Daytona 500 but then I realized there is more to life than that.” This realization, aided by the break and family time, changed his outlook towards racing and helped him particularly see life beyond the Cup series.

Ultimately, as he took action on that changed perception, life gifted him his “dream scenario” on a platter. “I opened myself up to talking to some Truck Series teams about some opportunities and that caught Dale by surprise. He asked me, ‘Do you really not have anything lined up, yet?’ and I told him where I was at, and then he told me about Connor and Carson and it was just a dream scenario.”

As Childers is set to join JR Motorsports as crew chief of the No. 1 car next season in the Xfinity Series (soon-to-be O’Reilly Auto Parts Series), working with young talents Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch perfectly fits with his scenario.

He highlighted the blend of familiarity and excitement as the reason for his newfound happiness: “This is basically the old car that we had a lot of success with, Sundays at church with Katrina and the boys, racing with two really exceptional young drivers and I couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough.”

While Childers hasn’t closed the door on returning to the Cup Series, he recognizes the value of this new chapter. He admires Mardy Lindley’s work with the No. 88 car and sees a similar chance to help these young drivers grow. “It’s about getting them some confidence and making them know that they belong,” he explained.

But for now, he’s pretty excited for his new role and couldn’t help but show that in his words for Kvapil. “I can’t wait to get to know Carson better. I know I have a lot of respect for him and his family. I know how serious Carson takes his racing and its just making sure he has the right people around him to keep progressing.”

And not just that, his work ethic and spirit make him take responsibility and ownership even for things that might not be directly in his hands. “When I raced with Kevin, if we didn’t win, it was my fault,” he said. “This car is my responsibility. That means getting the most out of it, finding the right people, and making it go fast. It needs to win.”

For Childers, JR Motorsports offers the perfect mix of family, mentorship, and competition. It couldn’t get any better than this for him. At 49, this is his perfect chance to continue shaping his legacy while building the next generation of racing stars.

Rodney Childers’ journey through NASCAR

As Rodney Childers begins a new chapter with JR Motorsports, his path to this point reflects one of the most accomplished crew chief careers in modern NASCAR. Born in Mooresville, North Carolina, Childers started not on the pit box, but behind the wheel – racing go-karts and late model stock cars. Though his driving career never reached the Cup Series, that foundation shaped his technical instincts and understanding of what drivers need to succeed.

Childers transitioned to the garage early, working as a mechanic and car chief before earning his first full-time crew chief role. At Michael Waltrip Racing, he quickly showcased his abilities by guiding David Reutimann and Brian Vickers to unlikely wins, proof of his knack for turning underdog teams into contenders. That reputation opened the door to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014, a move that would define his career.

Teamed with Kevin Harvick, Childers became a household name in NASCAR. The duo’s chemistry translated into immediate dominance, capturing the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in their first season together. This is where he peaked. Over their partnership, they earned 36 points-paying victories, 25 poles, and an All-Star race win, cementing their place as one of the most successful pairings of the Next Gen era. And completing a full circle, the duo renewed their partnership recently with late grassroots racing.

Even after stepping away from Stewart-Haas, Childers remained influential. His brief stint at Spire Motorsports with Justin Haley in 2025 didn’t produce wins, but it reinforced his enduring presence in the Cup garage. Still, his decision to step back and seek balance ultimately set the stage for his current “dream scenario” at JRM.

With more than two decades of experience, a championship pedigree, and a reputation for building trust with drivers, Childers enters 2026 not just as a crew chief but as a veteran mentor with deep experience. His next chapter may be focused on development, but his career legacy already guarantees him a spot among NASCAR’s all-time greats.