On Wednesday, the NASCAR world woke up to a shocking piece of news from within the Spire Motorsports camp. Rodney Childers, the legendary crew chief who was expected to lead the team to its first-ever Cup Series championship with Justin Haley, unexpectedly parted ways with the outfit after just nine races into his promising new tenure.
There’s absolutely no denying that Childers had interest from several teams before ultimately striking a deal with Spire Motorsports. And why wouldn’t he? Childers was instrumental in Kevin Harvick’s 2014 championship victory. But that’s not all—he’s also amassed over 40 Cup Series wins, making him one of the most successful crew chiefs in NASCAR history.
Naturally, the fact that Spire parted ways with someone as accomplished as Childers came as a surprise to many. Speculation quickly followed, with some wondering whether Justin Haley’s struggles had fueled Childers’ decision to leave—or if a deeper disagreement had emerged between the crew chief and the team. As it turns out, it was the latter. Childers confirmed that something simply wasn’t working between him and Spire.
Rodney Childers Releases Statement on the Shocking Spire Exit
While keeping the specifics under wraps, Childers hinted at a possible disagreement between the two parties that led to his departure from the team. He also admitted that his priorities have shifted toward his family for the foreseeable future, prompting him to pause his NASCAR career.
“I know this is a shock. But also know that not everything works out perfect all the time,” Childers said in the statement on X. “That’s how life works. This was just one of those things that just wasn’t working for either of us. I appreciate my time at Spire, working with [Justin Haley] and the entire 7 team. We did a lot of good that is yet to be seen, and I wish them the best in the future.
— Rodney Childers (@RodneyChilders4)
“Also want to say thank you to everyone at Chevrolet, [Rick Hendrick], and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for my time working with them again. It was a pleasure. Thank you to NASCAR, the officials, and most importantly, the fans for your support.
“For me, I’m going to take a little time. Focus on the important things like my family and friends. And honestly, just see what the racing world holds for me next. I know the man above will lead me in a direction that is best for me,” Rodney concluded. Meanwhile, Spire Racing co-owner Jeff Dickerson came up with his statement.
“Rodney has worked at the highest level of the sport for 20 years, and he knows what it takes to win championships. With that in mind, we collectively acknowledge challenges with the team dynamic. Having the right combination of talent is just as important as the results on track. As we move in a new direction, it is not lost on us that Rodney has been an invaluable asset to our organization as he will continue to be for others in this sport,” the statement read.
Indeed, plenty of teams are likely already eyeing the veteran crew chief, but the real question is, who will ultimately land Rodney Childers? Only time will tell.