Rodney Childers’ New Chapter: Joining JR Motorsports as Crew Chief

Rodney Childers’ New Chapter: Joining JR Motorsports as Crew Chief

In a recent development, Rodney Childers, the former crew chief for Kevin Harvick’s 2014 Cup Series championship, has found a new home at JR Motorsports. Childers will be taking on the role of crew chief for the No. 1 Chevrolet, which will be shared by Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch. This marks Childers’ first venture into the Xfinity Series as a crew chief.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., co-owner of JR Motorsports, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, citing their long-standing relationship since childhood. Earnhardt Jr. shared their mutual interest in working together in motorsports, and the opportunity to bring Childers into the JRM family was a welcome one.
Childers’ impressive career includes 40 race wins and a Cup title with Stewart-Haas Racing alongside Harvick. In 2024, he worked with Josh Berry after Harvick’s retirement, which also marked the end of Stewart-Haas Racing.
Additionally, NASCAR has confirmed the departure of race director Jusan Hamilton with six races left in the season. Hamilton, who joined NASCAR as an intern in 2012 and returned in 2016, held various roles and made history as the first Black race director to officiate the Daytona 500 in 2022.