Shocking split as Rodney Childers and Spire Motorsports part ways

Going into the 2025 season, Spire Motorsports sought to bolster its organization. It brought in two new drivers and hired a championship-winning crew chief while strengthening its existing technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports.

There have been flashes of speed from all three cars including Carson Hocevar’s runner-up finish at Atlanta, but after just nine races, that championship-winning crew chief — Rodney Childers — has left the organization. Childers signed on to serve as the crew chief for Justin Haley and the No. 7 Chevrolet team in what supposed to be a new beginning for the veteran strategist. 

Childers’ brought with him the experience of over 600 Cup races, including 40 race wins and the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series championship with Kevin Harvick. He joined Spire after Stewart-Haas Racing closed its doors, where Childers had worked since the start of the 2014 season. Previously, he led Michael Waltrip Racing to its first two victories as a team, as well as its last before shutting down.

Spire reacts to Childers’ exit

Speaking on the split, Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson said: “NASCAR is an ever-evolving sport and the path to improvement isn’t always comfortable. The break in the Cup Series schedule gave us a chance to evaluate where we are as a program. We took the opportunity to discuss the best paths forward for everyone involved and the team and Rodney agreed that it would be best for us to part ways.

“Rodney has worked at the highest level of our sport for 20 years, and he knows what it takes to win championships. With that in mind, we collectively acknowledged 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.”

Heading into Talladega, Haley sits 23rd in the championship standings with a best finish this year of tenth, which came at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It’s unclear where Childers will go from here in his career or who will replace him atop the pit box this weekend.