Ahead of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, Rodney Childers recently discussed his opinions on moving from the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing to Spire Motorsports. Gene Haas and Tony Stewart jointly announced SHR’s closure, leaving all of the drivers’ and SHR workers’ futures uncertain. Some drivers were left wondering about their futures until the very conclusion of the season, while the drivers sought new homes as the ridiculous season went on. “We’re just talking about it in the office, like how fortunate we’ve been, and how far we’ve come in just a little bit of time,” said Childers, the crew chief for the championship-winning team, in a recent media interview (via Claire B Lang). However, to be honest, it’s been very unique to sort of go through what we went through.
Finding a work was difficult enough for all of us, but finding a place to call home at Spire and having many of the boys was even more difficult. Ahead of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, Rodney Childers recently discussed his opinions on moving from the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing to Spire Motorsports. Childers also addressed getting back together with Robert “Cheddar” Smith, the car chief for his SHR No. 4, at Spire Motorsports’ new No. 7 shed. Cheddar and I have won 37 Cup races together, after all. Consequently, you don’t encounter people like that very often who will support you no matter what.” “You know, I think we’re clearly moving in the right path and assembling some excellent cars, nice equipment.
“Hopefully, we’ve helped Justin [Haley] feel much more at ease and enjoy himself,” Rodney Childers continued. During Kevin Harvick’s time with SHR, Childers famously called the shots for him, and the driver-crew chief team won the 2014 Cup Series championship. Childers, however, took over as Josh Berry’s crew chief for just a year following Harvick’s retirement. As of right now, Justin Haley, 25, will be managed by Rodney Childers at Spire Motorsports.
“He’s going to be like, ‘Holy Crap!'” Rodney Childers on Justin Haley’s “huge undertaking.”
Rodney Childers discussed giving former Cup race champion Justin Haley the ideal opportunity in the 2017 season in an interview with well-known journalist Kelly Crandall. Childers on Crandall’s podcast highlighted how the Spire team had to redo the seats and make it “perfect” for Haley as the latter gears up for the Bowman Gray Clash.
“I think Justin will do a good job for us,” he said. “It’s been interesting to see all that because Justin hasn’t really had the right opportunities; he’s never even been fitted into a car the right way, so for us it’s been a huge undertaking; like, we’ve had to have his belts moved and his seats redone at Hendrick.” “All new seat rails, new headrests, new headrest supports, and new seat mounts have to be made,” Rodney Childers added. new floors, pedal faces, steering column mounts, and leg boards. We have completely redesigned everything for him, and I believe he will exclaim, “Holy crap!” when he enters the Clash. I’ve never had anything like this before, and that’s the first step, right?
The No. 7 Chevy driver Justin Haley and the veteran crew chief will be back in action for the season’s first race at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 2. That will be followed by the first points-paying race at Daytona International Speedway on February 16.
