The cat’s out of the bag, and the mystery of Rodney Childers’ next adventure has been solved! The Stewart-Haas Racing veteran crew chief has officially been signed at Spire Motorsports to guide Corey LaJoie in the NASCAR Cup Series 2025!

This is great news for the NASCAR driver, as it could potentially propel him light years ahead in his performance when the time comes. However, not everybody is happy with the news and has expressed their concerns about the combination of this particular duo. NASCAR insider Brett Griffin gives his two cents on why he believes that this will add not just excitement but also worry for the driver under Childer’s direction.

Expectations rise for Corey LaJoie with Childers on board

While the No. 7 Chevrolet driver isn’t necessarily bad behind the wheel, his performance this season has been somewhat questionable. Then again, when compared to the legends who have worked with Rodney Childers, there are bound to be some setbacks that need to be addressed if this duo is to create some magic on the tracks in the next season.

LaJoie’s struggles to finish in the Top 10 and his lack of wins are concerning, especially now with someone of Childers’ caliber joining Spire Motorsports. Critics, however, see this as a great opportunity for Childers, given Spire Motorsports’ reputation for investing in top talent. With the team’s significant investments, consistent top-10 finishes and potential race wins are now expected.

On the July 16th episode of Door Bumper Clear, Brett Griffin discussed Rodney Childers’ options, including Joe Gibbs Racing. He remarked, “Rodney Childers, probably the biggest crew chief free agent on the market. Very surprised that he ended up with Spire. There were rumors that we were going with Gibbs with Noah at one point, there were rumors that he was going with Josh to the 21. But for whatever reason, those things didn’t pan out, and I feel like Rodney, to some degree, probably got to pick where he went, you would think. “

Griffin also makes a note of the pressure that will be faced by Corey LaJoie once this season concludes. Especially when LaJoie’s teammate, Carson Hocevar, is already doing better than LaJoie. Hocevar is usually around 15th place, while LaJoie is usually 9–10 spots worse. This means that even with Childers, LaJoie might not be able to catch up to his teammate. He adds, “Obviously, as a race car driver, you want to know that your cars are going to be faster, you have to think that Rodney is going to make them faster, but in my opinion, Hocevar runs on average 10 spots better than LaJoie does during a race. It seems like Hocevar is right around 15th and Corey’s 9-10 spots worse, you ain’t going to be able to do that with Rodney Childers as crew chief.”

So now, knowing that the pressure is squarely on LaJoie to deliver, will he buckle down and work on his shortcomings, or will Childers have to start from scratch? Ultimately, the pressure is on both LaJoie and Childers to deliver results at Spire Motorsports. But knowing Childers’s reputation for being highly flexible when faced with a challenge, maybe this unlikely duo will surprise NASCAR.

A track record of elevating drivers’ performance

Trending

Chevy Prodigy Loses NASCAR Seat, Fans Allege Ignorance to Kyle Busch’s Daytona Setback Behind It

Michael Jordan’s Opponent’s Warning Comes True as Roger Penske Shuts Down NASCAR’s Infiltration

Joey Logano Leaks NASCAR’s Threat to Kick Teams Out of Daytona 500 After Chevy’s Defiance to $400,000 Fine

NASCAR Rumor: Despite Lawsuit Uncertainty, Tony Stewart’s Veteran Eyeing FRM Switch After Noah Gragson’s Lead

Kurt Busch Finally Breaking Radio Silence After Criminal Charges Forced 3-Month-Long Hiatus Has NASCAR Fans Breathing Easy

He is well known for his ability to make adjustments throughout a race weekend to keep his cars competitive. This adaptability and attention to detail have allowed Rodney Childers to elevate the performance of various drivers throughout his career. Childers’ expertise lies in his meticulous preparation, innovative car setups, and strong communication with his drivers.

Under Childers’ leadership, veteran driver Kevin Harvick consistently finished among the top drivers in the standings. Between the years 2014 and 2020, the SHR driver has finished no worse than 6th in points and won at least 2 races per season. Childers’ ability to extract the maximum performance from Harvick’s cars was a key factor in their championship run and sustained success for both of them!

Beyond Harvick, Rodney Childers has worked with other talented drivers and guided them to achieve career-best results multiple times. In his early days, he was the crew chief for drivers like Scott Riggs and Elliott Sadler, helping them earn multiple top-10 finishes. More recently, Childers worked with rookie Josh Berry in 2024, providing guidance and resources to aid Berry’s transition to the Cup Series.

As Corey LaJoie embarks on this new partnership with Childers, he should look forward to tapping into this crew chief’s vast experience to help them reach their full potential. If Childers can work the same magic with LaJoie that he did with Harvick and others, it could signal a huge breakthrough in the young driver’s career at Spire Motorsports and NASCAR itself!