The challenges for Tony Stewart do not seem to end soon. With his team struggling in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, things haven’t gone Smoke’s way. While that has been the case on the tracks, he recently suffered a blow off the track. Unfortunately, it only got worse with a key Stewart-Haas Racing personality bringing upsetting news.

With Kevin Harvick retiring at the end of the season, SHR fans are already finding it difficult to digest. In addition to that, Aric Almirola’s uncertain future with the team has only raised more concerns. Naturally, Stewart has a lot on his plate to deal with.

Tony Stewart and his NASCAR Cup Series team are going through a rough patch

It has been a season to forget for Tony Stewart and his team. With Kevin Harvick ranking the best among the four Stewart-Haas Racing drivers, the 2014 Cup Series champion just has a single playoff point to his name. While that speaks volumes about the team’s performance, Stewart was recently dealt with a major setback.

In an unexpected incident, Stewart’s #4 TQ Midgets Series car driver Ashlea Albertson succumbed in an interstate highway crash last Sunday. While the 24-year-old drove for Tony Stewart Racing, Smoke was left devastated by the incident. Mourning the loss, Stewart then said, “Today, I lost a teammate,”

While it was an emotional blow for the Cup Series legend, one of SHR’s important members had more difficult news to share. Harvick’s crew chief Rodney Childers missed the race at Watkins Glen International due to a family emergency. Childers’ mother had a medical emergency then and her heart stopped.

Unfortunately, the 47-year-old gave an update on this situation recently through Twitter. Childers confirmed that his mother is still on the ventilator despite having some great doctors around her. In fact, he even expressed that the situation was more difficult than he had imagined.

With the current situation, Childers’ mother could take some days to recover and the best everyone could do is pray for her. However, being the amazing professional he is, he confirmed that he will be joining the team in Daytona. After all, that is what her mother would want.

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Truly, this is inspiring and emotional at the same time. In fact, the fans rallied in full support upon hearing this news.

Kevin Harvick’s crew chief’s touching update brings the NASCAR fandom together

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It is one thing to be professional and another to maintain sanity at work amidst personal issues. While Rodney Childers showed great professionalism by confirming his participation at Daytona this Sunday, it surely must not have been to make this decision.

However, he would have been delighted to know how the fans backed him. Plenty of them voiced their empathy toward him on Twitter.

“Continued prayers for your mom, and the entire family. Things like this take a toll on everyone.”

“Maybe a win may be the cure y’all need hope everything goes well and hoping to hear good updates when you have them”

“Ongoing thoughts & prayers. Being a loving & caring son is what she needs from you now. There is no script to her recovery. Like a race setup, do what you think is best, run with it & adjust. Just like your driver, your mom & family know you are doing the best you can do.”

“We will keep praying for MOM. My Mom fought hard to get off the Vent. It’s a tough but it can be done.  Keep the faith Rodney.”

“Hoping for the best. Sorry your mom is going through this. Hope you and the family are well. Bring home the trophy for her”

Times like these always tend to bring the fans together in unison. Hopefully, Childers has some positive news to share in the coming days, and has a fruitful outing on Sunday.

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