The dark cloud looming over the Stewart-Hass Racing team and its fanbase just seems to get smaller, but did we forget a final verdict by NASCAR fans? With their Cup Series rookie, Josh Berry, and crew chief now free to take on new opportunities, it initially seemed like the two would be a package deal of sorts. But, perhaps going ahead to work together on the next team isn’t the case after all.

Amongst talks of Josh Berry’s next adventure, the questions surrounding Rodney Childers’ presence bring in a plethora of mixed opinions from all over. While there’s yet to be an official confirmation from the team on Josh Berry’s crew chief, all fans have been doing is hoping the odds are in their favor.

Will Rodney be moving with Berry?

Journalist Bob Pockrass took to X (formerly Twitter) to discuss the upcoming Wood Brothers Racing announcement regarding the next driver to join them in the 2025 season. Not so indirectly implying that Josh Berry is a viable candidate for the line-up, and he has no reason to believe otherwise. But the reporter has instead made the implication that the same cannot be said for his crew chief, Rodney Childers.

Replying to a fan, Pockrass wrote, “Would be mildly surprised if Childers remains at SHR (and I don’t believe he is going to the 21) … and I would be mildly surprised if Cole Custer is not the driver of the Cup car for Haas Factory team.”

Reading his initial post, “Wood Brothers has set an announcement of its 2025 driver for Wednesday,” many fans suggested that while it is disappointing to think that Childers would not be moving on from SHR to WBR, they also made a valid point about the situation.

That is all true, because if there have already been signs of Wood Brothers Racing talking with Josh Berry to be the potential driver on their team, then surely they’ve made other arrangements to go with it. Right now, all anyone can do is wait until the teams themselves have spoken out about the issue.

Childers career? Before becoming a crew chief, Rodney Childers was a successful racer, winning seven championships in South Carolina and five national titles in the World Karting Association by age 12. He transitioned to Late Model Stock Cars in 1997 and started his professional career with Penske-Jasper Racing as a mechanic and later car chief. In June 2005, he became Scott Riggs’ crew chief at MB2/MBV Motorsports, leading to two top-fives and four top-10 finishes.

Childers switched teams a couple of times before announcing on August 23, 2013, that he would leave MWR, despite a win at Loudon, to join Kevin Harvick at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. Together, Harvick and Childers clinched the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title.

Despite a stellar career, crew chief Rodney Childers’ future is still a question. And, fans aren’t having any of it. Should the two racing teams expect a protest on this matter?

Fans are frustrated at the prospect of Josh Berry parting ways with Childers

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The idea that a driver and his crew chief would not continue to work together is upsetting to most fans. And SHR’s termination just brings sadder news as the days go by. While everyone waits for official announcements, fans are sharing their thoughts all over the X platform.

In response to Pockrass’s tweet, one fan quipped that if Rodney doesn’t join Berry, then he would cause a riot, and Pockrass replied with a subtle but pointed, “It will suck if Rodney isn’t going to be there too, but there are most likely previous contracts in place at WBR that have to be honored or bought out first,” and to which Bob showed quickness and replied, “might need ice for your hands,” indicating that Childers might stay back or be a crew chief to Cole Custer if he drives for Gene Haas’s newly formed team.

Suggesting that the rumors are indeed headed in the right direction, Rodney Childers would not be joining Josh Berry on his journey ahead of SHR. And it looks like fans have already begun mourning the duo’s parting. One fan said, “Damn so Rodney might not even go with berry might as well retire”

Another fan was pleading, “I so hope and pray you’re wrong this one time, Bob!” Referring to the NASCAR reporter. Many have stated similar reactions of disbelief upon reading the tweets.

One fan even pointed out how rare it is for a crew chief of Childers’ caliber to just be out there on the market, free agent style. They’re like, “When was the last time a crew chief of Rodney’s level was just a total free agent?” That is a good question, but hopefully, Berry will find another crew chief who can guide him in the future.

At the end of the day, NASCAR fans are really hoping this is all just speculation and that Childers and Berry will find a way to stay together. These two have been building some serious momentum, and it’d be hard to see that get derailed. What are your thoughts on Childers’ position?