Back in 2014, Kevin Harvick and Rodney Childers formed one of NASCAR’s most dangerous combinations. That year, Harvick was new to Stewart-Haas Racing. Childers, calm and calculated, joined him as crew chief. In just their first season together, they won the NASCAR Cup Series championship. One of the most telling moments came in the final moments of the championship race. With 17 laps to go, Childers made the call for four fresh tires. It was a risk. The safer play was two. But Childers stuck to his guns. Harvick delivered.

They took the win and the title. Tony Stewart later praised the move as one of the smartest strategic calls he’d ever seen. “It was a gutsy call by Rodney. But it shows how good Kevin is at digging his heels in during those moments,” Stewart said.

Fast-forward to today, and Childers is once again in the center of attention. But this time, it’s not for a title-winning call. It’s for an abrupt and unexpected exit from Spire Motorsports—just nine races into the season. After signing a multi-year deal to lead the No. 7 team, Childers is out. The news, leaked by sources familiar with the situation, has left the NASCAR garage stunned.

Speaking about it in his Instagram post, Childers explained, “I know this is a shock. But also know that not everything works out perfect all the time. That’s how life works. This was just one of those things that just wasn’t working for either of us. I appreciate my time at Spire, working with JH and the entire 7 team,” Childers wrote. “We did a lot of good that is yet to be seen, and I wish them the best in the future. Also want to say thank you to everyone at Chevrolet, Mr. H and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for my time working with them again. It was a pleasure. Thank you to NASCAR, the officials, and most importantly the fans for your support. For me, I’m going to take a little time. Focus on the important things like my family and friends. And honestly just see what the racing world holds for me next. I know the man above will lead me in a direction that is best for me.”

Rodney Childers joined Spire Motorsports before the 2025 season. The move came after Stewart-Haas Racing announced it would shut down at the end of 2024. Childers quickly became the top name on every team’s radar. Spire landed him in the No. 7 car. The combination of Justin Haley, a young talent, and Childers, the second-winningest active crew chief, was seen as a smart pairing. Expectations were high.

But just after less than 1/3 the races in the season, it’s all over. Spire hasn’t said why. Childers hasn’t commented either. The only thing clear is that the partnership did not work. Haley currently sits 23rd in the standings with just one top-10 finish. The team showed promise in flashes—like Haley’s solid showing at Bristol—but nothing consistent. What makes this even more shocking is that the No. 7 car has been in a whirlwind all season.

Earlier, Spire also parted ways with driver Corey LaJoie. He had been with the team for years but failed to deliver results. LaJoie later hinted on a podcast that internal politics and underperformance led to his exit. “If you’re not hitting expectations, you get shuffled out. That’s just how it goes,” he told on the Stacking Pennies podcast. Spire’s statement at the time made it clear—they wanted a “clean slate” for 2025.

But that clean slate seems to have crumbled quickly. The plan was for Childers to lead the rebuild. Instead, the project fell apart before it even started. After LaJoie’s departure, multiple people from the crew also left the project. And that raises more questions than answers. Was there a clash in vision? Did Childers grow frustrated with how Spire operated? Or did the team decide it wasn’t the right fit after all?

Notably, the hiring of Childers last year was seen as a power move by Spire. His 40 career wins, including a championship with Harvick, made him a prized get, and Spire pounced. Thirty-seven of those came during his decade-long run with Harvick. They made eight playoff appearances and reached the Championship 4 five times. At the time, co-owner Jeff Dickerson called it a no-brainer. “When a guy like Rodney is available, you do whatever it takes. He makes us better the moment he walks in the shop,” he said.

Childers echoed that excitement, saying he was drawn to Spire’s investment in people and long-term vision. “We may not have the same parts as the big teams, but with the right people, we can compete,” he admitted.  Now, Spire is left looking for yet another crew chief. Internally, Ryan Sparks and Matt McCall are options. Sparks used to crew chief the No. 7 before moving into a management role. McCall has experience with RFK Racing and Ganassi. But neither has Childers’ pedigree. This latest shake-up suggests more uncertainty ahead for the team.

What if Rodney Childers had joined Josh Berry at Wood Brothers Racing?

As Spire Motorsports continues to struggle, it’s hard not to wonder how different Rodney Childers’ season could’ve looked had he joined Josh Berry at Wood Brothers Racing. The two shared a strong bond at Stewart-Haas Racing, with Berry openly praising Childers’ leadership and passion for making teams better. But when Berry secured the WBR seat for 2025, Childers didn’t follow.

That wasn’t Berry’s call. He made it clear in a SiriusXM NASCAR Radio interview that the crew chief’s decision rested with WBR and Team Penske. “First and foremost, that decision is ultimately going to be the Wood Brothers’ and Team Penske’s… But I’ve had a great relationship with Rodney Childers, and Rodney is going to meet with them, and it’s going to come down to all of those things put together,” he had said.

And despite Berry’s admiration for Childers, WBR chose to stick with internal Penske talent. Team President Jon Wood said, “There’s absolutely no reason Josh can’t run as good as the 2, 12, or 22.” Still, it’s hard to ignore the “what if.” Berry already has a win this season. WBR is finally showing life again, with a top-five finish at Phoenix—something they hadn’t done in four years. Imagine that momentum paired with Childers’ 40-win resume and Ford familiarity. He wouldn’t just be coaching from the box; he’d be building a contender from the ground up.