Rodney Childers has been on quite a journey. From the dusty track of Tri-County Speedway to guiding Kevin Harvick from atop the pit box to win the Cup Series championship in 2014, the North Carolina native has been through it all. Widely considered to be one of the true icons of American motorsports, the 48-year-old is a respected figure, not just in the NASCAR community but also in the world of late-model racing.

Having dedicated decades of his life to the sport, it’s not surprising that Childers will finally be recognized for his immense contributions. The crew chief is all set to be inducted into the Tri-County Speedway Hall of Fame, a fitting honor for a true legend.

Childers is being given credit where it’s long due

Rodney Childers will be back where it all started. The North Carolina native began his late model career in 1998, using the Tri-County Speedway as a platform to showcase his talent to the motorsports world. It’s where he honed his skills as a racer, with the 4/10-mile clay oval not only testing his racing prowess but also his setup and strategy planning to gain a competitive advantage, skills that would go on to help him as a crew chief later on. As expected, Childers soon became a force to be reckoned with, establishing himself as one of the best late-model racers in the region.

Recognizing his contributions to the track, Tri-County Speedway will be giving a fitting accolade to Rodney Childers. The news was shared by Spire Motorsports, who wrote on X, “Congratulations to @RodneyChilders4 as he will be inducted into the Tri-County Speedway Hall of Fame Saturday night! RC began his late model career at Tri-County in 1998 and was dominant every time he competed on the 4/10-mile track.” The news will undoubtedly be a welcome one for the 48-year-old, who has plenty to be grateful for from the dirt track.

During his time racing at Tri-County, Rodney Childers expanded his horizons by not just competing at local events but also in regional and national late model series as well. Consistent victories built his reputation, which opened doors to more prestigious events where he stepped up and proved himself once again. His World Karting Association background helped Childers develop into an aggressive, but smart racer, one that could perform consistently despite his lack of experience.

Despite his on-track dominance, Childers decided to retire from racing in 2003 to become a mechanic, before transitioning to a crew chief role two years later for Scott Riggs at MB2/MBV Motorsports. This is where the North Carolina native made his mark, as impressive decision-making from atop the pit box eventually earned him a place at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. Partnering with Kevin Harvick, he guided the driver to five wins with the No. 4 Chevy, clinching the title for the first time in his career.

2025 spells new beginning for Rodney Childers

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With Stewart-Haas Racing ceasing operations at the end of 2024, the 48-year-old was forced to leave the team and join Spire Motorsports, where he will be operating as crew chief for Justin Haley and the No. 7 team. His immense experience at NASCAR’s highest level will undoubtedly be an asset to Jeff Dickerson’s team, who will want the 25-year-old to hit the ground running when the season begins.

Rodney Childers, who is known for his attention to detail is leaving nothing to chance. The North Carolina native’s priority is to ensure Haley is quickly accustomed to the No. 7 Chevy and told journalist Kelly Crandall, “Justin’s never really had the right opportunity. He’d never even been fitted into a car the right way. We’ve redone everything to make it absolutely perfect for him.” From custom seats to a redesigned headset, Spire Motorsports is leaving no stone unturned to give their new driver a competitive edge. Childers went on to say, “You’ve gotta be presentable, and you’ve gotta make the driver feel like they have the nicest car there.”

With Haley’s talent and Childer’s ability to get results, Spire Motorsports can head to the 2025 Cup Series season with a lot of optimism. The veteran crew chief considers his new career move to be just another challenge, one that he’s aiming to take head-on in the year ahead. Jeff Dickerson’s team has one of the most respected NASCAR minds atop the pit box for 2025 and will be aiming to disrupt the status quo when the season begins at Daytona International Speedway on February 16th.