As the 2025 NASCAR Cup season unfolds, Justin Haley faces a tumultuous landscape that has left him yearning for stability after a series of unexpected departures from his team. Since early April, he has seen the loss of four crew members, including his car chief and crew chief, creating an environment of uncertainty as races progress.
Car Chief Robert “Cheddar” Smith transitioned to a similar position with Ty Gibbs at Joe Gibbs Racing at the beginning of the month. His successor, Doug Powers, faced an undesirable consequence during the Talladega race weekend when Haley’s car failed pre-race inspection twice, resulting in Powers being ejected from the event. Adding to the instability, Haley now works with an entirely new pit crew; the team’s front and rear tire changers, jackman, and tire carrier have all been reassigned to Kyle Larson‘s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team in an organizational swap.
The most jarring change came with the departure of championship-winning crew chief Rodney Childers, who left the organization abruptly early this week. Both sides acknowledged in their statements that the working relationship had faltered. In response, Spire Motorsports appointed Ryan Sparks, who was already serving as the director of competition, to fill the role as Haley’s new crew chief.
During a press conference at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, Justin Haley did not shy away from discussing the rapid changes within the team. “I was not (involved), no,” Haley stated. “I showed up on Tuesday. We had our normal Tuesday, 8am meeting with the No. 7 team to see how we’d come here (Talladega) and try to win the race. And then after my meetings on Tuesday, I was notified. Yeah, it was unexpected, but to be honest with you, I don’t think anything in this sport surprises me anymore, so you have to deal with adversity and change.”
Spire Motorsports has a history of mid-season changes, and Justin Haley is no stranger to sudden shifts; he took over the driving duties of the No. 7 Chevrolet in the middle of the 2024 season when he replaced Corey LaJoie. However, the exit of Childers feels particularly chaotic and unsettling for him. “Last year, (I) came to Spire Motorsports midway through the year, and somehow, it was a way crazier thing that happened to me than this week,” Haley explained. “My life has been full of craziness the last six months. Yeah, hopefully, we can find some consistency here with (Ryan) Sparks. Had a lot of fun working with him the back half of the season. I think he’s the plan for now and I enjoy working with him.”
As he looks ahead, Justin Haley recognizes the challenges before him. Despite having some strong performances this season, inconsistencies have left him sitting 23rd in the championship standings. “For me, (it’s) showing up and doing my job to the best of my ability each week,” Haley remarked, acknowledging the pressure of his current situation. He is currently enduring the longest winless streak among active Cup drivers. “Obviously, it’s an unexpected change and not something you ever want to do in the middle of a season but super proud to be with a race team and owner like Jeff Dickerson that’s not scared to make changes for maybe the better.”
Haley further shared his motivation for improvement, noting that “at the end of the day, we’re in the Cup Series to compete, and on a Sunday in the Cup Series, everything has to be right. If one little thing isn’t right, you’re not going to win races, and that’s what we’re trying to do. That’s what Spire is trying to do. They’ve been putting so much time, effort, and resources, money, ability, put people in the right places to try to win races. I don’t think they’re scared to do anything to win a race.”
The road ahead is fraught with challenges, yet Justin Haley remains committed to overcoming the adversity that surrounds him, hoping that the integration of his new crew chief and pit crew will bring about the consistency and success he desperately seeks as the NASCAR Cup season continues.
