Mamba Smith, a NASCAR insider and co-host of Kevin Harvick‘s Happy Hour podcast, revealed in a YouTube video that Harvick anticipated significant changes at Spire Motorsports after the Easter break. However, he did not foresee the departure of his former crew chief, Rodney Childers, from the team.
In a recent episode of NASCAR Daily, Smith shared that he spoke with the 2014 Cup champion before Childers left Spire Motorsports. While Harvick was aware that some alterations were on the horizon for the organization, he was surprised by the ultimate decision regarding Childers’ departure.
Smith noted that this change is not unprecedented for Spire Motorsports, which has made mid-season adjustments in the past. For example, last year, Spire engaged in a driver swap with Rick Ware Racing, where Justin Haley took the wheel of the #7 Spire car while Corey LaJoie shifted to the #51 Rick Ware machine.
Smith believes that Spire Motorsports has a reputation for being proactive in addressing its challenges, even if it means making bold moves in the middle of a racing season. He suggested that the organization is determined to resolve its problems as swiftly as possible.
Rodney Childers previously served as the crew chief for Kevin Harvick at Stewart-Haas Racing from 2014 to 2023. The duo celebrated great success together, clinching the championship in their first season and securing a total of 37 victories before Harvick announced his retirement at the end of the 2023 season.
Childers’ exit from Spire Motorsports means he will not be the crew chief for Justin Haley in the NASCAR Cup Series. Just prior to this weekend’s race at Talladega, the two parted ways. Reflecting on his departure, Childers expressed his gratitude for the sport in a lengthy post on X, while acknowledging that his exit came as a shock to many, and that the situation was not working out for him or Spire Motorsports.
After Harvick’s retirement, Childers remained with Stewart-Haas Racing until 2024, leading Josh Berry, and he worked with Justin Haley for nine races this season before his departure. As the NASCAR community processes this significant turn of events, the implications of Childers leaving and Spire Motorsports’ ongoing changes remain to be seen, and all eyes will be on how the team will move forward without their former crew chief.
