Denny Hamlin’s spotter, Chris Lambert, has openly voiced his support for Rodney Childers to take on a pivotal role in the development of NASCAR’s Gen 8 car, following Childers’ sudden exit as crew chief for Justin Haley just nine races into the 2025 season. This endorsement was made public through Lambert’s reply to a social media post, highlighting Childers’ expertise and vision as exactly what NASCAR and manufacturers need as they look to usher in a new era of competition.
Lambert, who has served as the spotter for Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 car during their longstanding campaign in the Cup Series, remains an essential part of the team’s on-track success. His real-time communication provides Hamlin with invaluable updates on track position and traffic, critically shaping race strategy during high-pressure situations. In the current 2025 season, this partnership has been fundamental, as Denny Hamlin has already clinched consecutive victories at Martinsville Speedway and Darlington Raceway, both requiring meticulous teamwork and strategic calls during late-race cautions and pit stops.
Rodney Childers, known for his stints with Stewart-Haas Racing and Spire Motorsports, exited his latest role amid much speculation. Chris Lambert’s suggestion that Childers should steer the development of NASCAR’s Gen 8 car underscores the respect Childers commands in the garage. Echoing the thoughts of many fans and industry professionals, Lambert said that Childers’ brilliant mind could inject innovative ideas into the next generation of Cup Series racing, signaling an urgency for NASCAR to tap into his experience and technical knowledge.
Denny Hamlin’s status as one of NASCAR’s elite drivers further highlights the strength behind Lambert’s endorsement. Since debuting in the Cup Series in 2005 for Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin has achieved 56 wins across 695 starts, ranking him 11th on the all-time victory list. Among his major accomplishments are three Daytona 500 wins, a Coca-Cola 600 trophy, and three Southern 500 victories. Hamlin also holds the record for most wins at Pocono Raceway and Kansas Speedway, further cementing his reputation as a top competitor.
Beyond strategy and competition, Lambert has recently supported vital safety improvements at Talladega Superspeedway after Christopher Bell suffered a severe crash exiting Turn 2. Lambert referenced a similar incident involving Justin Allgaier last year, expressing public relief that new wall upgrades are scheduled before the October playoffs. This commitment to driver safety adds even more credibility to the recommendations Lambert makes regarding key roles and future innovations in NASCAR.
As the 2025 NASCAR season unfolds, Denny Hamlin sits third in the Cup Series standings, accumulating two victories, five top-five, and six top-ten finishes in the first ten races. Christopher Bell, after the crash, trails Hamlin by 30 points in fifth. The evolving landscape, marked by Lambert’s support for Childers and ongoing safety reforms, suggests significant changes may be on the horizon for NASCAR, further driven by trusted voices like Denny Hamlin’s spotter.
As fans and industry insiders anticipate further developments, all eyes will remain on how Denny Hamlin, Chris Lambert, and Rodney Childers help shape the future of the sport, driving excitement and expectation around the new Gen 8 car and the legacy of leadership within the NASCAR community.
