Denny Hamlin reacted swiftly after news broke in April that seasoned crew chief Rodney Childers and Spire Motorsports had unexpectedly parted ways just ten races into the 2025 NASCAR season. The decision, made following an underwhelming start in which Childers led the No. 7 team featuring Justin Haley, left fans and insiders questioning what led to such a rapid conclusion to what many thought would be a transformative partnership. Hamlin addressed the topic with urgency and insight on his Actions Detrimental podcast, acknowledging both the surprise and underlying complexity of the situation.
The high-profile move that brought Rodney Childers to Spire Motorsports was initially seen as a bold strategy, one Hamlin believed could fundamentally shift the team’s trajectory. Childers, known for his previous success during the Gen-Six era and widely respected as one of NASCAR’s most meticulous crew chiefs, seemed poised to elevate Spire’s performance. Yet despite some steady improvements and moments when it appeared the No. 7 team could contend more consistently, the results failed to meet expectations, both for Childers and the organization.
Reflecting on the split, Denny Hamlin said,
Rodney Childers and Spire splitting. It was interesting to see it happen so soon. I thought that the results of the No. 7 have improved. Now, I think that the team itself has made improvements year over year, so some of those results might be a little misleading, but generally speaking, the No. 7’s been, I thought, more in contention this year. Obviously, Rodney has been a game changer in the game, in the Gen-Six era, and before, you know, when he really could kind of put his fingerprints on the car, I felt like he was, you know, certainly one of the best crew chiefs to ever do it during that time.
Hamlin elaborated on the challenges Childers faced adapting to the current NASCAR landscape, especially as the series transitioned to the Next Gen car, noting that numerous factors can cloud the effectiveness of even the most adept professionals.
When it came to the Next Gen, obviously the results weren’t there as much, but there’s just so many other factors that go into it. You know, you’re with Stewart-Haas when they’re beginning to close. How much effort are they putting in? Obviously, your pit crew matters. Everything matters. So, it’s hard to really speculate that, you know, it’s just a him and a car combination problem that doesn’t seem to work, but it’s certainly — the results haven’t been there over the last couple years.
The departure, according to Denny Hamlin, seemed to be about more than just wins and losses. He said,
It’s just too hard to point fingers on one thing or another, because, you know, everything is so small and the details all matter, and you know, Rodney is a detailed person. It just seemed like a cultural thing, more than likely. I don’t think — it didn’t seem like it was a performance thing that much. I think that people come with big expectations, when you put a big name on the pit box, it does come with some high expectations. … It ran its course over nine races or 10 races in, so you know both felt like they had to go in a different direction.
What happens next for Rodney Childers is far from certain, and Denny Hamlin made it clear he would be watching closely, given the crew chief’s impressive resume and influence within the sport. Whether Childers finds his way back to a top-tier team, or chooses another path, his next steps are bound to draw continued attention, shaping the narrative as both fans and competitors look to see how the story unfolds and what lessons emerge from this swift, controversial separation within Spire Motorsports. For now, Hamlin’s reflections offer a candid glimpse into the intensity, expectation, and complexity that define relationships at the highest levels of NASCAR.
