Rodney Childers has finalized a significant career move involving Dale Earnhardt Jr., as he takes on a new role at JR Motorsports, following his notable tenure with Stewart-Haas Racing. This Dale Earnhardt Jr major deal positions Childers to lead promising talents Connor Zilisch and Carson Kvapil in the 2026 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.
Childers Transitions from Stewart-Haas Racing to JR Motorsports
On Wednesday, September 24, Rodney Childers discussed his latest career chapter with Motorsports.com after announcing his move to JR Motorsports. Previously, Childers built his reputation at Stewart-Haas Racing, where he steered Kevin Harvick to the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series championship. After Stewart-Haas Racing’s closure following the 2024 season, Childers briefly joined Spire Motorsports, working alongside Justin Haley for nine races before their partnership concluded.
Eager to continue proving himself at the highest levels of racing, Childers later reunited with Kevin Harvick in the CARS Tour and formed an effective partnership with Landen Lewis. Their teamwork led to four wins and a lead in the series championship this season. Despite these accomplishments, Childers sought even greater opportunities, leading him to accept an offer with Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports for the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Reflecting on the Path to a Dream Opportunity
Rodney Childers described the mindset that guided him to this new chapter and how discussions with Dale Earnhardt Jr. led to the current opportunity:
“For me, the last couple of months, I just started to look at things differently. I always felt like I needed to prove something and needed to win more Cup championships or the Daytona 500 but then I realized there is more to life than that.
This personal openness to new opportunities caught Earnhardt Jr. by surprise, as Childers further explained:
“I opened myself up to talking to some Truck Series teams about some opportunities and that caught Dale by surprise. He asked me, ‘do you really not have anything lined up, yet’ and I told him where I was at and then he told me about Connor and Carson and it was just a dream scenario,” he added.
Under this new arrangement, Childers will work with Connor Zilisch and Carson Kvapil, sharing crew chief duties on the #1 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. While Kvapil currently drives full-time for the organization, the new setup means he’ll transition to a part-time schedule in the upcoming season to accommodate Zilisch’s participation.
Persistent Drive and Passion Amid Industry Challenges
Earlier in the season, Childers candidly addressed what it felt like to be out of the primary racing spotlight for a prolonged period, reaffirming his belief in his leadership strengths and racing abilities:
“I miss competing, yes every single day. I miss being a leader like I was good at. I know I can still do it better than most, and I’m more determined now than ever.. But if no one is willing to take a chance in the cup garage, I’ll win in whatever I do… He has a plan..”
Over the course of Childers’s career, he has worked with several accomplished NASCAR drivers, including Kevin Harvick, Josh Berry, and Justin Haley. He has amassed 40 wins in the Cup Series, along with the 2014 championship, and was also integral to the CARS Tour successes alongside Harvick and Landen Lewis. Childers’s dedication and track record have made him a respected figure in the sport, recognized for extracting the best performance from his teams and drivers.
Cup Series Aftermath and Looking Ahead
Following his stint as crew chief for Justin Haley’s #7 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Childers stepped away and was succeeded by Ryan Spark. Since then, the team has experienced challenges in the Cup Series, sitting 30th in the standings with 476 points, highlighting the competitive landscape Childers leaves behind as he embarks on his new Xfinity Series adventure.
This new deal not only places Childers in a pivotal leadership position at JR Motorsports but also brings together promising drivers Connor Zilisch and Carson Kvapil under his guidance. The move underscores Childers’s unwavering passion for NASCAR and sets the stage for a highly anticipated 2026 season. With experience working alongside names like Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and Ryan Blaney, as well as previous accomplishments with Kevin Harvick and Landen Lewis, Childers is poised to make a substantial impact at Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s organization and continue shaping the next generation of racing talent.
