Justin Allgaier offered his thoughts on Rodney Childers joining JR Motorsports as crew chief for the No.1 team, marking a significant development in the NASCAR community. The Justin Allgaier NASCAR reaction came as Childers, known for his impressive track record, brings additional experience to the organization’s roster.
Rodney Childers Takes on New Role at JR Motorsports
Rodney Childers, who earlier this season stepped away from his position as crew chief for Justin Haley at Spire Motorsports, has secured a new role at JR Motorsports as the lead for the No.1 team. Previously, Childers amassed a total of 40 victories and captured a Cup Series championship in 2014, making him one of the most accomplished crew chiefs in the sport’s recent history. After his departure from Spire, Childers sought an environment suited to his achievements, and JR Motorsports emerged as his next destination.
The No.1 car at JRM, now under Childers’ guidance, will be shared by Connor Zilisch and Carson Kvapil during the 2026 season. During a recent interview at Kansas Speedway, Justin Allgaier was asked to share his perspective on his new colleague, expressing a sense of excitement and optimism about Childers’ arrival.
“Great name to have, and obviously somebody that’s been, you know, really influential in this sport, right. A lot of race wins and championships,”
Justin Allgaier said, referencing the impact Childers has had on NASCAR’s competitive landscape.
Allgaier continued by highlighting the collaborative strengths at JR Motorsports:
“We have a great ecosystem at Junior Motorsports, right. Crew chiefs, engineers, drivers, mechanics, everybody really has a really strong bond and you add somebody that’s got the success that he’s got and the work ethic and the knowledge, I think that helps kind of make for a potent combination.”
His remarks emphasized that an addition like Childers can further increase the team’s competitiveness and cohesion.
Allgaier’s Recent Performance and JRM’s Competitive Spirit
On the racetrack, Allgaier started his run at Kansas Speedway within the top five and showed strong form by leading 71 of the initial 90 laps, sweeping both stages. Unfortunately, a delayed pit stop and a tactical misstep caused a drop to a 13th-place finish. Despite this result, Allgaier still advanced to the series’ final eight, keeping his championship ambitions alive.
Connor Zilisch, the future co-driver of the No.1 car, also demonstrated impressive performance by finishing second at Kansas, achieving his 16th consecutive top-five finish and entering NASCAR’s record books in the process. The blend of established veterans, emerging talents, and seasoned crew stewardship is positioning JRM as a team to watch in upcoming seasons.
Discussion Around NASCAR’s Championship Format
The possible return to NASCAR’s full-season 36-race format has become a talking point, following signals from the playoff committee and diminishing fan interest. A steep drop in viewership at the New Hampshire playoff race triggered new discussions regarding the structure of the championship, with notable figures like Chase Elliott weighing in on how such a change would impact driver approaches and race strategies.
Justin Allgaier provided a nuanced view on the subject, reflecting on his experiences as a longtime competitor. He remarked,
“I used to love the old school points format, where you know Daytona to Homestead or Phoenix….you just go from one to the other right. Those were cool moments for me, but at the same time you get a stretch of two or three bad races, you know it can end your season. So I think for us, we just have to be mindful of a lot of things in our sport right now,”
sharing his appreciation for tradition while acknowledging challenges posed by the old system.
Milestones and What Lies Ahead for Allgaier
Next weekend, Justin Allgaier is set to mark a significant career milestone with his 500th start in the Xfinity Series at the Charlotte Roval, underlining his enduring presence in the sport. His journey, intertwined with pivotal changes and new collaborations, reflects both the evolving nature of NASCAR and the passionate commitment of drivers and teams alike.
The addition of Rodney Childers is expected to strengthen JR Motorsports’ capabilities, elevating both team morale and performance potential. As the Xfinity Series continues and NASCAR weighs possible format changes, the coming weeks promise to test Allgaier, his teammates, and the broader organization as they pursue competitive success and adapt to a shifting racing landscape.
"It'll be cool to dive into (@RodneyChilders4's) mind, see what he thinks and what advantages that can have for @JRMotorsports."@J_Allgaier on Childers joining JRM next year. #NASCAR
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— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) September 28, 2025
