Childers, former NASCAR champion, leads Xfinity team at JR Motorsports

Rodney Childers Finds New Direction at JR Motorsports

The renowned Rodney Childers, who led Kevin Harvick to the Cup Series championship in 2014, has secured a new position after his departure from Spire Motorsports in April. Childers will assume the crew chief role at JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series, specifically for the No. 1 Chevrolet, which will be shared by Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch. This will be the first time Childers has served as a crew chief in the Xfinity Series.

“Rodney’s resume and track record speak for themselves,” commented Dale Earnhardt Jr., co-owner of JR Motorsports. “Rodney and I grew up together and have known each other since we were kids. That relationship has always been close and continues to this day. We have always had an interest in working together in motorsports, and I am grateful that this opportunity has come up and we have been able to bring him into the JRM family.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr., co-owner of JR Motorsports

Childers worked with Justin Haley at Spire, but the team parted ways with him when both the driver and crew chief stated that the relationship wasn’t working. During his time at Stewart-Haas Racing, Childers achieved 40 victories and a Cup Series title with Harvick. Subsequently, he worked with Josh Berry in 2024, the final year of Stewart-Haas Racing’s existence.

NASCAR and Jusan Hamilton: End of an Era

On Saturday, NASCAR confirmed the separation of Jusan Hamilton, race director, with six races remaining to finish the season. He is no longer listed as a NASCAR employee, where his official title was general manager of competition operations. Hamilton joined NASCAR as an intern in 2012 and returned in 2016, performing various roles. He oversaw NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, pit crew development, and NASCAR’s iRacing professional divisions, in addition to serving as a race director. Hamilton was fundamental in setting up both the annual calendar and the schedule for each race weekend. His first event as race director was in 2018 at Pocono Raceway. In 2022, Hamilton became the first Black race director to officiate the Daytona 500.