JR Motorsports announced the signing of Rodney Childers as the new crew chief for the No. 1 car for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (currently called the Xfinity Series). Coming from a championship-winning background, Childers will bring a wealth of NASCAR experience to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team next year.
The NASCAR veteran headed Michael Waltrip Racing, securing multiple victories before the team concluded its operations. He then partnered with Stewart-Haas Racing for around ten years before moving to Spire Motorsports. He parted ways with Spire early this season, paving the way for his JRM signing.
Some highlights from Childers’ racing career thus far include 40 race wins out of his 600-race Cup Series experience. He also helped Kevin Harvick secure the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series championship. The new role with JRM marks his first crew chief role in the Xfinity Series. Speaking on Childers’ appointment, team co-owner Dale Jr. said: