Childers joins JR Motorsports for 2026

Rodney Childers, a former NASCAR Cup Series championship crew chief, will have a new home with JR Motorsports in 2026.

Childers will oversee the No. 1 team in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with drivers Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch sharing the ride. It will be the first time that Childers has been a crew chief in the series.

“Rodney’s resume and career speak for themselves,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr., co-owner of JR Motorsports. “Rodney and I grew up together and have known each other since we were kids. That’s a relationship that has always been close, and has remained close to this day. We’ve always had interest in working together in motorsports, and I’m thankful that this opportunity came about and we could bring him into the JRM family.”

Childers has been a free agent since the spring after parting ways with Spire Motorsports. He and Justin Haley worked together for the first nine races of the Cup Series season on the No. 7 team. But a split came when both sides admitted it was not working as hoped, and Childers acknowledged he wasn’t happy.

The short tenure at Spire Motorsports came after Childers won 40 races and a Cup Series championship with Kevin Harvick at Stewart-Haas Racing. In 2024, Childers worked with Josh Berry, who took over Harvick’s ride, in what was the final year of Stewart-Haas Racing.

“I’m so excited to be joining the JRM family,” Childers said. “To see what Dale, Kelley and [Rick Hendrick] have built here is quite amazing and their results show for themselves. Dale and Kelley have meant a lot to me for some 30 years and I can’t wait to be part of this group. Plus, I get to be the lucky guy to lead two amazing young men that have a huge amount of talent and a big future in our sport.”

Kvapil is the current driver of the No. 1 car in the series. Andrew Overstreet, the crew chief, will remain with the organization next season in a different role.