Rodney Childers to Spire as Crew Chief for LaJoie

Spire Motorsports revealed on Tuesday morning that Rodney Childers will take on the role of crew chief for Corey LaJoie and the No. 7 Chevrolet starting in 2025 under a multiyear contract.

Childers had hoped to remain with driver Josh Berry, who recently announced his 2025 transition to the #21 car for the Wood Brothers. The two had meshed well during their time together at SHR before the organization’s announcement of closing the doors at the end of the season. Clearly, the Wood Brothers didn’t pick up on the opportunity. And seemingly, others also missed this great opportunity to align with Childers, who has a stellar record in the sport. Childers guided Harvick to eight playoff appearances during their ten-year partnership, which included five Championship 4 appearances from 2014 to 2019. Throughout his career, Childers’ drivers have secured 34 poles, 178 top-five finishes, and 298 top-10 finishes in 660 races with him calling the shots.

So this shift marks a pivotal moment for Spire Motorsports and LaJoie to have a crew chief of Childer’s calibre, especially as he currently holds the title of the most successful active crew chief in the Cup Series.

Ryan Sparks, who currently serves as both the crew chief of the No. 7 and the team’s competition director, will transition exclusively to the role of Spire’s Competition Director after the 2024 season concludes.