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Rodney Childers watches qualifying at Auto Club Speedway.
Rodney Childers has been through a tough summer, one that made him stop and think about what really matters, both on and off the race track. Known for his pride and his drive to prove himself, Childers hit setbacks that slowed down his immediate goals in the NASCAR Cup Series. But instead of letting it break him, he turned back to where it all started, Late Model Stock Cars.
Teaming with Kevin Harvick and Landen Lewis in the CARS Tour brought Rodney Childers new wins, but the bigger reward was time with his family as a husband and father, per Matt Weaver
“For me, the last couple of months, I just started to look at things differently,” Childers told Motorsport.com over the phone. “I always felt like I needed to prove something and needed to win more Cup championships or the Daytona 500, but then I realized there is more to life than that.”
Rodney Childers and His New Outlook on Racing
Rodney Childers even started looking at new roles in the Truck Series, something that caught Dale Earnhardt Jr. off guard.
“I opened myself up to talking to some Truck Series teams about some opportunities, and that caught Dale by surprise. He asked me, ‘Do you really not have anything lined up, yet?’ and I told him where I was at, and then he told me about Connor and Carson, and it was just a dream scenario.”
The return to familiar ground has lifted a weight off his shoulders.
“This is basically the old car that we had a lot of success with, Sundays at church with Katrina and the boys, racing with two really exceptional young drivers, and I couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough.”
Still, there’s a part of him that wonders how stepping back from the full-time Cup grind will feel.
“So it’s just hard to say,” he admitted. “I will learn a lot more about myself next year as we go along. Maybe I really love having Sundays at home. Maybe it’s really going to bother me that I’m not out there when I get home and they’re still racing on Sundays.”
With a laugh, he added: “Maybe that will make me want to go add a Truck Series championship before I’m dead.”
The Respect Rodney Has Earned
Even with the Cup garage shifting in new directions, Rodney Childers has earned lasting respect.
“It means a ton,” he said. “But it wasn’t just me anywhere along the way. We have had good people at every stop, and I’m a sponge for what people have to teach me, the fab guys, tire specialists, and engineers. You have to be to have success at this level.”
Childers says he has found joy in mentoring young talent like Carson.
“I can’t tell you enough how much I’ve seen Dale and Kelley smile this week,” he said. “How much I’ve smiled. I can’t wait to get to know Carson better. I know how serious Carson takes his racing, and it’s just making sure he has the right people around him to keep progressing.”
Rodney Childers on Mentorship and Responsibility
That mentorship brings him back to his days with Kevin Harvick.
“When I raced with Kevin, if we didn’t win, it was my fault,” Childers said. “I don’t know if that’s the best way to put it publicly, but I have to feel that way. It means that no matter what, I need to be the one to figure out what my driver needs, because we have the cars and the drivers. This car is my responsibility. That means getting the most out of it, finding the right people, and making it go fast. It needs to win.”
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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