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Denny Hamlin reacts to Rodney Childers joining JR Motorsports in 2026

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones09/30/25brianjones_93
Rodney Childers
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Denny Hamlin believes that Rodney Childers will have a fair amount of success with JR Motorsports. On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin reacted to Childers joining a new team for the 2026 NASCAR season.

“That’s great for Rodney. I think this is actually a good place for Rodney, if you ask me,” Denny Hamlin said. “I think Rodney is one of those crew chiefs that excels when he can put his hands on the car. If you kind of look at his NextGen history, it’s actually quite good as well. Was it what was pre-NextGen? No, but things changed, and he was with an organization that was kind of on its downhill slide.”

Hamlin then went on to say that going to JR Motorsports is a “good fit” for Rodney Childers and he will have “a ton of success.” Childers joins the organization after spending the early part of the 2025 season with Spire Motorsports.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacts to adding Rodney Childers to JR Motorsports

At JR Motorsports, Childers will serve as the crew chief of the No. 1 Chevrolet with drivers Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Childers was previously the crew chief for the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, but is known for leading the teams of Kevin Harvick and Josh Berry at Stewart-Haas Racing. Childers was Harvick’s crew chief from 2014 to 2023 and helped him earn 37 victories, 148 top-five finishes, 230 top-10 finishes, and one NASCAR Cup Series Championship in 2014.

“Rodney’s resume and career speak for itself,” JRM team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. “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.”

Fans will see Childers make his JR Motorsports debut next year when the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series 2026 season begins at Daytona on Feb. 14. All the races in the series will be televised on The CW.