Rodney Childers explains how Stewart-Haas employees learned of shop closing

At the end of the 2024 season, Stewart-Haas Racing will no longer exist. That means Rodney Childers has to find a new job. Tony Stewart and Gene Haas are getting out of the NASCAR game and that means a sale of everything they have.

The writing has been on the wall for a long time. Last season there were rumors that a couple of Stewart-Haas Racing charters could be on the market. This year, it’s all four. Tony Stewart and Gene Haas want out while they can get good value from their charters.

This season the top SHR driver in the points is Chase Briscoe in 16th. As it stands, he would not make the playoffs due to Daniel Suárez having a win, but fewer points. Performance has not been up to standard for this organization in the last few years.

Rodney Childers, crew chief for Josh Berry and the No. 4 team, spoke with the Dale Jr. Download Reloaded podcast about the end of Stewart-Haas.

“They [Stewart and Haas] met with all the drivers first and then met with the crew chiefs second and then went and met with the whole company,” Childers said. “And basically it was short and sweet. Basically told everybody that they were going to have to shut it down at the end of the year and that they were sorry and that we were just going to have to move forward and try to get through the rest of the year the best we can.

“There’s definitely not going to be shortcuts the rest of the year, there’s not a problem of us racing and money and that kind of thing the rest of the year. It’s really just about getting out at the right time and what they felt was right for them and also doing it early enough in the season where everybody’s got time to go out there and find jobs and to do different things. They’ve worked hard to have different incentives for different things to help people find jobs and that’s very much appreciated by everybody here.”

.@RodneyChilders4 explains how the news of shutting down was relayed to the employees at SHR. 🗞️ pic.twitter.com/32WdvVg3gP

— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) May 30, 2024

Stewart-Haas Racing is ending. It is shocking, but not uncommon in motorsports. Teams do not last forever. That is why Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th anniversary is such a big deal.

For Rodney Childers, this is a new beginning, or maybe an end? It is clear that Childers still enjoys racing. He loves to work with Josh Berry. So, maybe he can follow Berry to his next destination?

Then again, Childers has been to the top of the sport. He’s a Cup Series champion. Maybe this is the moment he can use to take his exit. If he does leave the sport with Stewart-Haas Racing, it will be a great career potentially worthy of the Hall of Fame.

If Childers continues, he will have more wins. I think, should he want, the crew chief has a future in the sport still. Someone will put him on top of their pit box.