Just days after announcing he was leaving Michael Waltrip Racing to join Stewart-Haas Racing at the end of the year, crew chief Rodney Childers and the team have parted ways effective immediately.
Rodney Childers out as crew chief at Michael Waltrip Racing
Effective Monday, crew chief Rodney Childers is no longer with Michael Waltrip Racing following his decision to join Stewart-Haas Racing.
Jared C. Tilton
It became public last weekend that Childers had signed a contract with SHR, and the news that his tenure at MWR ended early is not a surprise. SHR has factory support from Chevrolet while MWR is one of Toyota’s main outfits.
Childers had been with MWR since 2009 and for the last two years had worked with drivers Brian Vickers, Mark Martin and Waltrip. MWR announced Aug. 13 that Vickers would drive the No. 55 full-time beginning next season and wished to keep the pair together. Waltrip had called re-signing Childers a “priority.”
But calling it a “personal decision,” Childers agreed to a contract with SHR where he will become the crew chief for Kevin Harvick, who will also join the organization for 2014.
MWR vice president of competition Scott Miller will serve as interim crew chief on the No. 55 for the remainder of the season. The team said engineer Billy Scott will play a larger role in car setup and race preparation.
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