The Pinnacle Achievement for a NASCAR Crew Chief and Driver Duo
In the high-stakes world of NASCAR, many would argue that the most coveted prize for any crew chief and driver duo is the Cup Series championship. However, for Rodney Childers, the pinnacle of success was not a championship trophy but a victory at the Brickyard 400 during his tenure with Kevin Harvick.
The Prestige of the Brickyard 400
Few races in NASCAR carry the weight and historical significance of the Brickyard 400. While the Daytona 500, Southern 500, and Coca-Cola 600 are monumental in their own right, there is a unique and unparalleled thrill in conquering the Brickyard and partaking in the tradition of kissing the bricks. This sentiment was echoed by Childers when Harvick inquired about his most memorable victory. Interestingly, neither the 2014 Cup Series championship nor their two Brickyard 400 wins stood out as Childers’ favorite moment with the No. 4 team.
Rodney Childers’ Special Bond with the Brickyard
Kevin Harvick had already tasted victory at the Brickyard during his time with Richard Childress Racing. However, his true dominance began when he teamed up with Childers at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) in 2014. This partnership marked a pivotal turn in Harvick’s career. Despite winning the Cup Series championship in 2014 and consistently making it to the Championship 4 for five consecutive years, Harvick had not repeated his Brickyard triumph until teaming with Childers.
For Childers, winning at the Brickyard was a career milestone. The duo achieved back-to-back victories in 2019 and 2020. Whenever asked about his most cherished wins, Childers consistently pointed to the first Brickyard 400 victory. He explained, “Yeah, the boys ask me that all the time, and I still tell them the first Brickyard 400, and they just think I’m crazy. They said it was not Homestead when you won the championship. I said that doesn’t count as winning the race; that’s winning the championship.”
The 2019 Brickyard win was particularly special for the #4 team. Starting on the pole, Harvick dominated the entire race, culminating in a victory that included the iconic traditions of kissing the bricks and climbing the fence. Childers fondly recalled, “Going to the Brickyard and qualifying on the pole and leading the whole race and just being dominant. And kissing the bricks and climbing the fence, that’s the biggest race I’ve ever won.”
Kevin Harvick’s Perspective on Winning
Kevin Harvick also reflected on his favorite victory shared with Childers. Despite numerous wins, he chose their first win at Phoenix as his most significant. SHR, under the leadership of Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, was emerging as a formidable force in the NASCAR Cup Series. Although Tony Stewart had secured a championship in 2011, the team was seeking a new leader to continue their legacy. Harvick felt immense pressure after switching teams, but his early success with Childers proved critical. Harvick noted, “I think for me, when you go back and think it’s the very first one. When you look back at Phoenix, the amount of relief that came with that very first win and just winning so early with the team, I just feel like that got us off onto the right foot in the right direction and immediately got rid of all the naysayers.”
The End of an Era and New Beginnings
In the modern era of the NASCAR Cup Series, the partnership between Kevin Harvick and Rodney Childers was indeed extraordinary. As Harvick has retired, and SHR is winding down its operations, Childers has moved on to a new chapter at Spire Motorsports following the conclusion of the 2024 season. The legacy of their collaboration, marked by remarkable victories and unforgettable moments, continues to be celebrated by fans and peers alike.
