Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacts to Rodney Childress being announced as Corey LaJoie crew chief for 2025
A huge shakeup is on the horizon at Spire Motorsports, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. is dishing out his opinion on the matter.
On Tuesday, Spire announced that Rodney Childers, a Cup championship-winning crew chief who currently sits atop the pit box for Josh Berry, has signed a multi-year agreement with the race team to serve as the crew chief for the No. 7 team and Corey LaJoie for 2025 and beyond.
Over the course of his career, Childers has been one of, if not the best crew chief in the Cup Series, having immense success with Kevin Harvick. Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t shocked by the news, as he relayed the fact that he heard rumors of Childers’ decision, but he believes it could be a game-changer for the No. 7.
“There’s a little bit of — I’ve heard that rumor, being a possibility. I think it’s a great get for Spire, right? Spire continues this, you know, sort of, you know, put up or shut up, ‘Hey, we’re in. We’re no longer just looking at the financial bottom line and trying to be profitable, at all costs,’ in terms of cost versus performance. They are now going after performance. They are spending money, and focusing more on results, which I have to applaud them for,” Earnhardt Jr. elaborated, via The Dale Jr Download. “If Corey continues to be the driver, I think this is the opportunity — I think he has to be incredibly excited, if he’s the driver of the car next year, which I wouldn’t — I know nothing to believe he wouldn’t be. He’s had a bit of a tough go lately, and critics are coming out, about whether there needs to be a new direction for the No. 7 car, and I think this is his opportunity, to go and try and get the results that he thinks he’s capable of getting.
“Rodney’s one of the best in the garage. He’s got a few years left, and I think eventually, Rodney’s going to find that general manager, technical director role, that gives him a little more time with his family, but he’s got a few more good years on that pit box left, and this could be exactly what Corey LaJoie needs, to get his career where he wants it to be.”
Evidently, Earnhardt Jr. is a believer in Childers, but LaJoie’s disappointing 2024 has given him some pause for the moment. The veteran has been out-paced by rookie teammate Carson Hocevar throughout the season, so perhaps the addition of Childers can get him back on track next season.
Regardless, Corey LaJoie has been starved for a real shot at Cup Series victories since joining the circuit, and it seems like Spire Motorsports, who’s believed in him from the beginning, will be giving that to him in 2024, with Rodney Childers calling the shots.