Kevin Harvick's crew chief Rodney Childers sends emotional message after loading hauler for last time

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series finale at Phoenix Raceway this Sunday will be the final time Kevin Harvick gets behind the wheel of the No. 4 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Harvick, 47, is retiring from full-time racing at the end of the season after 23 seasons in NASCAR’s top circuit. It’ll be an emotional one for everyone involved, especially Rodney Childers, Harvick’s crew chief since 2014. Childers sent out an emotional tweet Tuesday as he loaded the No. 4 hauler for the final time.

Well,, just loaded the last hot rod.. It’s been a very emotional day to say the least. So proud of KH and every single person on this race team. It’s hard to believe it’s almost over, but man have we done some incredible things as a team.. .. 👊🏼👊🏼@StewartHaasRcng@KevinHarvick

— Rodney Childers (@RodneyChilders4) October 31, 2023

“Well, just loaded the last hot rod.. It’s been a very emotional day to say the least,” Childers wrote on X. “So proud of KH and every single person on this race team. It’s hard to believe it’s almost over, but man have we done some incredible things as a team.”

Harvick and Childers have been one of NASCAR’s best duos since linking up together, winning 37 races, as well as a championship in their first season together in 2014. Harvick has made the playoffs in every season with Stewart-Haas Racing, including 2023, where he remains winless going into the final race of the season.

“Obviously, we would rather win,” Harvick said earlier this month, via Fox Sports. “Winning is always more fun. I could have walked away from it a few years ago and been content with it. I race because of the fact that I like what I do. And I like the people that I’m around. So being around the people is really what I enjoy the most and I enjoy seeing them win and be happy.”

Kevin Harvick transitioning to broadcasting after racing retirement

Harvick will join the Fox Sports booth in 2024, following in the footsteps of fellow NASCAR legends Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“I have done a lot a lot of things in the booth and knew that was somewhere that I wanted to be because I like talking about the sport,” Harvick said. “I like to be able to tell stories and be a part of the broadcast and that’s something that I have enjoyed. Enjoyed the preparation and everything that goes into it to be able to tell a story.”