Rodney Childers will return to crew chief for Kevin Harvick at Daytona after family emergency

After a scary emergency involving his mother kept him home from Watkins Glen, Rodney Childers is returning for Daytona. The longtime NASCAR crew chief of Kevin Harvick had to watch the race from the war room at Stewart-Haas Racing as he cared for his mother. She had to be revived by medics and she is currently on a ventilator.

A couple of days ahead of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, Rodney Childers has provided another update. He’s coming back to action, “and racing is what she would want me to do.”

As of right now, Childers’ mom is still on a ventilator as doctors work to get her back off of it in the coming days and potentially weeks.

“It’s been an extremely long week, and it was tough to leave this morning,” Childers wrote. “Mom is still fighting every day but it’s been maybe more of a struggle than what I pictured in my head. She has some great doctors and they say it’s going to be a long process that could be days or could take weeks to get her off the ventilator.

“I really appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers over the last 5 days. We will take all we can get. Going to Daytona and racing is what she would want me to do.”

❤️🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/HY5jNYdAJD

— Rodney Childers (@RodneyChilders4) August 24, 2023

While Rodney Childers is coming back, it will be tough. Luckily, he has had an overwhelming amount of support from friends, coworkers, and fans. It would be extra sweet to see that No. 4 Ford Mustang in victory lane this Saturday night.

Rodney Childers, Kevin Harvick seeking first win of 2023

The good news, the 4 team is locked into the playoffs on points alone. They will be in the postseason hunt for the championship. However, the bad news, they don’t have a single win on the year. That has to change if they truly expect to be a threat for Phoenix this season.

Not only that, it just wouldn’t feel right for The Closer to not get a win in his final season. Harvick has done so much for NASCAR and the sport, that a win in his final year would be fitting and celebrated almost universally.

It was nice seeing him go back-to-back last season at Michigan and Richmond. However, it is time to see Harvick put together a vintage performance. I’m not sure if Daytona is the track to do it at, but crazier things have happened in this sport.

Rodney Childers and Kevin Harvick have 11 more races to claim a checkered flag on this farewell tour. Can they get it done, or will we wave off a legend of the sport without a win?