Justin Haley called it an “unexpected change” for Spire Motorsports and Rodney Childers to part ways early into the NASCAR Cup Series season.
Ryan Sparks has taken the reins as crew chief of Haley’s No. 7 team, beginning this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Haley and Childers made it through the first nine races before the organization and Childers both agreed that things were not working.
“Obviously, it’s an unexpected change and not something you ever want to do in the middle of a season,” Haley said Saturday morning. “But I’m super proud and thankful to be with a race team and an owner like Jeff Dickerson, who is not scared to make changes. It was just a fit thing, I think. [There was] nothing super wrong that stood out or super left or right.
“At the end of the day, we’re in the Cup Series, and to compete on a Sunday in the Cup Series, everything has to be perfect, and if one little thing is not perfect, you’re not going to be able to win races. That’s what we’re trying to do. That’s what Spire is trying to do. They have put so much time and resources, effort, money, ability, and people in the right places to try to win races. I think they’re not scared to do anything to win a race. Again, I’m thankful to be [in that position].”
Haley had no criticism toward his former crew chief. Childers, a garage veteran, is a Cup Series championship-winning crew chief with 40 victories on his resume. There were high expectations that he would influence both Haley and Spire Motorsports.
Through the first nine races, Haley and Childers had an average finish of 20.2 and were 23rd in the championship standings. They earned one top-10 finish together.
“I’m thankful for my time with Rodney,” Haley said. “I think he taught us a lot as an organization. I think he’s a super great person, and I really enjoyed getting to know him and to work with him. But at the end of the day, it’s a business and (we’re) trying to be successful on Sundays.”
Spire Motorsports made the decision without consulting Haley or giving him notice that it was coming. Haley was at the race shop on Tuesday for the team’s typical weekly meeting and was told of the change afterward.
“It was unexpected, but to be honest with you, I don’t know if anything in this sport surprises me anymore,” Haley said. “So, you just have to deal with adversity and change. Obviously, last year coming into Spire Motorsports halfway through the season, somehow was a way crazier thing to me than what happened this week. So, my life has been full of craziness in the past six months. Hopefully, we can find some consistency with Sparks. I had a lot of fun working with him at the end of the season.”
Sparks, who is also the organization’s competition director, will lead the team for the duration of the season. He and Haley ran the final seven races of the 2024 season together when Haley rejoined the organization from Rick Ware Racing.
However, they are also familiar with each other from Haley’s first stint with Spire Motorsports. Haley drove a limited schedule in 2019 in the No. 77 car while Sparks was the crew chief on the No. 7.
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