Haley 'quickly realized what Cup racing is' with Childers partnership

Yesterday at 01:41 PM

In a way, Justin Haley is going NASCAR Cup Series racing for the first time this season.

He’s far from a rookie as he approaches 150 Cup Series starts and is entering his fifth full season, but his No. 7 Spire Motorsports team underwent significant changes during the offseason under the direction of new crew chief Rodney Childers. Changes include requiring Haley to learn a new cockpit in his Chevrolet, which will be completely different when he climbs in to start the season this weekend at Bowman Gray Stadium.

"He had never even been fitted into a car the right way," Childers said. "For us, it's been a huge undertaking. We've had to have his seats redone at Hendrick, we've had to have his belts moved, we've had to make all new seat rails, new headrests, new headrest supports, new seat mounts, new leg boards, new floorboard, new pedal faces, new steering column mounts. We have redone everything to make it absolutely perfect for him, and I think when he gets in there at the Clash, he’s going to be like, 'Holy crap, I have never had anything like this before.' That's the first step.

"You have to be presentable; you have to have what the driver perceives as the nicest car there, that he appreciates to be in every single weekend, that he's comfortable after 500 miles or 600 miles, or all those things. That was step number one. The first day we went to lunch, he said after Martinsville he couldn't hardly walk the next day. I'm like, ‘Well, that's a problem. Let's look at that part first,’ and that's when we went to work, and it's been a huge undertaking."

Childers joined Spire Motorsports after 11 years with Stewart-Haas Racing. During his partnership with Kevin Harvick, the duo won 37 races and the 2014 series championship, and Childers learned never to be satisfied with driver safety and comfort. He and Harvick constantly modified the car’s cockpit.

Haley acknowledged that he's always had seats poured to fit his body, but perhaps the geometry of making sure his tailbone and spine were properly situated and his core was in the right spot was lacking. It's been eye-opening for him to prepare for a season alongside Childers and car chief Robert 'Cheddar' Smith.

"I've quickly realized what Cup racing is through Rodney and Cheddar, and nothing is ever good enough for them and that's been refreshing to me," Haley said. "There is nothing overlooked, no stone unturned. If you need something done, it is done five minutes ago. It's truly been incredible to go through the process of the offseason with the two of them, and then Matt McCall and Ryan Sparks, and obviously McDowell and Travis , as well."

Haley rejoined Spire Motorsports after racing with them in 2021. He then competed with Kaulig Racing during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. For most of the 2024 season, he drove for Rick Ware, before Ware and Spire Motorsports exchanged drivers, Haley and Corey LaJoie, for the last seven races.

Childers began with Spire Motorsports immediately after the 2024 season finale.

"I guess I didn't quite understand what level they were racing on," Haley said of his new team leaders. "I feel like I was living on a different planet, honestly. And that's nothing against where I've been; it's just to compete at a high level and win races like Rodney and Cheddar, it requires something else.

"We spent like three days on a pit sign. I didn't know there were so many kinds of LED lights. Yeah, it's been fascinating; it's been interesting. I'm super thankful for this opportunity. It definitely feels like home but then Rodney and Cheddar have made me feel so much more secure in the car and about my driving, too. Now it's time to put results on the board."

Spire Motorsports’ expectations have also changed — now very much looking for wins and making the postseason. Childers sees the potential, given the amount of talent within the building at Spire, as they've continued to spend money to hire the right people and resources.

The veteran crew chief understands winning and competing for championships. After spending the last two years without achieving that at Stewart-Haas, he doesn't want to become complacent and he’s made it clear that he dislikes being on the losing side.

Haley won the organization's first race, the weather-shortened summer Daytona event, in 2019. He's not putting any additional pressure on himself to succeed this season now that he has a high caliber crew in his pit box.

"I thought last year was going to be my last year, so I put a lot of pressure on myself to get this opportunity," Haley said. "I've always had to do more than just drive, and the big focus now is that I can just drive, and they're going to take care of everything else. I can put my 24/7 and 365 on just driving the race car, and they're going to do what they need to do to give me what I need to go fast, no matter what.

"So no, I'm not worried about it. The expectation is to win throughout the company, for sure."