NASCAR Cup Series rookie Josh Berry recently landed a ride with the iconic Wood Brothers Racing for the 2025 Cup Series season. However, there's no official announcement on the future of Rodney Childers, the current crew chief for the #4 Ford Mustang.
Josh Berry is in his first full-time season for Stewart-Haas Racing after replacing the 2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, who announced his retirement at the end of the 2023 season. However, the 33-year-old Berry was left in the free agent market after SHR announced their closure following the current season.
After several rumors and speculations, Berry and Wood Brothers Racing confirmed their partnership, with the #4 driver set to replace current #21 driver Harrison Burton. However, the continuation of the former Cup Series champion's crew chief Childers with Berry remains uncertain. Following the deal between Berry and WBR, Childers shared his appreciation for the Tennessee-native Berry on X.
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"I can’t even explain how happy I am for .. He has worked his butt off for a long time to get this opportunity. This 4 team takes great gratitude in being a part of showing the world what he can do. He’s a winner and has a huge future," Childers wrote.
With less probability of Childers joining Berry in the #21 Ford for WBR, a Motor Racing Network reporter believes that the crew chief for the #21 car would come from the team 'Penske Group' after Berry starts with WBR in the 2025 Cup Series season.
Here's what Chris Wilner wrote on his X handle:
"Announced this morning, Josh Berry will move to in 2025 and drive the iconic No. 21 Ford. Team not yet announcing the crew chief… but signaled it would most likely come from the Penske group."
Rodney Childers' possible future after the 2024 season
Rodney Childers started his partnership with #4 Josh Berry as the latter's crew chief for Stewart-Haas Racing beginning in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Before Berry, Childers joined NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick in 2014 as his crew chief under the SHR shed. Harvick and Childers then went on to win the 2014 Cup Series championship and had been together until Harvick's retirement from the Cup Series last season.
Currently, Childers' future remains doubtful as SHR co-owners announced the closure of their operation. Moreover, #4 Berry is set to move to Wood Brothers Racing without Childers as the former's crew chief.
However, renowned journalist Bob Pockrass indirectly shed light on the possible future of Childers.
"Would be mildly surprised if Childers remains at SHR (and I don't believe he is going to the 21) ... and I would be mildly surprised if Cole Custer is not the driver of the Cup car for Haas Factory team," Pockrass wrote.
As SHR shuts shop, Gene Haas, the co-owner of SHR announced that he would keep his involvement in the Cup Series with a single-car charter under a new branding, Haas Factory Team.
