"See you again one day" - SHR's Rodney Childers makes his emotions known as he pens a heartfelt note on his "toughest competitor" Bobby Gill's demise

Rodney Childers has laid bare his emotions as the Stewart-Haas Racing crew chief penned a heartfelt condolence note on the sad demise of his "toughest competitor," Bobby Gill. The four-time zMax Cars Tour champion, who died on October 18, had been fighting a long battle against cancer.

Before making his name as the crew chief to look out for and bagging the 2014 championship with Kevin Harvick, Childers had a brief career as a motorsports driver. From 1999 to 2002, he competed in NASCAR's Slim Jim All Pro series and the Hooters Pro Cup late model series, now known as zMax Cars Tour.

At that time, Bobby Gill ran a part-time schedule in the Truck Series and invested himself full-time in the zMax Late Model Racing. Gill clinched three consecutive championships from 1999 to 2001. The Late Model legend added a fourth title to his resume after dominating the 2007 season.

Amid the sad demise of the Late Model racing's renowned face, Josh Berry's crew chief wrote an emotional note on X (formerly Twitter), in which he called Gill his toughest competitor. Rodney Childers wrote,

"Growing up as a racer, you always remember who your toughest competitor was. Mine, was Bobby Gill. See you again one day my friend. I know you, Billy and Boger are already sitting around in heaven laughing like crazy about old stories.. RIP. #racer 🙏🏼."

Notably, Childers supported Gill's wife Jaimee Gill's fundraiser for her husband's cancer treatment.

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"This is SO amazing" - When Rodney Childers was thrilled to have Bobby Gill at CR7 Motorsports' garage

Despite battling cancer, Gill's continuing bond with motorsports was evident when he visited CR7 Motorsports' garage. He shared a long-time friendship with the team's owner Codie Rohrbaugh, who paid tribute to Gill's extensive motorsport resume by imprinting his name on Grant Enfinger's #9 Chevrolet Silverado Truck.

Bobby Gill made 16 Truck Series starts in his career and etched four top-10s. He was recently honored with the 2024 Florida Short Track Racing Hall of Fame award. Rodney Childers was excited about the Late Model legend stepping into CR7 Motorsports' garage. In a post shared on X, he wrote,

"This is SO amazing..Our thoughts and prayers are with Bobby every day! 🙏🏼,"

Bobby Gill drove for Spears Motorsports in 1996 and Billey Ballew Motorsports in 1996 and 2000 in the Truck Series. His best finish came at the Milwaukee Mile, settling his #75 Truck in P6. He posted two seventh-place finishes at Tucson Raceway Park and Bristol Motor Speedway. Notably, all four of Gill's top-10 finishes came in 1996.