Sources say that Budweiser signed off with [Stewart-Haas Racing] in the last month after opting not to introduce a fourth different driver in seven seasons. Although [Stewart-Haas Racing] and Kevin Harvick declined to name a crew chief for the #4 team, [Michael Waltrip Racings #55] Rodney Childers has been mentioned as the lead candidate.( Fox Sports )(7-14-2013) UPDATE: (#55 crew chief) Rodney Childers is leaving Michael Waltrip Racing and is expected to be named the crew chief for Kevin Harvick at Stewart-Haas Racing (in the #4 Chevy) next season. MWR confirmed Friday morning that Childers is leaving after the season. Childers is expected to be named the crew chief for Harvick, who has 21 career victories in a 13-year career at Richard Childress Racing but will leave that organization at the end of the year for SHR. ‘Stewart-Haas Racing has not signed any new crew chiefs for 2014, but the team thinks very highly of Rodney Childers and he is on a short list of candidates’ SHR spokesman Mike Arning said in an email.( Sporting News ) MORE Rodney Childers has informed Michael Waltrip Racing he will not return to the #55 NASCAR Sprint Cup team next year. Childers is moving to Stewart-Haas Racing, where he is expected be the crew chief for Kevin Harvick. ‘Its been a very long process, very hard and very emotional, too’ Childers told Performance Racing Network . ‘I ended up making the decision a couple of days ago. I told MWR yesterday and had to tell all my guys this morning. I was pretty much a mess trying to tell them. This team is the best group of guys Ive ever been around and a pretty big family. After being here for five years, its pretty hard to walk away from that. Going to SHR and working with Harvick is an opportunity that not many people ever get. I was afraid if I didnt take it I would regret it the rest of my life. Thats not something I wanted to do.” Childers told FOXSports.com that he was ‘not sure on (whether he would remain with MWR) the rest of the year. I will do what everyone at MWR wants me to do, and try to leave this team in winning condition.”( FoxSports )
