TC Daily Pit Stop: Rodney Childers Joins JR Motorsports; Classic Collision to Sponsor Hocevar at Las Vegas

TC Daily Pit Stop: Thursday, September 25, 2025

Sep 25, 2025

Rodney Childers will serve as the crew chief for the No. 1 JR Motorsports team during the 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Connor Zilisch and Carson Kvapil will share the ride. — Photo: Craig White, TobyChristie.com

Rodney Childers has landed himself a full-time crew chief position in the NASCAR National Series ranks for the 2026 season. Childers will return to the pit box next season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with the No. 1 JR Motorsports team.

According to a press release from JR Motorsports, Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch, who will compete for Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing next season, will share the No. 1 Chevrolet in 2026.

Childers, who spent the opening nine races of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season as the crew chief for Justin Haley and the No. 7 Spire Motorsports team, is elated to get back to doing what he does best, and is excited to be doing it with the most formidable team in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Classic Collision Joins Spire Motorsports as Two-Race Partner for Hocevar

Carson Hocevar to pilot Classic Collision sponsored car at Las Vegas and Phoenix NASCAR Cup Series races.

Classic Collision, which has served as a primary sponsorship partner for Ryan Ellis in the NASCAR Xfinity Series ranks, will expand into the NASCAR Cup Series. The company, which regards itself as one of the largest privately held auto body repair providers in the United States, has partnered with Spire Motorsports and driver Carson Hocevar for two races.

The black and blue colors of Classic Collision will adorn Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet in the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 12, and will serve as an associate sponsorship partner at Phoenix Raceway on November 2.

Hocevar, who has been close to achieving his first career NASCAR Cup Series win on several occasions this season, is excited to be paired with Classic Collision.