Rodney Childers reacts after JRM reveals sponsor return for Connor Zilisch in a key 2026 NASCAR race 

NASCAR: Daytona 500-Practice - Source: Imagn
Rodney Childers - NASCAR: Daytona 500-Practice - Source: Imagn

Rodney Childers shared his reaction to Connor Zilisch's sponsor announcement for the No.1 JRM entry. Kampgrounds of America has returned to the fray with a black and yellow paint scheme.

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Zilisch is all set for his rookie season in the Cup Series, but the 19-year-old will also share driver duties with Carson Kvapil in the No.1 Chevy. KOA will be the team's primary sponsor for a single race, in addition to being the year-round associate sponsor for multiple JRM entries.

KOA has been an industry leader in outdoor hospitality for over six decades. The company owns the world’s largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds, with more than 500 franchised and owned campgrounds.

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With Rodney Childers tapped to lead the No.1 team's pit box, the championship-winning crew chief addressed the news in an X post, writing,

"So excited to have @KOAKampgrounds with us on the 1 Team in 2026!! @ConnorZilisch 👊🏼👊🏼"
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Connor Zilisch missed out on an Xfinity Series title despite a dominant season with ten wins and 20 top-5s. He lost out to his best friend, Jesse Love, who surpassed him with a six-point margin.

Zilisch will now reprise his #88 in his Cup Series ride with Trackhouse Racing.


Rodney Childers opens up about missing the Cup Series

In a recent interview with NASCAR reporter Matt Weaver, Rodney Childers reflected on his switch to the Xfinity Series. Childers was ousted from Spire Motorsports midway through the 2025 season, and was on the lookout for a new stint atop the pitbox.

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He briefly worked with Kevin Harvick's stock car team in the CARS Tour Series. He was then brought in to bolster JRM's roster.

Nonetheless, Childers admitted that he waited long enough for a potential return to the Cup Series.

"I had to put some deep thought into, you know, whether to go Xfinity racing," he said, "You know, whether to give it a few more months and see if something happened on the cup side. You know, I mean, yeah, deep down inside it hurts not to cup race, but, you know, the right person called, you know, Dale's meant a lot to me. Him and Kelly both, Mr. H, you know, being part of that deal, all those three have meant a lot to me my whole life. And, you know, it was one of those opportunities that I felt like would be a lot of fun." [1:46 onwards]
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Rodney Childers recently shared his excitement for JR Motorsports' return to the Daytona 500 next year. Justin Allgaier will reprise his No.40 entry for a second consecutive attempt, while Chris Stapleton's Traveller Whiskey returns as primary sponsor.

The partnership had a successful bid in the 2025 running of the crown jewel event, logging a top-10 finish after starting 19th.

Get the latest NASCAR All-Star race news, Xfinity Series updates, breaking news, rumors, and today’s top stories with the latest news on NASCAR.

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Edited by Vignesh Kanna
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