Rodden named interim RCR competition director as Petree retires
WELCOME, N.C. — Keith Rodden will take over as the interim competition director for Richard Childress Racing as Andy Petree announced his retirement Tuesday.
Rodden will take over the position in an interim role. Petree will step away from his leadership role after 35 years in motorsports.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Richard Childress for the impact he has had on my career, as well as the wonderful memories and on-track success we have enjoyed together,” Petree said in a news release issued Tuesday. “Although my day-to-day involvement with RCR is changing, I will always be a fan and supporter of everyone in Welcome, North Carolina. I wish RCR the best for the rest of this season and beyond.”
Petree first joined RCR in 1993 as the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt. With Petree leading the team, Earnhardt earned his sixth and seventh championships in 1993 and 1994. They earned 15 wins together.
Recently, Petree led the RCR’s competition team as executive vice president. In that role, he led the organization to nine NASCAR Cup Series wins and 17 Xfinity Series wins. During that time, RCR also won the 2019 Xfinity Series championship. The organization also earned Cup playoff berths from 2017-2023. The organization says he was also instrumental in overseeing the development of the Next Gen Chevy.
“Andy Petree has been a tremendous supporter of RCR for many years and we wish him success in the future,” Richard Childress said in a news release issued Tuesday. “Our organization won two championships with Andy during his first stint at RCR. And we have made the NASCAR Playoffs and won races with him during his most recent tenure. I am grateful for his contributions to the team, leadership and friendship over the years.”
Rodden, who will succeed Petree, previously worked with Austin Dillon as his crew chief. RCR replaced him with Justin Alexander before the Martinsville race in April.
MORE: New crew chief named for Austin Dillon
“Keith Rodden has big shoes to fill as interim competition director, but I know his passion for motorsports and dedication will help drive RCR forward during a key time for our organization,” Childress said.
Rodden will need to make quick work in rallying the troops to the playoffs this season.
Kyle Busch and his No. 8 team are winless and 17th in points, 45 points out of a playoff spot. He has an average finish of 18.9 and has had mechanical issues take him out of the last two races.
At this point last season, Busch and his team had three wins that solidly locked him into the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Austin Dillon is 32nd in points with just four Top-20 finishes in 18 races. Last season, he had four Top-20s in the first eight races — and nine in the first 18. After 18 races last season, he was 28th in points despite a 60-point penalty.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com