KEITH MATTHEW RODDEN - 03/27/1981
A native of Denver, North Carolina, and a graduate of North Carolina State University, Rodden has worked as an engineer in the NASCAR Cup series for Andy Petree Racing, Gillett Evernham Motorsports, Richard Petty Motorsports, Red Bull Racing, and Hendrick Motorsports. He first sat atop the pit box in 2007 when he filled in three races for Kenny Francis. His first full time gig came in 2014 when he led Jamie McMurray in the Cup series. They struggled that season and only had a best finish of third. They had seven top five finishes and missed the playoffs. 2015 was worse, as he moved over to lead Kasey Kahne, and went to work for Rick Hendrick. They only had three top fives and ten top tens, and for the second year in a row, his driver finished 18th in points. 2016 was almost a carbon copied as the pair had three top fives, and 13 top ten runs and finished 17th in points. 2017 saw Rodden get his first win. It came at Indianapolis when Kahne won the Brick Yard 400. Still after 27 races Darian Grubb took Rodden’s place and finished out the season with Kahne. Rodden didn’t sit on top of the pit
box again until 2020 when he filled in one race for Chad Knaus with driver William Byron. They ran well and finished tenth at Kansas. Rodden next sat on the pit box in 2023, when he took over the duties full time for driver Austin Dillon and owner Richard Childress. Dillon had a best finish of third at Bristol on the dirt. It was their only top five of the season. They had seven top tens and missed the playoffs. They will be back together again in 2024.
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