Spire Motorsports faced an intense and challenging weekend at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, demonstrating determination despite a mix of tough breaks and solid efforts. The team competed in the NASCAR Cup Series’ DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne where Daniel Suárez, Michael McDowell, and Carson Hocevar delivered varying outcomes, each showcasing the resilience central to their Spire Motorsports race performance.
After starting deep in the field, Suárez ended the race 25th yet managed to improve his spot in the driver championship standings to seventh, highlighting the fluctuating nature of the event and the adjustments made by the crew throughout the race weekend.
Daniel Suárez Battles Grip Issues and Damage to Secure Points
Daniel Suárez began Sunday’s race in 23rd position driving the No. 7 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and faced steady challenges early on. Despite difficulty advancing into the top 20 through the first stage, his crew chief Ryan Sparks called him into the pits just before the stage break, allowing fresh tires and setup changes to improve performance.
This smart strategy elevated Suárez to ninth for the start of Stage 2, placing him ahead of those who finished in the top 10 of Stage 1. Suárez pushed hard, overcoming a shortage of rear grip to climb as high as third place during Stage 2, earning valuable bonus points from a strong showing.
After another pit stop at the stage break, Suárez restarted deep in 28th but fought back into the top 20. Unfortunately, a caution and a subsequent incident on lap 79 caused damage to the right front of his car, which severely hampered his chances and resulted in a 25th-place finish.
Reflecting on the race, Suárez stated,
“The day went as expected. We had a decent Freeway Insurance Chevrolet for the short runs, but during the middle and long runs, it was tough, the car just wanted to stroll. It was difficult to get the tires to perform. Both the front and rear were struggling. We definitely have a bit of work to do to improve our road course package, but I’m looking forward to heading to Phoenix now.”
?Daniel Suárez, Driver
Michael McDowell Delivers Strongest Finish of the Season at COTA
Michael McDowell, driving the No. 71 Katz Coffee Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, recorded his best finish of the 2026 season at COTA with a fifth-place result. The Glendale, Arizona native showed solid pace by topping Saturday’s practice session and qualifying sixth for the demanding road course.
During the race, McDowell capitalized on effective pit strategies and consistent speed. After securing a third-place finish in Stage 1 to collect crucial points, he was shuffled back to 20th on the restart due to differing pit strategies among competitors but quickly regained ground into the top 10 by lap 37.
Adjusting strategy again, McDowell pitted before the stage break, starting the final segment in seventh. Remaining within the top 10, he was positioned to execute a one-stop strategy to keep fresher tires longer than rivals. McDowell led briefly on lap 71 but pitted during a caution on lap 76, exiting pits first yet dropping to 15th because some competitors had not stopped.
With 18 laps to go and fresher tires, McDowell methodically climbed back up to finish fifth. He noted the late caution as a setback but remained optimistic about the team’s progress:
“Overall, the No. 71 Katz Coffee Chevrolet was good. We didn’t need that last caution. We were running long there and I don’t know how the math would have worked out, but I think we would have had a good shot of having better tires over everyone else at the end. So, that caution really hurt us. We restarted outside of the top 10, so to get back up into the top five is a solid day for this team. But we’re not looking for solid days, we’re looking for wins. It’s definitely a step in the right direction.”
?Michael McDowell, Driver
Carson Hocevar Faces Struggles with Handling Amid Road Course Difficulties
Carson Hocevar, in the No. 77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, encountered a tough day at COTA, slipping to 31st place after starting from 12th. Despite maintaining his position near the front of the driver standings, Hocevar grappled with vehicle balance issues that persisted throughout the race despite multiple adjustments.
The Portage, Michigan driver held 13th for most of the early laps but gradually lost ground due to a tight-handling car, especially in left-hand corners on the road course. Electing not to pit during Stage 1 allowed Hocevar to finish ninth for stage points, but restarting 28th in Stage 2 behind others who pitted earlier slowed progress.
Grip challenges continued to hinder his pace through the middle stages, and a late-race incident further dropped his position. Speaking candidly about the performance, Hocevar said,
“Tough way to end the day. The Chili’s Ride The ‘Dente Camaro looked super good, but we just couldn’t get the balance where I wanted it. We started off the season with speed and now we get to head to Phoenix where we were able to show that off last year. The No. 77 boys will build another strong Chevy and we’ll be back up front.”
?Carson Hocevar, Driver
Looking Ahead to Phoenix Raceway
With the first road-course event of the season behind them, all three drivers from Spire Motorsports turn their focus to the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway. The 312-lap contest on the one-mile D-shaped dogleg oval in the desert is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, and will be aired live on FS1 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
The Phoenix race is the fourth points-paying event of the season, promising a fresh opportunity for Spire Motorsports to build on lessons learned from their performance in Texas and pursue stronger finishes. As each driver reflects on their struggles and achievements at COTA, preparation intensifies to optimize the team’s Chevy Camaros and strategies for success on the varying tight oval of Phoenix.
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