Spire Motorsports Overview
Spire Motorsports is an American professional stock car racing team that competes in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series, and ARCA Menards Series West. Founded in 2018 by Jeff Dickerson and T. J. Puchyr as part of Spire Sports + Entertainment, the organization quickly established itself in NASCAR by purchasing a charter from Furniture Row Racing. Headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, the team fields Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 vehicles in the Cup Series and Chevrolet Silverado trucks in the Truck Series. Spire Motorsports is owned primarily by Jeff Dickerson through Spire Holdings, along with Dan Towriss (CEO of TWG Motorsports) and Mark Walter (TWG Motorsports). The team has secured notable drivers including Daniel Suárez, Michael McDowell, and Carson Hocevar, and achieved its first Cup Series victory in 2019. The organization is noted for strategic acquisitions, including purchasing the assets of Kyle Busch Motorsports and Live Fast Motorsports, which helped transform the dormant NASCAR charter system and increase charter values significantly between 2018 and 2024.
Founding and Organizational Origins
On December 4, 2018, Spire Sports + Entertainment announced the purchase of a NASCAR Cup Series charter from the now-defunct Furniture Row Racing. At the time of the announcement, the team revealed plans to field the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 beginning with the 2019 season. Former Furniture Row Racing President Joe Garone joined Spire Motorsports to serve in the same executive position. The founding principals, Jeff Dickerson and T. J. Puchyr, established the organization as a subsidiary of their Spire Sports + Entertainment agency, which focused on acquiring and operating professional racing properties.
In its inaugural season, Spire Motorsports operated out of the same facility as Premium Motorsports as part of an operational alliance with team owner Jay Robinson. This arrangement provided the new organization with essential infrastructure and technical support during its first year of competition. The team utilized this partnership to learn the ins and outs of Cup Series operations while developing its own organizational identity and competitive systems.
Growth Into NASCAR Competition
Following the 2019 season, Premium Motorsports was sold to Rick Ware Racing, and Spire Motorsports continued operations out of the Rick Ware Racing facility through the end of 2020. This transitional period allowed the organization to develop independent operational capabilities while maintaining cost-effective access to racing infrastructure. On August 11, 2020, Spire Motorsports acquired the assets of Leavine Family Racing, a transaction that enabled the expansion to a two-car Cup Series operation for the 2021 season.
After the Leavine Family Racing acquisition, the team relocated its headquarters from Mooresville to the former shop of AK Racing in Concord, North Carolina. This move consolidated the organization’s operations into a purpose-built facility designed for competitive NASCAR competition. On October 7, 2020, Spire Motorsports secured a third charter, which was subsequently leased to Trackhouse Racing for the 2021 season. On December 10, 2020, it was announced that NASCAR on NBC analyst and former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Steve Letarte would serve as a consultant for the organization.
In 2022, Spire Motorsports purchased Rick Ware Racing’s No. 53 charter to secure equipment for the No. 77 entry. The organization continued expanding its operations and technical partnerships, establishing itself as a legitimate multi-car Cup Series competitor. These strategic charter acquisitions allowed Spire to grow its presence in NASCAR’s top series while maintaining operational flexibility.
Spire Motorsports Competitive Journey
Since its founding in 2018, Spire Motorsports has evolved from a single-car operation into a multi-vehicle organization competing across multiple NASCAR national series. The team’s competitive journey includes Cup Series expansion from one to three full-time entries, Truck Series championship-caliber programs, and development pipelines for emerging racing talent. Key milestones include first-race victories in each series entered, pole positions at major tracks, and the development of young drivers into Cup Series competitors.
Early Seasons and Development (2018–2021)
The 2019 season marked Spire Motorsports’ debut in the NASCAR Cup Series. For the season-opening Daytona 500, the organization formed a partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing to field the No. 40 (renumbered from the No. 77 charter) for veteran driver Jamie McMurray. This partnership guaranteed the entry would qualify for the prestigious race, and McMurray finished 22nd after being caught in a multi-car incident known as “The Big One.” Throughout 2019, the team utilized multiple drivers in the No. 77 entry, including Quin Houff, Garrett Smithley, Reed Sorenson, and D. J. Kennington.
On July 7, 2019, Spire Motorsports achieved its first Cup Series victory in just its 18th start when Justin Haley drove the No. 77 to victory lane in the rain-shortened Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. While the win did not make the team eligible for the Cup Series Playoffs due to charter rules, it established Spire Motorsports as a race-winning organization and provided momentum for future expansion efforts. This breakthrough result validated the investment in the charter system and demonstrated the team’s potential for competitive success.
Breakthrough in NASCAR Cup Series (2022–2024)
The 2022 and 2023 seasons saw Spire Motorsports establish stability in its Cup Series operations. Corey LaJoie became the primary driver of the No. 7 entry starting in 2021, bringing consistency to the program. During the 2022 season at Atlanta Motor Speedway, LaJoie led a career-best nineteen laps and was on the verge of claiming his first career victory with two laps remaining when contact with Chase Elliott caused him to spin and finish 21st. This near-miss demonstrated the team’s potential to compete for wins on a regular basis.
The 2023 season brought significant organizational changes and continued growth. On September 16, 2023, Spire Motorsports purchased the Live Fast Motorsports charter for US$40 million, securing the assets needed to field a third Cup Series team in 2024. Less than two weeks later, the organization agreed to purchase the assets of Kyle Busch Motorsports, dramatically expanding its Truck Series presence. On December 4, former Chip Ganassi Racing Chief Operating Officer Doug Duchardt was named President of Spire Motorsports, bringing extensive experience in motorsports organization leadership.
On November 25, 2024, former RFK Racing crew chief Matt McCall was named director of vehicle performance, while former Stewart-Haas Racing engineer Dax Gerringer was appointed technical director. Media reports revealed that billionaire Mark Walter, founder of TWG Global, had become the primary owner through TWG Motorsports. Among Walter’s sports properties are the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Professional Women’s Hockey League, and a minority share of Chelsea F.C. The restructuring positioned Spire Motorsports for sustained competitive growth with enhanced technical leadership and expanded resources.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2024–Present)
In the Cup Series, Spire Motorsports currently fields three Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entries. The No. 7 is driven by Daniel Suárez, who joined the team in 2026 after previously competing at the Cup level. The No. 71 is piloted by Michael McDowell, who signed a multi-year agreement starting in 2025 and achieved the team’s first-ever Cup Series pole position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March 2025. The No. 77 is driven by Carson Hocevar, who began his Spire tenure in 2024 and won Rookie of the Year honors that season.
The Truck Series program has become a significant part of Spire Motorsports’ operations following the acquisition of Kyle Busch Motorsports assets in 2023. The organization fields multiple Silverado entries with a rotating driver lineup that has included established veterans and developing talents. In 2026, the No. 7 truck was shared between Michael McDowell, Kyle Busch, Connor Mosack, Sammy Smith, Corey Day, and Rajah Caruth. Busch scored wins at Atlanta and Dover during the 2026 season, with the Dover victory marking his final career win before his passing on May 21, 2026.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Spire Motorsports has built its competitive identity around strategic acquisitions, driver development, and operational efficiency. The organization’s ability to identify and acquire valuable charters and racing assets has been a hallmark of its business approach. Technically, the team has invested in enhanced vehicle performance systems and technical leadership, bringing in experienced personnel to improve engineering capabilities across all series. The partnership with TWG Motorsports has provided access to additional resources and cross-discipline expertise that strengthens the organization’s competitive position.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Several defining moments have shaped Spire Motorsports’ history. The 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 victory with Justin Haley delivered the team’s first Cup win. The 2025 Las Vegas Motor Speedway pole by Michael McDowell represented the first pole position in organization history. Carson Hocevar’s first career Cup Series win at Talladega in April 2026 added another milestone. In the Truck Series, Rajah Caruth’s victory at Las Vegas in 2024 made him only the third-ever African-American driver to win a NASCAR national series race. The acquisition of Kyle Busch Motorsports and the resulting expansion of the Truck Series program transformed Spire into a developmental powerhouse for emerging talent.
Spire Motorsports Achievements and Results
Spire Motorsports has accumulated verified race victories and accomplishments across its competitions in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series. Through 2026, the organization has earned 16 total race victories, including 3 in Cup Series competition, 12 in the Truck Series, and 1 in the ARCA Menards Series. The team has also secured 11 pole positions, with 4 in Cup Series racing and 7 in the Truck Series.
NASCAR Cup Series Achievements
In the Cup Series, Spire Motorsports has established itself as a consistent Open team capable of competing for victories. The inaugural win came on July 7, 2019, when Justin Haley drove the No. 77 to victory in the rain-shortened Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Additional Cup victories have followed as the organization expanded to multiple full-time entries. The first-ever pole position for Spire came on March 15, 2025, when Michael McDowell captured the starting position for the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Achievements
Spire Motorsports has developed a strong Truck Series program, particularly after acquiring the assets of Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2023. William Byron delivered the organization’s first Truck Series victory on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. Kyle Larson contributed additional wins at North Wilkesboro and Homestead. The 2026 season saw Rajah Caruth score victories at Nashville and advance to the Truck Series Playoffs for the second consecutive year. The Truck Series operations have served as a platform for driver development, with multiple competitors using Spire equipment to advance their careers.
ARCA Menards Series Achievements
Spire Motorsports expanded into ARCA Menards Series competition in 2025, beginning with the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway. The organization fielded entries for developing drivers including Corey Day and Tristan McKee across both the main ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series West. This expansion demonstrates the organization’s commitment to developing young talent through its racing programs.
