Let’s rewind to Bristol, the world’s fastest half-mile, where Spire Motorsport’s young drivers put on a clinic. Carson Hocevar and Justin Haley didn’t just show up—they dominated. Both qualified impressively, ran in the top ten, and even flirted with top-five positions for much of the race. They each banked 13 stage points, a huge haul for a team like Spire. By the checkered flag, both drivers crossed the line in the top 15. Hocevar was on track for a top-five finish until a late green-flag pit stop went sideways Still, the raw speed those two showed was undeniable. Spire is no longer just scrapping for survival—they’re racing to win.
“For me, it was really helpful that, motivation-wise, the 5 were 11 were right there,” Hocevar said. “I mean, I did everything I could to work past the 11 and try to get myself in a free-pass spot or get in the top 10. Just didn’t work out right there. But still, we held onto them. Just wish we were on the lead lap, obviously.”
Spire Motorsports is stealing the spotlight in the NASCAR Cup Series. Not long ago, this team was stuck in the back, limping to finishes in the 30th to 35th range, barely noticed in the shadow of NASCAR’s giants. Fast forward to 2025, and Spire has flipped the script.
All three of their Chevrolets—driven by young talents Carson Hocevar, Justin Haley, and Corey LaJoie—are sitting comfortably in the top 25 of the regular season points standings. That’s a massive leap for a team once written off as an also-ran. But what’s got everyone buzzing is how Spire is still making waves, even after Joe Gibbs Racing poached key members of their crew.
Eric Estepp, a respected NASCAR insider, captured the moment perfectly: “They’re ahead of two front-row motorsports drivers. They’re ahead of an RCR car, a 23XI car. A few years ago, Spire Motorsports was a 30th to 35th place team. Now all three of their cars are top 25 in points. They’re closer now to the RFK, 23XI track house group than they are the Haas-Rick Ware group. TJ (and) Jeff have done a great job, I believe, adapting to modern NASCAR, bringing in the Gamebridge group, strengthening their ties to Hendrick Motorsports. They’re playing the game the way it needs to be played if you want to get competitive quickly in the modern NASCAR Cup series. I’ll be really interested to see how Spire progresses throughout the year. Justin Haley in particular, that number seven team has been ransacked in recent weeks.”
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 04: Justin Haley, driver of the #11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on September 04, 2021 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Spire’s number seven team, led by Justin Haley, has been hit hard recently. Their car chief, Cheddar Smith, bolted for Joe Gibbs Racing to join Ty Gibbs’ crew, a move that left Spire reeling. To add insult to injury, their pit crew was swapped out for Kyle Larson’s, a shakeup that could’ve derailed their momentum. But Bristol? That was their comeback story. Despite the chaos, Haley and his team proved they’ve got the heart to compete with the best, showing they can still play spoiler on any track, any day. Michael McDowell said, “Good to know that we could come back here in the Fall with a good baseline and build on that. Just tough when you have a rough day like that. Especially going into the brick, you want to go in on a high.”
They’re not just holding their own—they’re pushing the pace. Spire’s drivers are a big part of this story. Hocevar, at just 22, is a fearless talent with a knack for wringing every ounce of speed from his car. Haley, a 25-year-old veteran of tough breaks, has found a home at Spire and is driving with a chip on his shoulder. Together, they’re proving that youth and hunger can go toe-to-toe with experience and big budgets. Even Corey LaJoie, the team’s anchor, has stepped up, helping Spire maintain consistency across all three cars.
Looking ahead, Spire’s trajectory is thrilling to watch. They’ve already shown they can compete at tracks as demanding as Bristol and Las Vegas, where McDowell earned Spire their first Cup Series pole. Their ties to Hendrick Motorsports are paying dividends, with Kyle Larson and William Byron even set to run select Truck Series races for Spire in 2025. That kind of firepower signals Spire’s ambition to keep climbing. But the question remains: can they sustain this?
The loss of crew members is a hurdle, and the Cup Series is unforgiving. Still, Spire’s Bristol performance was a reminder that they’re not just a feel-good story—they’re a team ready to shake up the playoffs. Whether it’s Hocevar charging for a top five or Haley silencing doubters, Spire is proving they belong
Spire Motorsports is set for a grand Rockingham debut
It’s exciting for Spire Motorsports first race at Rockingham Speedway this weekend! The Black’s Tire 200 is more than a race—it’s a homecoming for this team and their fans. Spire’s bringing their A-game with Corey LaJoie in the No. 7 Chevy, Carson Hocevar in the No. 77, and Justin Haley in the No. 71, all chasing glory in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series on April 19, 2025.
“If you look at the revival of North Wilkesboro with the new asphalt but still a legendary and historic feel, Rockingham is no different.” McDowell continued. “It’s going to be a great Easter weekend, April 18-19, and tickets are still available. I’m going to be there with my family. It’s going to be a lot of fun and I know the racing will not disappoint.” Spire’s deep ties with Black’s Tire, a family-owned business since 1929, make this event personal. The No. 7 truck will sport Black’s Tire colors, a nod to their 60+ stores across the Carolinas and beyond.
Corey Day added, “While most of us haven’t raced at Rockingham Speedway before we all got to test there earlier this year. Those laps are going to be useful to help me get up to speed quicker than tracks I haven’t raced at before. I think it should be a good race.” Rockingham’s return to NASCAR is huge—its first race since 2013.
With Spire’s history of grit, including three Cup Series wins in 2024, they’re ready to shine. Rooting for Spire to make this weekend unforgettable!
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