SPIRE
BaseMooresville, North Carolina
ManufacturerChevrolet
SeriesNASCAR Cup Series
Cars#7, #71, #77
Founded2018

2026 Season Stats

0
Wins
Daniel Suarez
Points Leader
3
Cars

2026 Drivers

  • #7 Daniel Suarez - The first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race. Suarez brings experience and a loyal fanbase to Spire after previous stints with Joe Gibbs Racing, Stewart-Haas, and Trackhouse.
  • #71 Michael McDowell - The 2021 Daytona 500 champion. McDowell is a veteran presence who has proven he can win on the biggest stage.
  • #77 Carson Hocevar - A young talent who made his name in the Truck Series with aggressive, wheel-to-wheel racing. Hocevar represents the future of the organization.

Team History

Spire Motorsports entered the NASCAR Cup Series in 2018 as a small, single-car operation built around charter ownership and strategic growth. Founded by Jeff Dickerson and T.J. Puchyr, the team took an unconventional path to competitiveness, acquiring charters - the entry permits that guarantee a spot in each race - and gradually building infrastructure rather than trying to compete at the top level immediately.

The team's early years were spent running at the back of the field, often with journeyman drivers and limited sponsorship. But behind the scenes, Spire was laying the groundwork for something more ambitious. The team formed a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, gaining access to Chevrolet equipment, engineering data, and support that smaller independent teams simply cannot generate on their own. This alliance proved critical to the team's development.

Spire's growth accelerated significantly in recent years as the team expanded to three full-time entries. The acquisition of experienced drivers like Daniel Suarez and Michael McDowell gave the team credibility and consistency that it had previously lacked. McDowell's 2021 Daytona 500 victory - arguably the biggest upset in the race's modern history - proved that so-called "smaller" teams can compete and win at NASCAR's highest level when circumstances align.

The addition of Carson Hocevar signals Spire's commitment to developing young talent alongside its experienced veterans. Hocevar was one of the most exciting drivers in the Truck Series, known for his fearless racing and natural car control. With Hendrick support providing competitive equipment and a driver lineup that blends veteran savvy with youthful aggression, Spire is positioned to continue its rise through the Cup Series pecking order. The team may not have the budget of the sport's biggest organizations, but its strategic approach to growth has made it one of NASCAR's most interesting success stories.

Cup Championships

Spire Motorsports has not yet won a Cup Series championship.

Interesting Facts

  • Spire's business model focused on acquiring charters first and building competitiveness second, a strategy that has proven to be one of the smartest approaches in modern NASCAR.
  • Daniel Suarez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race when he won the 2016 Xfinity Series championship race at Homestead.
  • Michael McDowell's 2021 Daytona 500 victory came in his 358th career Cup start, proving that perseverance pays off in NASCAR.
  • Carson Hocevar was one of the youngest drivers to win a Truck Series race and is considered one of the brightest young talents in the sport.
  • The team's technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports provides a significant competitive advantage that has helped accelerate its development.

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