2022 Season in Review: Spire Motorsports

Drivers: #7- Corey LaJoie, #77- Landon Cassill, Mike Rockenfeller, Justin Allgaier, Josh Bilicki

#7 Schluter Systems / Built / RAZE Energy Chevrolet (LaJoie)

#77 Chevrolet (various sponsors)

Engines: Hendrick Motorsports

Crew Chief(s): #7-Ryan Sparks, #77-Kevin Bellicourt

2022 Season Grade (Overall): C-

2022 Season (Corey LaJoie #7)

After joining the growing Spire Motorsports organization in 2021 to pilot their new #7 Chevrolet, the team returned intact for 2022, with hopes the NextGen car would improve their odds.

The high hopes of the season got off to a positive start, as LaJoie would start 24th and finish 14th in the Daytona 500. Following the 500, LaJoie would finish 28th in California, 15th in Las Vegas, and 30th in Phoenix. 

The first Atlanta race would prove to be the start of the team’s rollercoaster season. During the seasons 4th race in Phoenix, LaJoie unfortunately fell victim to the new loose wheel violation rule this season, as crew chief Ryan Bell was suspended for 4 races. Peter Sospenzo took over the role starting with a 5th place finish at Atlanta, but the races that followed would only produce finishes of 36th, 31st, and 32nd. 

With Bell returning for the Bristol dirt race weekend, the season marched on for the 7 team and LaJoie, as they would collect 3 straight Top 15 finishes.  Following Bristol, the team would have a seesaw of finishes leading up to the series’ return for race 19 in Atlanta.

The return trip to Atlanta (where LaJoie finished 5th earlier in the year) almost eclipsed the success of race 5. LaJoie would qualify 30th, but by races end was running towards the front. LaJoie would have a career day as he ledtwice for 18 laps. With two laps to go LaJoie was on pace to earn his first career victory, until contact with Chase Elliott took LaJoie out of contention, relegating the 7 car to a 21st place finish.

The ups and downs continued throughout the remainder of the season, with LaJoie ending the year with an 18th place finish in Phoenix. 2022 saw LaJoie end the season with an average finish of 24.3, 8 DNF’s, 31 laps lead, and a 31st place finish in the standings.

2023 Outlook: Both LaJoie and Ryan Sparks will be returning for 2023, while no sponsors have been announced yet. While there were some flashes of speed during 2022, the team could greatly benefit from gaining consistency race-to-race, especially with Hendrick horsepower under the hood. A Top 20 points finish could definitely be a possibility, but not without improved finishes, and cutting down the number of DNF’s.

2022 Season Results: 

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2022 Season (#77 Chevrolet):

While not having a full-time sponsor, Spire Motorsports’ #77 Chevrolet with crew chief Kevin Bellicourt returned for another season. Utilizing a mix of Josh Bilicki, Landon Cassill, Mike Rockenfeller, and Xfinity Series regular Justin Allgaier during the Bristol dirt weekend, the team set off on their 2022 campaign.

The #77 Spire struggled during a good portion of the season, but scored a Top 5 finish in the summer at Daytona with Landon Cassill. 

Josh Bilicki: Originally signed to drive the bulk of the 2022 schedule, Bilicki would only start 16 races (instead of a planned 25). Carrying sponsorship from Ziegler Auto Group and Pacific Coast Termite, Bilicki would make his season debut in California, finishing 30th. 

Despite the rough season Bilicki had that ended with race 23 in Michigan, there were some highlights that included a 16th in the first Atlanta race, a pair of 22nd place finishes, and a 21st in Bilicki’s season finale in Michigan. 

Bilicki would wrap up the season with a 29.1 average finish, and 4 DNF’s in 16 starts. 

Landon Cassill: Kaulig Racing’s Xfinity Series driver Landon Cassill made 17 starts in the Cup Series with Spire’s #77 team in 2022. Brining Xfinity Series sponsor Voyager Crypto on for the bulk of his starts, Cassill ended his 17-race schedule with an average finish of 24.1.

The highlights of Cassill’s 2022 Cup season came on the superspeedways, as he would score finishes of 4th in Daytona and an 11th in the fall at Talladega. Despite recording 3 DNF’s, Cassill was the most successful of the 77 group.

Mike Rockenfeller: Switzerland native Mike Rockenfeller made his NASCAR debut in 2022, running races in Watkins Glen and at the Charlotte ROVAL. Known for his road racing prowess, Rockenfeller struggled in the heavier NASCAR vehicles, finishing 30th at Watkins Glen and 29th on the ROVAL.

Justin Allgaier: Xfinity Series playoff contender Justin Allgaier was tapped to drive the#77 Chevrolet for the Bristol Dirt race. Brining his Xfinity Series sponsor BRANDT with him, Allgaier qualified 27th and finished 36th, going out on lap 74 due to an accident

2023 Outlook: Announced in October, the #77 seat will be filled by Ty Dillon. Dillon who left the Petty-GMS Motorsports #42 team at season’s end, will be the sole driver of the #77 Chevrolet in 2023. With crew chief Bellicourt also returning, it will be interesting to see if the new pairing can match or outrun their teammates on the #7 team. Expect a possible Top 10 finish or two, and a Top 25 points finish. No other details have been announced as of 12/3/2022.

2022 Season Results (by track):