In NASCAR’s first season utilizing the next gen car in the Cup Series, no one knew what to expect. The car was supposed to “cut costs” and “increase competition.” Personally, I hate the next gen car, but it did help accomplish one great story in 2022. That great story was the rise of Trackhouse Racing. In 2025, there is going to be a similar story. That story is going to be a breakthrough season for Spire Motorsports.
Before I continue, let me clarify something. This breakthrough season for Spire Motorsports is going to be due to what the team has been doing in terms of personnel. Figures like Rodney Childers, Matt McCall, and Michael McDowell will finally put Spire over the top in 2025. Carson Hocevar was the 2024 Rookie of the Year. They’ve already put Justin Haley back in the #7 car, and paired him with Rodney Childers. The team has an alliance with Hendrick Motorsports. I would not be surprised to see all three Spire cars make the playoffs.
Hocevar’s 2024 Rookie of the Year Win is Big
Kyle Petty was not the only one very impressed with Carson Hocevar’s season. Hocevar had to battle not only Josh Berry and the #4 SHR Ford, but also crew chief Rodney Childers for the Rookie of the Year award. At the beginning of the season, I personally thought that Josh Berry would easily run off with the Rookie of the Year. Statistically speaking, it ended up being a tough year for Stewart-Haas Racing.
Granted Stewart-Haas dropped a bombshell this past season announcing their closing one year after their top driver, Kevin Harvick retired. That undoubtedly led to a lot of extra baggage that most likely weighed the entire team down. That was still the #4 car. That was still Rodney Childers as crew chief, and Josh Berry was still a heck of a driver. That team has always operated well under pressure. You can’t write off Hocevar’s victory over them due to the off track stuff. After all, Carson Hocevar had a lot of run-ins with other drivers, which I’m sure had an effect upon his on track.
Ultimately, while Hocevar may have rattled some cages and ruffled some feathers in 2024, he is going to be a force to be reckoned with in 2025. He may face retaliation, but I see him winning at a race and making the playoffs in 2025. Much like how Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain did the same in 2022.
Michael McDowell Starring as “Spire’s Veteran Driver” in 2025
Michael McDowell went winless in 2024 Cup Series competition. Simply put, it was a rough year for him. I believe a lot of that was due to the news of him leaving for Spire in 2025. While he still ended up earning an overall stats grade of C from Pit Pass Network’s Daniel Smith, it wasn’t what many expected from Michael McDowell.
Personally, I get the same feeling that I got about the possibilities for Kevin Harvick’s first season at Stewart-Haas when I think about the possibilities for McDowell in 2025. McDowell is a few years older than Harvick when he jumped from RCR to SHR. Furthermore, McDowell didn’t have as much success at Front Row as Harvick had at RCR. Still Spire Motorsports has that alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, much like how Stewart-Haas had that alliance with Hendrick in 2014.
I am not going to be so bold as to predict a Michael McDowell championship in 2025. Yet, I will predict at least one win for McDowell. Now I am not sure if it will be at a Superspeedway or a road course, but I see him winning at least once and making it pretty far in the playoffs. I know it’s just a feeling, but I’m feeling pretty lucky here. Michael McDowell will have the best season of his career thus far in 2025.
A Winning Combo: Justin Haley and Rodney Childers
Justin Haley replaced Corey LaJoie in the #7 car with seven races left in the 2024 season. He had a rough go of it, as he only earned two top 20s in those seven races. Still one of those was a strong 7th place finish at Talladega. This was the #7 car’s second best finish of the season. LaJoie’s 4th place finish in the Daytona season opener was the only better result.
Yes, if you compare the two drivers’ seasons, they are very similar. Both had three top 10 finishes. Though LaJoie did have that one top 5 finish in the Daytona 500. The big deal here is simple. In my opinion, Justin Haley will pair better with Rodney Childers. I’m not sure that Corey LaJoie was going to be capable of making the adjustments to his behavior that Harvick was able to do in order to bring Rodney Childers on. Justin Haley is just a better personality match with Childers.
Furthermore, Justin Haley already has a Cup series win with Spire Motorsports. This win occurred back in 2019 in the 400 mile race at Daytona in the #77 car. I think this #7 team is going to surprise a lot of people with how well they perform in 2025. It has been a while since Rodney Childers won a race as crew chief (Richmond’s second race of the 2022 season). I believe both Childers and Haley find their way back into victory lane in 2025.
All the Pieces are in Place for a Breakthrough Season
Matt McCall is the competition director at Spire Motorsports starting in 2025. Justin Haley, having had seven races to get re-accustomed to Spire Motorsports, will have Rodney Childers as crew chief in 2025. Carson Hocevar, the 2024 Cup Series Rookie of the Year, is returning to the #77 car. Veteran Michael McDowell is in the #71 car. Spire has an alliance with Hendrick.
Spire Motorsports has all the pieces in place for a breakthrough season Cup series racing in 2025.
