Spire Motorsports: Difference between revisions
== Xfinity Series ==
== Xfinity Series ==
=== Car No. 77 history ===
=== Car No. 77 history ===
[[File:2023_Tennessee_Lottery_250_-_Hocevar_leaves_the_race.jpg|thumb|left|Hocevar’s damaged car at Nashville in 2023.]]
On March 7, 2023, the team announced that they will expand their racing operations to the [[NASCAR Xfinity Series]], with [[Carson Hocevar]] running six races in their No. 77 car, making his debut in the series.{{Cite web |last=Srigley |first=Joseph |date=March 7, 2023 |title=Carson Hocevar Running Six Xfinity Series Races in Newly-Formed Spire Motorsports No. 77 |url=https://tobychristie.com/2023/03/07/carson-hocevar-running-six-xfinity-series-races-in-newly-formed-spire-motorsports-no-77/ |access-date=March 7, 2023 |website=TobyChristie.com}}
On March 7, 2023, the team announced that they will expand their racing operations to the [[NASCAR Xfinity Series]], with [[Carson Hocevar]] running six races in their No. 77 car, making his debut in the series.{{Cite web |last=Srigley |first=Joseph |date=March 7, 2023 |title=Carson Hocevar Running Six Xfinity Series Races in Newly-Formed Spire Motorsports No. 77 |url=https://tobychristie.com/2023/03/07/carson-hocevar-running-six-xfinity-series-races-in-newly-formed-spire-motorsports-no-77/ |access-date=March 7, 2023 |website=TobyChristie.com}}
NASCAR team
Spire Motorsports is an American auto racing organization competing in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The team is a subsidiary of Spire Sports + Entertainment. In the Cup Series, the team currently fields three Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 teams: the No. 7 for Corey LaJoie, the No. 71 for Zane Smith, and the No. 77 for Carson Hocevar. In the Xfinity Series, the team fields the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro part-time for TBA. In the Truck Series, the team fields two Chevrolet Silverados: one for Chase Purdy and the other by multiple drivers including NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch in 5 races to be announced at a later date.
History[edit]
On December 4, 2018, Spire Sports + Entertainment announced they purchased their charter from the now-defunct Furniture Row Racing. At the same time, the team announced they will use the No. 77 and field Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s.[1][2][3] FRR President Joe Garone joined the team to serve the same position.[4]
The team, in its first year of operation, operated in the same shop as Premium Motorsports as part of an alliance with Premium owner Jay Robinson. However, Premium was sold to Rick Ware Racing in 2020, and the team operated out of the RWR shop until season’s end. On August 11, 2020, Spire Motorsports purchased the assets of Leavine Family Racing, allowing them to expand to a two-car operation in 2021.[5] Following the acquisition, the team moved their headquarters from Mooresville to the former shop of AK Racing in Concord, North Carolina.[6] On October 7, it was announced that Spire Motorsports had secured a third charter which would be leased to Trackhouse Racing for the 2021 season.[7] On December 10, it was reported that NASCAR on NBC analyst and former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Steve Letarte will serve as a consultant for the team.[8]
On June 18, 2021, it was announced that Spire had sold two charters (for the No. 77, and the one leased to Trackhouse Racing) to Kaulig Racing for the 2022 season. In the announcement, Spire’s co-owners said, “We will continue to field the No. 7 with Corey LaJoie as a chartered entry in 2022. We remain committed to NASCAR and the Cup Series and we will continue to look for opportunities to grow and compete in the future.”[9] In 2022, Spire purchased Rick Ware Racing’s No. 53 charter for the No. 77.[10]
On September 16, 2023, Spire purchased Live Fast Motorsports charter for US$40 million to field a third team in 2024.[11] Less than two weeks later, on September 27, Spire agreed to purchase the assets of NASCAR Truck Series team Kyle Busch Motorsports.[12] On December 4, former Chip Ganassi Racing COO Doug Duchardt was named President of Spire Motorsports.[13]
NASCAR Cup Series[edit]
Car No. 7 history[edit]
Corey LaJoie (2021–present)[edit]
On November 30, 2020, Spire Motorsports announced that Corey LaJoie signed a multi-year agreement with the team starting in 2021. In addition, the team selected the No. 7 with permission from Tommy Baldwin Racing to pay tribute to Alan Kulwicki and Geoff Bodine.[6]
LaJoie drove the No. 7 to a ninth-place finish at the 2021 Daytona 500. Following the season opener, however, the team was unable to break into the top 20 until the race at COTA, where LaJoie finished 20th. Josh Berry drove the No. 7 at Michigan, as LaJoie was sidelined in accordance with team and COVID-19 protocols.[14] LaJoie finished the season 29th in points.
On March 15,…