Two NASCAR Cup Series winners linked to Spire Motorsports, replacing Justin Haley

Just a couple of weeks ago, Justin Haley’s future in the NASCAR Cup Series and Spire Motorsports was uncertain. Is that the case now, going into Darlington? Haley was being touted as a potential future driver at Hendrick Motorsports a year ago. But that hasn’t been the situation in 2025.

Spire Motorsports was thinking earlier this season of replacing Justin Haley, just like they did to Corey LaJoie a year ago. TWG Motorsports and Dan Towriss expect to be competitive and win now. Not later, now.

Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic recently addressed Haley’s status at Spire. In a fan mail article, Bianchi was asked about Haley and the Silly Season news in the Cup Series.

“The one potential opening to monitor is with the No. 7 Spire Motorsports team,” Bianchi wrote. “That car is currently driven by Justin Haley, who is very much on the hot seat. Serious consideration was given to replacing Haley during the season, though a lack of enticing candidates combined with Haley’s recent uptick in performance have somewhat cooled his seat.

“But while Haley may not be jettisoned before the season ends, there is no guarantee he’ll be back with Spire next year. The team continues to evaluate its options, with Daniel Suárez and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as two possibilities. Suáez is a free agent, while Stenhouse has term remaining on his contract with Hyak Motorsports, which means a buyout would need to be negotiated.

“Ultimately, Haley will have a significant say in whether he returns to Spire for a second year. If he can deliver results over the final 10 races, it would go a long way to showing he should return. If he can’t, expect Spire to continue looking around.”

Spire Motorsports has decisions to make. Is Justin Haley doomed?

Spire Motorsports wants results now, can it get drivers?

With a young anchor in Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports isn’t in a terrible position right now. This year, the organization has also received the moniker of “Hendrick Jr.” by many fans. The relationship between Spire and HMS is obvious in many ways.

When TWG and Towriss came in as owners, it marked a major change at Spire. Corey LaJoie used to talk about how small and intimate Spire was. How he was working with a fraction of the employees as Hendrick, JGR, and other top teams. Well, Spire is now a three-car program and wants returns on investments sooner than later.

If Spire Motorsports is going to be in the family with Andretti Global and Cadillac F1, these international brands, they have to win. Right now, finding another young and exciting driver might be the move, if they replace Haley. Otherwise, they should target a proven winner. The only problem is that most all the winners have contracts for 2026.

At the moment, Michael McDowell is the veteran presence. He can help a team build itself and he’s one hell of a qualifying driver. McDowell isn’t a bad mentor for someone like Hocevar, either. Should Spire take a chance on another young, talented prospect, or go after another veteran for the 7 car? Or does Haley need one more season to prove himself?