Spire Motorsports is on a mission of aggressive expansion, looking to compete with the big boys in the Cup Series in 2025. They certainly haven’t hesitated to spend the big bucks in trying to reach their objectives. And it all started with the purchase of the third charter for $40 million from Live Fast Motorsports in 2023. They doubled down by taking over Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series.
With these moves in place, they laid the foundation for an ambitious project. All they needed now was to bring in the right people to lead the charge. They brought in the veteran driver Michael McDowell from FRM and onboarded veteran crew chief Rodney Childers. Last but not least, they signed Justin Haley in a mid-season swap deal that will see him replace Corey LaJoie.
Moreover, some of this move seemed to be orchestrated by Hendrick Motorsports, given their ties with the team. Not only that, rumors were floating around that Haley could potentially replace Alex Bowman on the #48 team. But, according to a NASCAR insider, as good as Haley is, HMS won’t be replacing any of their drivers anytime soon.
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Justin Haley’s move to Spire doesn’t necessarily assure him a Cup ride at HMS
Polls of the day Poll 1 of 2 Do you think Justin Haley can fill the shoes of the HMS comeback star? Absolutely No way Maybe, with time Only if he gets better support
It’s no secret that Hendrick and Spire have a tight relationship. Corey LaJoie has driven for HMS in the No. 6 replacing Chase Elliott following his suspension. Bowman was considered to be on the hot seat until his win at Chicago, but with LaJoie out of the #7 car, there were rumors that Haley was a prime candidate to be the next driver at HMS. This also gained traction after Brett Griffin, speaking on Door Bumper Clear, said, “There is a rumor that Spire is in a lot of talks with Chevrolet to become a Tier-1 team. Basically a mini-Hendrick.”
These rumors got out of control, and Bowman had to publicly confirm his continued run with Hendrick Motorsports. He is signed with the team until the end of 2026. Moreover, a mid-season swap for Justin Haley does suggest that Spire is looking to build a competitive team around him. He will get a head start on seven races in 2024 before forging ties with Rodney Childers.
Adding his two cents on the topic, Eric Estepp, speaking on his show Out of the Groove on YouTube, opined, “Look, Kyle Larson isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I don’t think Chase Elliott is going anywhere anytime soon; neither is William Byron. Even Alex Bowman, his deal goes through at least 2026, and the way he’s performed in these playoffs under pressure.”
However, Estepp went on to add that Haley would be under pressure to deliver the goods. Especially if Spire elevates itself to a tier-1 Chevrolet partner. “I’m excited for Justin Haley, but I’m also nervous for him. We saw this year with LaJoie, and with a good car comes high expectations. You don’t live up to those expectations; folks are quick to dismiss you.”
via Getty INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – AUGUST 13: Justin Haley, driver of the #11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet,waits in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 13, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
But does this mean Justin Haley stays at Spire even if Rick Hendrick comes calling? Well, this storyline might make sense in 2025, depending on how both Bowman and Haley perform with their respective teams. Moreover, this would also serve as a redemption opportunity for Rodney Childers, who has lost his golden touch at SHR.
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Rodney Childers looking for his revival at Spire Motorsports
Kevin Harvick and Rodney Childers formed one of the most successful driver-chief partnerships of the last decade. Childers bagged the Cup Series title in his very first season with the #4 team and also reached five championship-4s between 2014-19. But this honeymoon run came to an end with the turn of a new decade and Harvick deciding to call it quits from racing.
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It’s been almost two years since Childers experienced that winning feeling. But, with the right resources and people in place in his new team, he is looking forward to the new challenge. Especially working with a top talent like Justin Haley. “I think it’ll be good. Justin, all I know is all the good things people say about him and just what I’ve seen from being around him in the garage. It’s just clear to me that he’s a good person with good values, and at this point in my career, that’s really important to me.” The veteran crew chief said ahead of the Bristol race.
“There are a lot of people in this garage that believe in his ability, and hopefully I do that justice. And really, at this point in my career, it’s going to be fun for me to go over there because I think it will rejuvenate me. I need to be in an environment that will challenge me like I think this one will,” he added. It will be interesting to see how this partnership works out, but on paper, the #7 team looks like a serious contender for wins in 2025.