Carson Hocevar Rubbishes Spire Motorsports’ Championship Dreams Amidst Expansion Spree

It is no secret how Spire Motorsports has expanded its ceiling by great lengths in the last nine months. One of their recent expansion plans involved the signing of veteran driver Michael McDowell. While the signing should encourage the team to be ambitious, young Carson Hocevar feels the team is far from competing for the championship or the playoffs.

With McDowell replacing the on-loan Zane Smith to pilot the #71 car next year, it certainly eliminates the complexity of the deal with Trackhouse Racing. In fact, Hocevar went in depth to explain the tricky dynamics in the operation of the current #71 setup.

Carson Hocevar believes signing Michael McDowell adds a “little bit more future” to the team

Spire Motorsports went on a purchasing spree last September when it purchased Live Fast Motorsports’ $40 million charter. If that wasn’t enough, the team went ahead and purchased Kyle Busch Motorsports and its 77,000-square-foot race shop for nearly $14.5 million, too.

For a team just into its sixth Cup Series career, it certainly is a lot of growth. At the same time, it speaks volumes of their intent to grow and get better. In fact, their recent acquisition of Michael McDowell for the 2025 season clearly indicates their intent to improve their on-track results.

While the 39-year-old comes with a lot of experience, #77 driver Carson Hocevar feels the veteran will certainly help the team’s cause in his own way. Most importantly, it will help to have a clear approach given the current complex relationship with Trackhouse involving the #71 team.

Speaking to the media recently, he said, “The #71 [team] has a relationship with Trackhouse and everything so they’re not a full Spire car per se because they have to answer to a lot of different bosses. It’s still a Spire-prepared car but they have to do two competition meetings for everything they do; a competition meeting in-house and they go to Trackhouse to do their competition meeting.”

With the signing of McDowell, the #71 can now have an undivided approach. As Hocevar rightly pointed out, “So just be able to kind of have all hands on deck inside the building with Michael [McDowell] and whoever’s his crew chief and everything and be able to always have three cars pushing the same direction and knowing some future.”

In addition to that, Hocevar explained how Spire Motorsports can build with McDowell in the team now. He said, “I’m on for another year next year, Corey [LaJoie] the same, and Michael for the next few years, it just adds a little bit more future as we build that. There’s not any more variable change and we can just all build for what we need.”

However, while the 21-year-old spoke positively about the McDowell signing, he still indicated how feels Spire Motorsports are distant from a competing for championship or a playoff spot. In Hocevar’s words, “We are not a playoff team yet or by any means I don’t think but we’re trying to get there. We’re still just hiring a lot of people.“

Currently, it is difficult to see Spire Motorsports as a playoff contender with their best finish coming at P25 last season. However, does signing McDowell change that perspective?

Can Michael McDowell help Spire Motorsports step up to the next level?

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Perhaps, there is truth in Carson Hocevar’s words when he claimed Spire Motorsports not being a playoff team currently. While it is the bitter truth, the team has grown leaps and bounds to facilitate an entry into the unchartered territory. Having said that, is Michael McDowell the right person to achieve that?

Having competed in 477 Cup Series races so far, it wouldn’t take time for McDowell to settle with Spire Motorsports. It is worth noting that after his arrival at Front Row Motorsports, the team grew to the next level. After signing with FRM in 2018, he registered two wins, eight top-five, and 35 top-ten finishes in seven years.

Interestingly, McDowell has contributed to 50% of the team’s total number of wins in their Cup Series history. While it is amazing, he gave FRM their best finish last season with a P15 finish. In the last three seasons, the 39-year-old has twice qualified for the playoffs and is capable of pulling off a surprise win given the right setup.

With McDowell’s record and the growing setup at Spire Motorsports, the Arizona native can certainly push his new team’s ambitions. Not only that, his and Corey LaJoie’s vast experience in the Cup Series could be pivotal in enhancing Carson Hocevar’s growth and on-track performance.

All in all, the signing of McDowell looks a promising prospect for Spire Motorsports. While Hocevar looked hesitant with a playoff prospect, hopefully, the 2021 Daytona 500 winner’s arrival changes the perspective.