Spire Motorsports is in the midst of an upheaval. The 2024 Silly Season has been a rollercoaster ride already, especially after Stewart-Haas Racing announced its exit. Spire also chipped in its big announcement, as it would be letting go of Corey LaJoie from its full-time Cup seat. As the team gains prestige in the garage, the big question is, who would field the No. 7 Chevrolet?

The rumor mills operated on the lines of an existing Cup Series driver. But recently, Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s Xfinity star has also entered the list of prospects. This young driver’s stellar performance would smoothly propel him towards a Cup seat beside Spire’s promising rookie Carson Hocevar.

Another young stud in Spire

Roping in four-time Craftsman Truck winner Carson Hocevar marked a milestone for Spire Motorsports. The Cup Series rookie lacks over a decade of experience that Corey LaJoie has. But Hocevar more than made up for it in his races—he earned 84 more points in 22 races and has 17 lead-lap finishes to LaJoie’s 14. Not to mention he’s doing outside NASCAR as well. Hocevar recently won the Battle of Berlin. So insiders have speculated that Hocevar’s superior performance lent Spire a yardstick that eventually resulted in LaJoie’s ejection. Now another 21-year-old is set to make LaJoie sting.

On an episode of Performance Racing Network, guest Dustin Albino outlined some possibilities for the No. 7 Chevy. He initially espoused the notion of Justin Haley, Rick Ware Racing driver, to be Spire’s new face. “You hear the names out there, but Justin Haley comes to mind. Obviously, he has ties to Spire; he delivered them the first win under crazy circumstances at Daytona five years ago. I think he’s a leading candidate.”

However, another name was Sam Mayer, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s six-time Xfinity-winning star. Albino expanded on his favorable prospects. “By any means, there are other guys out there who maybe could bring some funding to the table. With a team like Spire, they still need some funding. So I would say Justin Haley’s a leading candidate, but there’s other drivers out there, like Sam Mayer, for instance. He’s made it clear to me. He’s made it clear publicly that he wants to move to the Cup Series.”

Sam Mayer has been a stellar fixture on racetracks. He carved out a glittering resume under Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team, being a 2018 alumnus of the JRM’s Late Model program. In 2020, Mayer scripted history by being the second-youngest driver to win a NASCAR race—he won the Bristol Craftsman Truck Series race at just 17 years old. Last year he had a breakthrough in the Xfinity Series scene, showcasing some remarkable victories that have continued this year.

Although Mayer’s strength is in road courses, his first oval victory was one to remember.

When Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s pupil achieved a milestone

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Much like Shane van Gisbergen, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s pupil also struggles with ovals over road courses. Long renowned as a road course ace, Sam Mayer left a trail of success on Xfinity road tracks last year. He clinched his first NXS victory at Road America, then followed it up with a trophy at Watkins Glen and a runner-up finish at Indianapolis. However, Mayer showcased his versatility by finally winning an oval race at Homestead-Miami. He led an impressive 46 laps and edged a competitive Riley Herbst to grab his fourth Xfinity trophy last year.

Last year, Sam Mayer rejoiced in his success, emphasizing how crucial oval racing is for NASCAR. “I mean, getting that first win off your chest in general. But no matter what it is, it’s always huge. And being able to back it up with two more road course wins. Like you feel pretty pumped up and you’re excited about it. But the only other roadblock is getting into the art of oval because NASCAR is about circle track racing. And you wanna be able to do everything in the sport. And finally, being able to get that oval win is huge. It’s almost like another relief. It almost feels like your first win again.”

This year as well, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s pupil has amazed fans twice. His Texas win marked the second-closest finish in Xfinity history, and Mayer again won at Iowa. Evidently, Spire Motorsports is wooing a literal gem of a racer for its 2025 Cup Series schedule.