Kevin Harvick Issues Final Deadline to Underdog Team After Bagging Tony Stewart’s Ace

Over the past few years, Spire Motorsports has transformed from a backmarker team to a legitimate competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series. Once viewed as a team simply making up the numbers, Spire has taken massive strides by investing heavily in top-notch talent and equipment. With Michael McDowell and Justin Haley leading the driver lineup and former Stewart-Haas Racing crew chief Rodney Childers joining the team, Spire has showcased its intent to be more than just an underdog.

However, while money and talent can lay the foundation for success, the real challenge is meeting the heightened expectations that come with them. NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick, who has never shied away from speaking his mind, has issued a firm deadline to Spire, emphasizing that the time for excuses is over.

Kevin Harvick needs to see a return on investment from Spire

On an episode of Happy Hour, Harvick didn’t hold back when discussing Spire’s situation. He acknowledged that while Michael McDowell proved his ability to compete at the front with Front Row, Spire is a whole new ball game. With new significant investments, particularly in top-tier crew chiefs like Rodney Childers, the bar has been set.

“Well, he [Michael McDowell] did that in the 34 car right? He ran upfront, he qualified on the pole,” Harvick noted. “And I think when you step back and look at the Spire situation in general, that whole organization is under a lot of pressure too.” Harvick went on to stress that with a crew chief like Childers, a championship-winning leader from Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), mediocrity is simply not acceptable. “You got Rodney Childers and a lot of the guys from SHR… you got Michael McDowell coming into his new position. So in general, they have a lot of pressure on that team and have spent a lot of money on a lot of people to go out and perform,” he explained.

Michael McDowell put his heart and soul into qualifying last season. The former Front Row Motorsports driver secured 6 pole positions last season with the #34 Ford Mustang. Despite not getting a win, his surprise Daytona 500 win from 2023 is the highlight of his career so far and a move to Spire will come with such lofty expectations feels Harvick.

Kevin Harvick’s views are clear – Spire needs to produce results. “The expectation is not going to be middle of the pack. I would hope not… I don’t know that Michael McDowell and Justin Haley have ever performed under that scrutiny,” Harvick continued. According to Harvick, Spire is no longer a team that can afford bad weekends without consequences. “The Spire of old… You could get away with bad weekends, and now that’s going to ramp up because I can tell you the expectations from Rodney are not going to be to run 20th… that is not going to be the expectation,” he warned.

Justin Haley, however, remains the only Spire Motorsports driver with a Cup Series win. Back in 2019, Haley won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in emphatic fashion. However, he has bounced around teams since then and has not seen victory lane, and neither has Spire. So this reunion in 2025 spells a second chance for Haley, who was swapped to Spire Motorsports with 7 races to go last season. After posting just 3 top-10 finishes in 2024, Haley will have to prove his mettle in a new Spire setup which will be under a lot of pressure as Harvick mentioned.

Spire has aggressively expanded its operation with new funding, and its impact remains to be seen moving forward.

The evolution of Spire: From backmarker to potential contender?

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Spire Motorsports’ journey from being a field filler to a team demanding respect has been nothing short of remarkable. When Spire entered NASCAR in 2019, many saw it as just a placeholder, merely maintaining a charter without real competitiveness. However, with strategic decisions and increased financial backing, Spire has taken significant steps towards actual legitimacy.

One of the first major moves came in 2021 when the team expanded to two full-time cars and secured high-profile partnerships. The purchase of assets from Leavine Family Racing allowed them to gain better equipment, which translated into improved performance. In 2023, Spire Motorsports continued its upward trajectory by acquiring a third charter, securing a long-term foothold in the Cup Series.

Perhaps the biggest game changer came with the recruitment of Rodney Childers. The former Stewart-Haas Racing crew chief, who led Kevin Harvick to a Cup Series championship in 2014, brings a level of experience and expertise that Spire has never had before. Childers’ arrival signals Spire’s serious intent to transition from an underdog to a consistent contender.

Spire’s partnership with Gainbridge and other major sponsors has brought new backing to the organization with the necessary resources to develop competitive cars. Additionally, alliances with Hendrick Motorsports have provided them with access to top-tier engines and data.

Now, with all the pieces seemingly in place, the only thing left is to perform. To sum up Kevin Harvick’s sentiments: there is no more room for mediocrity. With the level of investment and talent they now have, Spire Motorsports must step up and prove that it belongs among NASCAR’s elite.

So what do you predict? Will Spire flip the script in 2025? Let us know in the comments.