“There’s a great opportunity to build and continue to build for the years to come.” Michael McDowell was confident about his move to Spire Motorsports earlier this year. The shift was a shocker for the rest of NASCAR. The reason was mainly that Front Row Motorsports, for which McDowell won two Cup Series races, was a tier-one Ford team, while Spire belonged to Chevy – and not even in the first rank.

However, this scenario is soon slated to change, according to a NASCAR insider. The ridiculous idea that took root in 2018 has now evolved into one of the fastest-growing race teams in the Cup Series. Now, with the help of Rick Hendrick and Chevrolet, Spire may nestle among the stars of NASCAR’s premier series.

Spire Motorsports rumored to achieve milestone

In 2018, motorsports agency executives Jeff Dickerson and T.J. Puchyr failed to sell a charter. But then they used that $6 million piece of paper to create a race team. Six years later, the gamble is paying off heavy dividends – Spire Motorsports purchased a charter for $40 million last year. Then, it also bought Kyle Busch Motorsports and its 77,000-square-foot race shop for nearly $14.5 million. The path to growth shows no signs of slowing, as the team continues to grow further – this time with Chevy’s help.

In a driver-swap decision, Justin Haley will take over the No. 7 Chevy for the rest of the playoff season. Using this update as the context, ‘Door, Bumper, Clear’ host Brett Griffin pointed out the limited disadvantages Haley will face. “The only thing that I’ll say for Justin Haley that is not on the positive side and I think there’s a ton of things that are – is you’re going to Spire without Rodney. And you are going to Spire without OEM support.” Then Griffin dropped the spicy news: “There is a rumor that Spire is in a lot of talks with Chevrolet to become a tier-one team, basically a mini-Hendrick – which is a huge deal if Spire gets that and makes that happen.”

While tier-three teams get very limited and intentional information from the OEM, tier-one status teams get huge investments and appropriate support, according to Legacy Motor Club CEO Cal Wells. Earlier this year, Front Row Motorsports became a tier-one team and is doing well. So Griffin believes Spire Motorsports is headed for dizzy heights: “I think from a business perspective, it’s brilliant to make the move. Why wouldn’t you? …Justin’s obviously in the 7 next year. Why wouldn’t you give him a 10-race headstart?” With stars like Rajah Caruth and Carson Hocevar laying glittering trails, the team is clearly on a path to glory.

However, contrary to the DBC co-host’s present views, another co-host heralded starkly opposite views about Spire Motorsports’ future earlier this year.

The phase of doubt is over

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When Michael McDowell kickstarted NASCAR’s Silly Season in May, the Cup garage was shocked. The No. 34 Ford’s long legacy with FRM baffled people. In his seven-year stint with the Team Penske-affiliated team, McDowell clinched the 2021 Daytona 500 and also the 2023 Indianapolis road course victory. To leave behind that momentum and join a growing team, Spire Motorsports, which was not even tier-one, perplexed people even more. Known for their unfiltered opinions, the DBC guys were particularly vocal.

Bubba Wallace’s spotter Freddie Kraft laid down his negative views. “There are a lot of rumors out there that Front Row is taking a major step forward. We already know that they’re probably going to be a tier-one partner. You’re (Michael McDowell) leaving a key partner now at Front Row to go to a second tier.” He added his utter lack of hope for Spire Motorsports. “I mean, there’s no chance Spire (Motorsports) is a tier-one Chevy team next year. So this was a multi-year deal and you get that security and that’s a big deal over there. And they’re going to do whatever it takes to get the best people in-house over there to advance their program.”

But how the tables have turned. With the DBC guys now holding hope in Spire Motorsports’ journey, the team may actually pave its way to becoming a mini-Hendrick after all.