One Chevy Team is Quietly Becoming an Elite Threat in the 2026 Cup Series
The NASCAR Cup Series field may have some new contenders in 2026. These contenders are the Chevrolets at Spire Motorsports. For the first time in the eight-year history of Dan Towriss’ team, they have multiple wins under their belt. Two of their drivers are solidly in the Chase field in ninth and 10th in the standings, after 13 races. Their third driver is right outside the Chase and could find his way in when we get to September. With the season nearing its halfway point, this three-car team could be quietly becoming a threat to the rest of the Cup Series field.
Spire has been subtly improving every year since the 2024 season, when it acquired the assets from Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series and tapped Carson Hocevar to drive. After the 2023 season, they moved from their small shop in Concord, North Carolina, to KBM’s much larger facility in Mooresville, as well as gaining all of the assets from the Truck Series juggernaut. Additionally, ‘Hurricane’ in the 77 Chevy has managed to bring in sponsors with his aggressiveness on the track, highlighted by his rivalry with Ricky Stenhouse Jr in 2025. Chili’s, Spectrum, and Best Buy have all recently joined Spire, each sponsoring Hocevar. Chili’s was on the 77 when the third-year driver scored his first career Cup Series win at Talladega. Spire gained a stronger foundation and a recognizable winner to be the face of the team, which are both aspects of their breakout 2026 season.
Their standout 23-year-old isn’t the only driver who could contend for the title in 2026. Daniel Suarez is just six points behind Hocevar in 10th place. The Mexican star just won his third career Cup Series race in the Coca-Cola 600, his and Spire’s first win on a non-superspeedway track, and he has two top fives and four top 10s. You could argue that 2026 is shaping up to be the best season of Suarez’s career, as he has not been this consistently up front in any of his first nine seasons. Veteran Michael McDowell also runs toward the front, even if it is not as often as his two teammates. The 19-year veteran sits 20th in the points standings following the Coca-Cola 600, 57 points out of the Chase cutoff. McDowell’s season is highlighted by a runner-up at Watkins Glen after having a strong pace all day long. With his success at road courses coming into play, we may see the 71 Chevy Camaro slide into the Chase with a win on one of those tracks.
It’s difficult to say if Spire Motorsports’ breakout 2026 season will continue on pace. Fans could argue that Spire has had a lot of luck on their side this season. Hocevar’s win came at Talladega, a superspeedway, and it started raining at Charlotte when Suarez happened to be in the lead. In a bad scenario for Spire, the team could run out of luck while drivers like Joey Logano and Chase Briscoe could find their stride. If it isn’t only luck, and if the rising trio of Camaros all make the Chase in 2026, then fans could be witnessing the rise of a new superteam in the Cup Series.
