The No. 7 Spire Motorsports chevrolet/”>Chevrolet, driven by Justin Haley, faced significant challenges as it failed pre-qualifying inspection twice on Friday at Talladega Superspeedway, according to NASCAR officials. Consequently, car chief Doug Powers was ejected for the remainder of the event weekend at the Alabama track, and the team will also lose its pit selection for Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
This incident comes on the heels of Spire Motorsports parting ways with crew chief Rodney Childers earlier this week. Ryan Sparks, the competition director and former No. 7 pit boss, will step in as interim crew chief for Haley during Sunday’s race and for the foreseeable future. Childers had joined the Spire organization in the offseason after a lengthy stint at Stewart-Haas Racing, but his tenure was cut short after just one season.
Justin Haley, who currently sits 23rd in the points standings, has had a mixed history at Talladega, securing two top 10 finishes in his last three starts at the 2.66-mile facility. His solitary Cup Series victory to date was achieved at another drafting track, Daytona International Speedway, in 2019.
The implications of the No. 7 car’s issues at Talladega are considerable, as violation of inspection protocols can affect team morale and performance. As the race weekend progresses, fans and analysts alike will watch closely to see how the team adapts to these unforeseen challenges, and whether Haley can still contend amid this turbulent situation.
