Spire Motorsports NASCAR driver uncertainty looms as questions surround Justin Haley’s position following an underwhelming debut season in the #7 Chevrolet, with mounting pressure from both the team and fans. According to recent reports, unless Haley’s performance improves soon, the team may make a change even before the current NASCAR Cup Series season ends.
Performance Concerns Lead to Mounting Pressure
Justin Haley joined Spire Motorsports last year in a mid-season exchange that sent Corey LaJoie to Rick Ware Racing. This year, in his first full-time campaign with the team, Haley has recorded a single top-10 finish—a result that falls short in comparison to teammate Carson Hocevar’s strong results, which include two top-5s and six finishes inside the top 10.
Expectations were high for the 26-year-old Indiana native, especially after he was paired with veteran crew chief Rodney Childers, known for guiding Kevin Harvick to a championship title in 2014. Despite this promising partnership, results failed to materialize, and insider Jordan Bianchi has reported that Haley’s place on the roster could soon be in danger without notable improvement.
Team Leadership Changes Amid Ongoing Struggles
“Justin Haley is reportedly under pressure in his first full season with Spire Motorsports. Jordan Bianchi warns that if he doesn’t deliver consistent results, the team may move on before year’s end.”
—Jordan Bianchi, NASCAR Insider (via The Daily Downforce)
If Haley remains with Spire Motorsports, his next major milestone will be the regular season finale, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Notably, Haley secured his only Cup Series victory there in 2019 after weather disruptions shortened the race—a rare and memorable triumph, which remains Spire Motorsports’ only full-time Cup Series win to date.
The ongoing difficulties led to organizational changes after nine races in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series, as Rodney Childers and Spire Motorsports parted ways. Haley later explained that the adjustment stemmed mostly from personal fit, rather than any significant conflict or issue.
“It was just a fit thing. Nothing super wrong that stood out, or was super left or right.”
—Justin Haley, NASCAR Driver
“Nothing surprises me in this sport anymore,” he added.
—Justin Haley, NASCAR Driver
Challenges with New Leadership
Rodney Childers, who brought championship pedigree from his stint with Stewart-Haas Racing—where he oversaw 40 Cup Series wins—was supposed to work with Corey LaJoie before a late-season driver swap resulted in Childers supporting Haley. After Childers’ exit, Ryan Sparks assumed the role as crew chief for the #7 team, but results have failed to improve as hoped.
Since Ryan Sparks took over, Haley has been unable to crack the top 10, with his best showing being 11th place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and a subsequent 23rd-place finish at Iowa Speedway. These middling results only serve to heighten uncertainty around his tenure with Spire Motorsports.
Upcoming Races Provide Critical Test
Looking ahead, Haley’s next opportunity to prove himself arrives with the 90-lap event at Watkins Glen International in New York. His past performances on this road course have not been encouraging, as he generally finished outside the top 20 across his previous four starts at the venue.
With internal and external scrutiny intensifying, the collective mood around Spire Motorsports remains tense. The outcome of the coming races could ultimately decide Haley’s future, and may set in motion further changes for the team as it searches for sustained competitiveness in the NASCAR Cup Series landscape.
