Spire Motorsports enters the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway determined to build on its track record and achieve a standout showing. After recording one top-10 finish and two top-20 results over seven previous starts at the Madison, Illinois oval, the team—fielding the Nos. 7, 71, and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s for drivers Justin Haley, Michael McDowell, and Carson Hocevar—aims to capitalize on past experience and recent momentum, further reinforcing their Spire Motorsports World Wide Technology Raceway performance credentials.
The Enjoy Illinois 300, the 28th race in the 36-event NASCAR Cup Series season, will be broadcast live on USA Network, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90, starting at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday, September 7. Spire Motorsports, headquartered in North Carolina, has made consistent progress at this tricky 1.25-mile track, with its campaign highlighted by Hocevar’s eighth-place finish last June.
Justin Haley Aims to Continue Impressive Track Record at Gateway
Justin Haley returns to World Wide Technology Raceway with ambitions to further his already strong history at the venue. The Winamac, Indiana native will drive the No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet ZL1 for Spire Motorsports, making his fourth Cup Series start at Gateway. In his previous three appearances, Haley achieved a ninth-place finish in 2023 and additional top-20 results, marking an average finish of 13th and an average start of 24th at this oval.
Known for his breakthrough victory in the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, Haley also has a winning legacy at Gateway on the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series level. In three starts at this track in the Truck Series, he grabbed a victory in 2018, along with two top-10s, while displaying consistency with a 9.0 average start and a 10.7 average finish, also leading 10 laps. Haley has continued to build his Cup Series resume, notching his 171st career start this weekend and accumulating one win, six top-five finishes, and leading 123 laps over seven seasons. His journey with Spire Motorsports began at Talladega Superspeedway on his 20th birthday, with 71 Cup races for the team since then.
Haley’s recent form includes a solid qualifying session at Darlington, where he started 13th and ran inside the top 20 before an unscheduled late pit stop dropped him to 27th at the checkered flag.
“Our car was fast last weekend at Darlington and I’ve had some success at World Wide Technology Raceway so I’m definitely looking forward to this weekend. Hopefully, we’re fast when we unload and can put together a solid weekend.”
—Justin Haley, Driver
He recognizes the unique nature of the Madison circuit, with its flat corners and contrasting layout, noting the personal significance attached to his performances there.
“The track is flat and tricky because both ends of the race track are so different. The challenge is what makes it different and interesting for me. Gateway has always been a good track for me, personally. I won my first CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race there in 2018 and finished top 10 in the Cup Race last year so this is definitely one I’ve had circled on my calendar.”
—Justin Haley, Driver
Guiding Haley from the pit box is Ryan Sparks, who serves both as Spire Motorsports Competition Director and the No. 7 team’s crew chief. Sparks, a Winston-Salem native, has stood atop the pit box for 193 Cup races, collecting four top-five and ten top-10 finishes throughout his career.
Michael McDowell Pursues Speed and Consistency at St. Louis Track
Michael McDowell, a seasoned competitor, is set to race the No. 71 Delaware Life Chevrolet ZL1 for Spire Motorsports at Gateway. McDowell’s experience and speed at the uniquely shaped 1.25-mile track are evident—he earned a ninth-place Cup finish during last year’s event and claimed the pole position with a record-setting time of 138.598 mph. This pole was one of six that McDowell and his Travis Peterson-led team secured last season, further solidifying his place as one of the fastest qualifiers in the series.
His history at Gateway extends beyond qualifying pace. McDowell has led 74 laps at the venue, splitting those over multiple seasons, and in 2023, he recorded a season-high in poles. In the current season, McDowell has tallied two top-five, three top-10, and 15 top-20 finishes over 27 races, maintaining an average start of 15.1 and an average finish of 19.7 while running at the finish of all but two events. He also earned Xfinity Fastest Lap awards at major venues this year, and his pit crew set the standard at North Wilkesboro Speedway’s All-Star Weekend with the fastest stop in the field.
Corporate partners B’Laster and Go Bowling return as associate sponsors for this weekend’s contest.
McDowell reflected on the promise and learning experiences from last year’s race:
“World Wide Technology was fun last year — sitting on the pole, setting the track record and leading a bunch of laps. We weren’t great in the race, but we had a lot of speed leading up to that. So we’ve got things to work on for sure, but I feel confident about St. Louis in general — the track and having good speed there. You always feel like when you’ve had success, you have something to build on, so I’m looking forward to getting back to St. Louis this weekend.”
—Michael McDowell, Driver
McDowell’s No. 71 machine will once more be under the guidance of Travis Peterson. Peterson, having joined Spire Motorsports after working with McDowell at Front Row Motorsports, was alongside McDowell for the 2024 Gateway pole and last year’s ninth-place finish. The West Bend, Wisconsin native carries substantial experience calling races at a number of challenging tracks.
Carson Hocevar Returns to Pivotal Site for Cup Series Career
Carson Hocevar pilots the No. 77 Chevrolet ZL1 as he heads back to the course where his Cup Series career began. The 22-year-old from Portage, Michigan counts two previous Cup starts at Gateway, highlighted by his eighth-place finish in 2024, which stands as the top result for Spire Motorsports at this venue.
Hocevar’s trajectory at World Wide Technology Raceway has seen both highs and setbacks. In 2023, just after his first Truck Series win at Texas and a string of four consecutive Truck top-fives, Hocevar was tapped to fill in at WWTR. Although his Cup debut ended early due to a brake issue, he continued to make an impact—later signing with Spire for the 2024 season. Prior to his first Cup start, Hocevar also made four CRAFTSMAN Truck Series appearances at Gateway, registering a top-five and two top-10 finishes despite suffering a significant injury—breaking his tibia in a late-race incident in 2022. Remarkably, he rebounded swiftly, racing just one week later at Sonoma Raceway and earning his only Truck Series pole along with a sixth-place finish.
Hocevar’s 2025 Cup campaign includes seven top-10s so far, with his latest being a ninth-place result at Darlington Raceway’s Southern 500. That performance, where he started 26th and overcame an early spin, mirrored the resilience he’s shown throughout his career.
Reflecting on the emotional connection and challenges of Gateway, Hocevar shared:
“I try not to think about the wreck and the injury. I think that’s what most drivers would do, you just can’t worry about that. The Cup debut and then coming back last year to kind of make up for how that first race ended, means a lot more to me. That’s where all of this started. It’s where Spire Motorsports and Jeff Dickerson first saw something in me that made them think it might be good for me to move up. Whether other people think it was good or not doesn’t really matter, but Gateway is a special place for me and I love racing there every year.”
—Carson Hocevar, Driver
He added a perspective on his growth:
“Just keep being you. There will be a lot of tough days, but the good ones make up for them. You’ll piss off a lot of drivers, and that isn’t always fun, but you’ll end up with a good group of guys on the No. 77 who have your back and believe in you.”
—Carson Hocevar, Driver
Luke Lambert, Hocevar’s crew chief, has called two Cup Series races at Gateway, including Hocevar’s best-ever result for Spire at the track. Lambert’s tenure as a crew chief in the series includes 99 top-10s, a testament to his experience and technical acumen.
The No. 77 Chevrolet carries support from Zeigler Auto Group, a prominent Midwest auto dealership network with a history of involvement in NASCAR Cup competition since 2019.
Team Prospects and Significance of the Enjoy Illinois 300
As Spire Motorsports intensifies its push at World Wide Technology Raceway, the Enjoy Illinois 300 presents an important benchmark in the team’s ongoing development. Success on the unique Madison oval would further cement Spire’s progress in the Cup Series pecking order, particularly against the backdrop of increasingly competitive fields and evolving technical standards seen throughout the 2025 season.
Steady veteran guidance from crew chiefs such as Ryan Sparks, Travis Peterson, and Luke Lambert, combined with the competitive fire of drivers like Justin Haley, Michael McDowell, and Carson Hocevar, positions Spire Motorsports as a rising force looking to disrupt the established hierarchy. Their collective performances at Gateway, especially recent qualifying runs, pole awards, and strong race-day comebacks, signal a team poised to capitalize on every opportunity presented by one of the calendar’s most unpredictable venues.
As the Cup Series calendar enters its closing stretch, Spire’s outcomes at the Enjoy Illinois 300 will help chart the squad’s trajectory for the remainder of the season, setting the stage for further progress and larger achievements in the years ahead.
