Spire Motorsports aims to make a significant mark at the upcoming Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, as the team sets its sights on advancing its legacy in the Spire Motorsports Charlotte ROVAL race. With drivers Justin Haley, Michael McDowell, and Carson Hocevar at the helm of the Nos. 7, 71, and 77 Chevrolet ZL1 entries, the organization brings energy, commitment, and a strategy focused on achieving a breakthrough performance at one of NASCAR’s premier road course events.
Spire Motorsports’ Track Record and Push for Success
Since debuting on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit at Charlotte’s unique road course-oval ROVAL layout, Spire Motorsports has consistently aimed higher. Across 11 starts at the North Carolina venue, the team has posted two top-15 finishes and reached the top 20 four times, signaling steady progress. Corey LaJoie secured a team-best 12th-place result in 2022, while Carson Hocevar matched that performance in 2024, both showcasing Spire’s ability to challenge established teams in tight, technical races.
Spire Motorsports operates a three-car stable, fielding Justin Haley in the No. 7 Gainbridge STEM Chevrolet ZL1, Michael McDowell in the No. 71 Delaware Life/FIG Chevrolet ZL1, and Carson Hocevar piloting the No. 77 Modo Casino Chevrolet ZL1. All three entries will display pink window nets as part of the “Window of Hope” program. This initiative, run in collaboration with the Erik Jones Foundation, aims to honor and raise funds for breast cancer awareness, bringing a sense of unity and purpose beyond just competition.
The Bank of America ROVAL 400 is scheduled for Sunday, October 5, with live television coverage on USA beginning at 3 p.m. EDT. As the 32nd of 36 points-paying races on the NASCAR Cup Series calendar for 2025, the ROVAL race carries heightened intensity for teams and drivers alike, featuring broadcast coverage on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Justin Haley’s Road Course Pedigree and Community Outreach
Justin Haley, at the wheel of Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 car, enters the ROVAL with valuable experience, having notched one top-five and two top-10 finishes in four previous Cup Series starts at the course. Notably, Haley finished fifth in October 2022, his best result at the challenging 2.32-mile layout. His average starting position at the ROVAL stands at 27.3, with an average finish of 22.5, reflecting consistent competitive pace.
This year, Haley has scored a 16th-place run at Circuit of the Americas in Texas, 24th in Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, 22nd in Chicago, 15th at Sonoma Raceway in California, and 27th at Watkins Glen International in New York. As the ROVAL serves as the sixth and final road course of the current season, expectations remain high for the 26-year-old as he prepares for his 176th career Cup Series start.
Beyond racing, Haley led a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) outreach event by joining 50 Charlotte-Mecklenburg middle school students at the GM Tech Center in Concord, North Carolina. The event included hands-on pit stop demonstrations with Hendrick Motorsports’ Pit Stop Coach, Keith Flynn, where students experienced the mechanics of a real race-car pit stop and even competed to change a tire, inspiring the next generation of motorsport enthusiasts.
Haley’s involvement with organizations like the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and Group 1001 supports constructing youth development parks and establishing STEM centers across the nation, impacting more than 100,000 young people since 2018. These efforts, combined with partnership from Gainbridge, continue to create opportunities for educational and athletic advancement among underserved communities.
In Xfinity Series competition at the ROVAL, Haley has three starts to his name, highlighted by a fourth-place run in October 2021. His Cup Series record also includes four previous races for Spire Motorsports at Charlotte, with results of 37th and 26th on the ROVAL and finishes of 28th and 30th on the quad-oval circuit.
Most recently at Kansas Speedway, Haley and the No. 7 crew advanced from a 22nd-place start to finish 18th, securing the team’s 13th top-20 result in the season. Over his career, Haley has topped 75 Cup Series starts with Spire Motorsports, earning one victory, six top-five finishes, 18 top-10s, and leading 123 laps since first racing for the team at Talladega Superspeedway in 2019.
I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of the ROVAL. It’s exciting for both the drivers and the fans, which brings its importance to a premium. We’ve been working towards getting the road course package more comfortable and I’ve had some of my best races at the ROVAL. I’m looking forward to racing at home this weekend.
— Justin Haley, Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1
Ryan Sparks’ Leadership on the No. 7 Team
As both Competition Director and crew chief for the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1 entry, Ryan Sparks has steered the team through numerous high-pressure moments. With 197 NASCAR Cup Series races on his resume, including four top-five and 10 top-10 results, Sparks’ expertise has been pivotal for Spire’s progress. He has overseen five Cup Series races at the ROVAL, achieving a 12th-place finish in 2022 alongside Corey LaJoie—a venue best for both driver and organization at the time. This blend of technical insight and competitive focus makes Sparks an integral figure in Spire’s pursuit of a breakthrough result this weekend.
Michael McDowell’s Road Course Expertise and Recent Momentum
Veteran driver Michael McDowell enters the Bank of America ROVAL 400 behind the wheel of Spire’s No. 71 Delaware Life/FIG Chevrolet ZL1. With seven prior Cup Series starts at the Charlotte ROVAL—including a career-best 12th-place performance in 2019—McDowell is recognized for his road racing acumen. Completing every lap in each ROVAL appearance for a total of 766 laps, McDowell demonstrates reliability and consistent presence at this challenging event.
The Arizona native’s road course prowess is further reflected in his 2025 campaign, where he recorded top-five finishes and captured a season-best fourth at Sonoma Raceway. McDowell’s average finish over his last four races is 13.2, buoyed by two recent top-10 results, suggesting the No. 71 team is peaking at the right moment.
Off track, McDowell’s No. 71 will showcase the Financial Independence Group (FIG) on the car’s hood in recognition of the company’s work in providing financial and retirement solutions for clients nationwide. Michael Fisher will act as his primary spotter with added assistance from McDowell’s cousin, Jason Noll.
This season, McDowell’s achievements have included three Xfinity Fastest Lap awards at venues such as the Daytona 500, Phoenix Raceway, and Talladega Superspeedway. Notably, McDowell and the No. 71 team tallied Spire’s first-ever Busch Light Pole Award with a record 28.833-second lap at Las Vegas, and claimed a historic first stage win for the organization during the Grant Park 165 in Chicago.
The North Wilkesboro All-Star Weekend also provided highlights, as the No. 71 crew took home $100,000 and the Pit Crew Challenge victory with a blazing 12.587-second stop—the fastest by any team during the event. This string of successes underscores the well-rounded capability and teamwork underpinning Spire’s prospects for the ROVAL event.
The ROVAL is unique, it’s one of a kind in the sense that it’s not like any other road courses we see. It’s not a typical or standard road course. But the oval part of it isn’t really a thing anymore. I think in the old car you had to choose whether you wanted your car to go through the banking or go through the infield, whereas now in the Next-Gen car it’s not really a hybrid, as much. So, set up wise you’re thinking about it from a road-course standpoint, but it’s very unique.
— Michael McDowell, Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1
Travis Peterson Takes Over Crew Chief Duties for No. 71
Travis Peterson assumed the role of crew chief for McDowell and the Spire Motorsports No. 71 car after the conclusion of the 2024 season, following a successful tenure with Front Row Motorsports. Peterson’s background includes a stint as race engineer for RFK Racing, where he played a key part in achieving back-to-back top-10 finishes at the ROVAL with Chris Buescher and helping secure third place in 2022.
Across two Cup Series appearances atop the ROVAL pit box, Peterson has logged an average starting position of 17.0 and an average finish of 23.5. His technical acuity and growing experience in calling strategy at complex hybrid circuits add another weapon to Spire’s arsenal heading into this weekend’s critical race.
Carson Hocevar Looks to Capitalize on Momentum
Carson Hocevar pilots the No. 77 Chevrolet ZL1, backed by Modo Casino, for Spire Motorsports at the Charlotte ROVAL. Hocevar brings with him a noteworthy debut at the circuit—a 12th-place effort in his lone prior start—and aims to elevate his result in this year’s contest. Supporting partners like Modo Casino, recognized as a leading social gaming platform, add industry excitement to the No. 77 entry, which will appear with the brand in additional races at Talladega and Martinsville.
The young driver from Portage, Michigan, has accumulated eight total road course starts at the Cup level, reaching a best finish of third at Watkins Glen International in September 2024. Hocevar’s team, represented by the Delaware Life banner, enters Charlotte off the momentum of an eighth-place finish at Iowa Speedway, where Hocevar overcame a mid-race spin to secure his second consecutive top-10 result.
Statistically, Hocevar’s advancement is clear: through 31 of 36 points-paying races, he has spent over half his laps inside the top 15—doubling his performance at this point last year. In early-run speed, Hocevar places ninth among all NASCAR Cup drivers, reflecting a growing capacity to stay competitive throughout each event’s most crucial stages.
Last year, in general, our focus was to finish races. We’ve changed that approach to going for wins and going as hard as we can so I think that’s allowed me to learn more about racing up front and challenging for position. I think there’s a lot of opportunity on road courses and we’ve run decent this year, it’s just finishing it out.
— Carson Hocevar, Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1
Not really. I’m not going to intentionally put anyone in a bad spot, but we’re still here to win races. I appreciate what they are fighting for and don’t want to be the driver that ruins someone’s playoff run. I just rely on the team to keep me updated on what is going on and I focus on my goal, which is getting to the front.
— Carson Hocevar, Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1
Charity Initiatives and Broader Impact of the Spire Team
Demonstrating unity and social responsibility, all Spire Motorsports entries will participate in the Window of Hope awareness campaign by featuring pink window nets during the Bank of America ROVAL 400. This gesture, in partnership with the Erik Jones Foundation, brings visibility to breast cancer fundraising efforts and offers fans a symbolic reminder of the importance of fighting the disease. The team’s ongoing relationships with community-focused partners such as the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and Group 1001 further highlight Spire’s commitment to making a tangible difference beyond the race track.
What a Breakthrough Finish at the ROVAL Could Mean for Spire Motorsports
For Spire Motorsports, a standout showing in the Spire Motorsports Charlotte ROVAL race holds not only competitive but also symbolic significance. Success at this event, which tests the technical limits of drivers, crew, and equipment, would signal Spire’s arrival as a consistent challenger among the NASCAR Cup’s most established outfits. With the collective experience of Justin Haley, the technical expertise of Michael McDowell, and the emerging talent of Carson Hocevar—backed by accomplished crew chiefs and a unified strategy—the team is well positioned to capitalize on the ROVAL’s challenges and opportunities.
A strong performance would also reinforce the value of Spire’s partnerships, from Gainbridge and Delaware Life/FIG to Modo Casino, while highlighting the critical work done by organizations like the Erik Jones Foundation and Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. As the race approaches, fans and industry observers are watching closely to see if Spire can leverage its momentum for a breakthrough result at Charlotte, possibly reshaping the trajectory of its season and adding another chapter to the team’s growing story.
The Bank of America ROVAL 400, broadcast live on USA and radio outlets, stands as one of the pivotal points in the latter part of the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. How Spire Motorsports performs at this venue may well determine the narrative of its 2025 campaign and set the tone for future ambitions within the sport.
