Daniel Suarez joins Spire Motorsports as he prepares to pilot the No. 7 car full-time for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, answering one of the off-season’s biggest questions about his future after departing Trackhouse Racing. This new partnership, announced two months after Connor Zilisch was confirmed for Suarez’s previous seat, brings the 34-year-old veteran into an organization eager to build on recent progress in NASCAR’s top series.
Spire Motorsports Welcomes Daniel Suarez as New Driver
After a quiet period in the NASCAR Cup Series’ “silly season,” Daniel Suarez’s next move is now official—he will compete for Spire Motorsports starting in 2026. Suarez, who spent five years with Trackhouse Racing, is set to replace Justin Haley as the full-time driver of the No. 7 Chevrolet, with Freeway Insurance continuing as the anchor sponsor for the team. The announcement comes as Spire aims to strengthen its Cup Series lineup after recent seasons of steady improvement.
“¡Bienvenido, Amigo!@Daniel_SuarezG will pilot the No. 7 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2026 with @Freeway_Ins serving as the anchor partner for the No. 7 team.📰: https://t.co/cuAY1u8OVY pic.twitter.com/wnfCQIYq5Q”— Spire Motorsports (@SpireMotorsport), October 22, 2025
Suarez’s contract with Spire appears limited to the 2026 season, though team owner Jeff Dickerson suggested that the relationship could continue beyond that initial year, stating they
“have a path forward for multiple years, for sure.”
For Suarez, who turns 34 in January and is entering his 10th full-time Cup season, Spire represents his fifth different team at NASCAR’s highest level.
Suarez spent previous years racing for Joe Gibbs Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, and Gaunt Brothers Racing before finding relative stability and moderate success at Trackhouse Racing. With two Cup victories and a pair of playoff berths between 2022 and 2024, he cemented his reputation as a steady performer but saw diminished results in the 2025 season, finishing only two races in the top five and dropping to 28th in the standings through 34 events.
In recent years, Trackhouse teammates Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen have achieved more consistent success, adding urgency to Suarez’s career crossroads and catalyzing his move to Spire. The transition is widely viewed as a necessary reset for Suarez, who seeks to regain momentum and relevance as the NASCAR field becomes increasingly competitive.
Evaluating the Move: Opportunities and Challenges at Spire Motorsports
Suarez’s decision to join Spire Motorsports comes at a time when the team is on an upward trajectory, despite some growing pains from recent expansions. Not only does it offer Suarez a crucial opportunity to continue competing in the Cup Series, but it also gives him the chance to contribute to a rapidly improving organization.
Throughout the 2025 season, Spire’s drivers Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar delivered notable performances. McDowell led laps at Texas and showed his prowess on road courses, while Hocevar came close to victories at EchoPark Speedway and Michigan, further demonstrating the team’s potential. The increased competitiveness of Spire’s cars gives Suarez a foundation to push for stronger results and possibly more race wins.
Though Spire has made strides, challenges remain. The team expanded its Craftsman Truck Series operation to four entries in 2025, only to scale back due to uneven results and stretched resources. On the Cup side, Hocevar’s speed and occasional flashes of brilliance contrast with reliability issues, especially for the No. 77 team, which suffered multiple mechanical DNFs and a series of disappointing finishes. McDowell excelled at some tracks but struggled on superspeedways, while departing driver Justin Haley scored only two top-10 finishes all season.
As Suarez steps into the No. 7 car, he inherits a ride with potential but also uncertainty. The team has experienced the downside of aggressive expansion, and 2026 could present either a smooth transition or further difficulties, depending on how quickly Suarez and Spire can align and resolve lingering challenges. Team chemistry will be vital, with Hocevar likely to take on a leadership role and McDowell providing experience, particularly on road courses.
Career Reflections as Suarez Prepares for a New Chapter
Suarez’s journey to Spire Motorsports marks both a fresh start and a significant test in his decade-long Cup career. He first came to prominence after bouncing among several teams early on, ultimately settling at Trackhouse, where he delivered the organization’s first race win and played a key stabilizing role during its formative years. However, 2025 proved especially difficult for Suarez, as his performance lagged behind his teammates and the team’s overall trajectory.
Despite another challenging season, Suarez’s value as an experienced driver remains clear. With Spire looking to build, Suarez’s reputation for adaptability and his past playoff experience might help elevate the performance of not just his own car, but the organization as a whole. His road course skills are expected to be especially useful as McDowell looks to convert strong runs into victories, and Hocevar aims to assist Suarez with advice for intermediate tracks.
This career move puts Suarez’s resilience to the test, as he faces the pressure of turning around a team at a crossroads while also keeping his own competitive future bright. The partnership could herald the resurgence of both driver and organization if the chemistry and technical collaboration come together in time for the 2026 season.
Outlook Beyond the Cup: Prospects in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
Remaining in the Cup Series was Suarez’s top priority, and joining Spire might have been his best—and only—realistic option to stay at the top level. Nonetheless, the situation is far from ideal, as the team’s expansion in recent years led to inconsistencies on both the Truck and Cup sides, and the No. 7 car historically struggles for results. If 2026 produces more of the same, Suarez could quickly find himself facing another juncture as a potential free agent should Spire opt against extending the relationship.
To maximize his standing in the sport, Suarez is likely to augment his Cup program with part-time starts in the soon-to-be-renamed O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Earlier in 2025, he made an impression by storming from last to first in a backup car to win at Mexico City‘s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with JR Motorsports, giving him one of the most memorable moments of his career.
“DANIEL SUÁREZ WINS IN MEXICO CITY! 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/UgfLoKVgyw”— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity), June 14, 2025
This episode provided a rare highlight during an otherwise trying year, demonstrating that Suarez remains a formidable contender when given a competitive car. With sponsorship backing and established relationships at Chevrolet teams such as JRM, Suarez could continue to pursue more starts in the O’Reilly Series, potentially increasing his visibility and value regardless of his Cup results.
Similar approaches have paid off for his Trackhouse teammates Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen, both of whom found success in part-time JRM rides. Suarez’s opportunities in the O’Reilly Series—bolstered by up to five allowed starts, or more should NASCAR ease participation rules—mean he can further bolster his credentials while potentially building momentum for the next phase of his career.
Implications for Suarez and Spire Motorsports Moving Forward
The arrival of Daniel Suarez at Spire Motorsports for the 2026 Cup season marks a critical moment for both driver and organization. For Spire, securing an experienced and marketable figure like Suarez could help attract further sponsorship and technical partners, as the team seeks to establish itself as more than a mid-tier presence in the Cup garage. For Suarez, it represents a final shot at reasserting himself in a top-flight team after a challenging finish at Trackhouse.
If their collaboration flourishes, Suarez and Spire could transform each other’s fortunes, turning the No. 7 entry into a regular points contender. Conversely, an inability to break out from mid-pack struggles could force both sides to reevaluate their strategies ahead of the 2027 season. Either way, Suarez’s commitment to making the most of Cup and O’Reilly Series opportunities signals he isn’t ready to fade from the NASCAR spotlight, and his next steps will be watched closely across the sport. As the 2026 campaign nears, the eyes of fans and teams alike will be on how Daniel Suarez adapts to this new environment and whether Spire’s recent momentum can be converted into breakthrough results.
¡Bienvenido, Amigo!@Daniel_SuarezG will pilot the No. 7 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2026 with @Freeway_Ins serving as the anchor partner for the No. 7 team.
📰: https://t.co/cuAY1u8OVY pic.twitter.com/wnfCQIYq5Q
— Spire Motorsports (@SpireMotorsport) October 22, 2025
DANIEL SUÁREZ WINS IN MEXICO CITY! 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/UgfLoKVgyw
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) June 14, 2025
