Daniel Suarez will race for the Spire Motorsports NASCAR team in 2026, marking a notable transition for both Suarez and Spire’s No. 7 Cup Series entry as they aim to challenge expectations. The announcement, made at the NASCAR Productions Facility, signals a determined new partnership following both sides’ struggles in the 2025 season.
Suarez and Spire Unite for a New Chapter
Suarez, a former NASCAR Xfinity Series champion and two-time Cup Series winner, has faced a difficult 2025 campaign with Trackhouse Racing, recording no wins, two top-five finishes, and seven top tens over thirty-four races. Spire Motorsports, meanwhile, has enlisted him to replace Justin Haley in the No. 7 Chevrolet ZL1 after Haley’s own underwhelming season of just one top five and two top tens.
Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson explained the motivation behind the move:
“I think when it came down to it, it’s just a thing where I think we need each other,”
— Jeff Dickerson, Spire co-owner
According to Dickerson, the union is about renewal for both the driver and the team. He added:
“So, I think in this case, Daniel wants to show everybody that this year was an outlier, and we wanted to show everybody that the No. 7 car’s performance this year is an outlier, as well.”
— Jeff Dickerson, Spire co-owner
Suarez Impressed by Spire’s Recent Growth
Daniel Suarez, originally from Monterrey, Mexico, has paid close attention to Spire Motorsports’ progress in recent years. While three years ago he would not have considered joining, the organization’s development prompted a change in perspective for Suarez.
“To be quite honest with you, it was a no-brainer, if you look at the last three years, how Spire Motorsports has grown in the last three years,”
— Daniel Suarez, Driver
Suarez said this to Dickerson, admitting that in the past, Spire was not on his radar. Now, seeing Spire as perhaps the fastest-growing team in NASCAR, Suarez is eager to be a part of their journey. He commented that the team’s foundation and momentum are
“quite impressive to look at it from the outside”
and expressed his excitement for the new opportunity.
“Everything that Jeff and the entire team at Spire Motorsports have been able to do in a very short period of time, it’s quite impressive to look at it from the outside. I was just very, very excited to see this new chapter and this opportunity.”
— Daniel Suarez, Driver
Building a Partnership and Continuing Sponsor Support
Suarez’s move also extends his long-standing relationship with Freeway Insurance, which will become the primary sponsor of the No. 7 Chevrolet starting at the February 15 DAYTONA 500. Describing his contract discussions with Spire, Suarez said:
“We’ve been having conversations for a long time,”
— Daniel Suarez, Driver
He emphasized the importance of aligning goals with the team, stating:
“I would say that a month-and-a-half or so (ago), we knew that it was going to happen. It was just a matter of contracts and things like that.”
— Daniel Suarez, Driver
A Look at Suarez’s Racing Background and New Teammates
Suarez’s résumé includes a Cup Series win at Sonoma Raceway in 2022, and a victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the following season. He claimed the 2016 Xfinity Series championship as well. For 2026, Suarez joins Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar in the Spire Cup Series lineup.
Reflecting on his relationship with McDowell, Suarez recalled a heated qualifying incident at Phoenix Raceway in 2019, which surprisingly led to a friendship. Suarez shared:
“Before then, Michael and I were just two drivers,”
— Daniel Suarez, Driver
Since their altercation, McDowell and Suarez have developed a working relationship. Michael McDowell even called Suarez on the morning of the announcement, with Suarez noting frequent conversations about Spire’s people and systems. He is optimistic about their collaboration within the team as a whole.
When discussing rookie teammate Carson Hocevar, Suarez admitted they have not yet spoken, but he is looking forward to working with him:
“I haven’t had the opportunity to talk to Carson yet, but he’s an extremely talented driver. You can see his raw speed. Although he’s very young, he’s still learning a lot of different things. I think it’s going to be exciting to have the opportunity to work with two drivers that, to me, are actually quite different.”
— Daniel Suarez, Driver
Implications for the Team and Next Steps
This move pairs Daniel Suarez, a determined racer looking for a resurgence, with the Spire Motorsports NASCAR team, itself eager to redefine its reputation in the Cup Series. With consistent sponsor support, fresh collaboration among dynamic drivers, and a foundation Suarez describes as strong and growing, both driver and team enter the 2026 season eager to silence critics and write a comeback story. The partnership will be on full display at the DAYTONA 500, setting the stage for a closely watched season of NASCAR competition.
