Spire Motorsports is preparing for a decisive run at Phoenix Raceway as it seeks to make a statement in the final event of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season. After securing notable results in six previous starts at Phoenix—including a best of eighth place last fall with Connor Mosack—the team aims to capitalize on recent momentum and competitive gains. The organization, based in Mooresville, North Carolina, runs the Nos. 7, 71, and 77 Chevrolet trucks full time, each fielded by an experienced mix of drivers, as Spire Motorsports Truck Series Phoenix takes center stage on the motorsport calendar this week.
This month, Spire Motorsports has swapped its signature Ascent Yellow for Breast Cancer Pink, honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the strength of those affected. The team is selling special Spire Goes Pink merchandise, with proceeds dedicated to breast cancer research initiatives. Spire will also spotlight stories of its community members impacted by the disease across social platforms in the coming weeks.
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship Race at Phoenix is set to air live on FS1 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Friday, October 31, and will be the season’s 25th and grand finale event, with radio coverage through the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.
Stefan Parsons Pilots No. 7 for Phoenix Championship Showdown
Stefan Parsons will climb behind the wheel of the No. 7 Transportation Charter Services Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports in Friday’s championship race. This contest marks Parsons’ 28th start in the Truck Series, where he has notched three top-10 finishes and a career-best sixth at Daytona International Speedway earlier this season driving for Henderson Motorsports.
Across the year, Parsons split seat time with Tyler Young’s teams in the Nos. 02 and 20 Chevrolet entries. His relationship with Spire runs deep; he was the spotter for the No. 7 Spire Cup Series car last season and has been affiliated with Spire Sports + Entertainment, a branch of Spire Holdings, since 2019. Parsons has nine national series starts at Phoenix, including six in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he recorded an 18th-place finish in March 2021. He also earned an eighth-place result at Bristol Motor Speedway in September 2022 during a separate Xfinity campaign.
The Cornelius, North Carolina native, son of NASCAR Cup Series veteran and FOX Sports broadcaster Phil Parsons and nephew of the late 1973 champion Benny Parsons, began racing Bandoleros in 2011 and tallied a CARS Late Model Stock Tour run between 2015 and 2017. For Friday’s showdown, Parsons will drive Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-085, which has three prior track outings and achieved its best result—eighth—at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Rajah Caruth last October.
On preparations and rejoining familiar territory, Parsons said:
This is the kind of opportunity myself and all those around me have been working on for a long time. I’m really excited to work with (Brian) Pattie and the whole No. 7 team. It is a little bit of a homecoming. I have been a part of Spire for several years from the agency side, then I spotted for the No. 7 Cup car last year. I couldn’t be more excited to get on track Thursday afternoon.
— Stefan Parsons, Driver
When asked about the Phoenix racing experience, Parsons noted:
Phoenix is a lot of fun. It is a place that if you have a good package, you can really stand out and run your race. Obviously with the Championship 4, the race lends itself to chaos. If you can put yourself in position to be up front at the end, there’s no telling what can happen, especially if you get some late-race cautions. The restarts with the runoff through the dogleg make things extremely interesting.
— Stefan Parsons, Driver
Behind the No. 7 Pit Box: Brian Pattie’s Experienced Guidance
Crew chief Brian Pattie stands at the helm for the No. 7 entry, which has cycled through a high-profile driver lineup this season. Just last week at Martinsville Speedway, the team and Brenden “Butterbean” Queen overcame early adversity from fender contact to secure 10th place. Pattie himself is no stranger to Phoenix, bringing a deep record—having called two previous Truck Series races at the venue, including an eighth-place finish in last year’s closer.
Across his 24-year career in NASCAR, Pattie’s résumé features 28 Cup Series events at Phoenix Raceway and a commendable fourth-place result with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., in March 2017. Pattie also orchestrated Jamie McMurray’s Xfinity Series win at the track in 2004, expertly fending off the dominant Kyle Busch in a memorable finish. In 2024, the No. 7 squad scored victory in the Heart of Health Care 200 at Kansas with Carson Hocevar and took the Fr8 208 at Atlanta with veteran Kyle Busch, who led 80 laps and dominated the field. Overall, Pattie’s top-tier experience spans six Cup Series victories, eleven in Xfinity, and seven in the Truck Series, making him one of an elite group of crew chiefs to win in all three national series.
Transportation Charter Services, title sponsor of the No. 7 entry, is a leader in premium group travel headquartered in Orange County, California. The company has earned its reputation providing reliable motorcoach services for sports teams, tour operators, and major events across regions that now include Southern California, Western Canada, and Nashville’s entertainment market.
Rajah Caruth Races Toward Redemption in No. 71
Rajah Caruth, at the controls of the No. 71 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado, enters Phoenix with unfinished business following a dramatic playoff exit. Earlier this year, Caruth clinched his second playoff berth by winning at Nashville Superspeedway. He advanced to the Round of 8 for a consecutive season, but a mid-race incident at Martinsville ended his bid after significant damage sidelined the truck and dashed his Championship 4 hopes.
The 23-year-old from Washington, D.C. has three Truck Series starts at Phoenix with a best finish of 12th in last season’s finale, plus experience in both ARCA Menards and Xfinity competition at the desert track. This season, Caruth and the No. 71 team have posted one win, four top fives, and twelve top-10 finishes across 24 races, leading nearly 200 laps—marked improvement over previous years.
Caruth’s rise has historic significance. With last season’s win at Las Vegas, he became the third African-American driver to claim a NASCAR National Touring Series race, following legends Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace.
On the emotional aftermath of playoff elimination and expectations at Phoenix, Caruth shared:
Martinsville is obviously still a tough pill to swallow. It is going to sting for awhile, especially not being able to partake in the Championship 4 festivities and have to take off the red playoff indicators on the splitter, spoiler and windshield banner. However, we can still fight for a win and fifth-place in points, which is definitely a great thing to earn for our team. I am excited for another opportunity. Our preparation for Phoenix has put us in a spot where I think we can be competitive and race up front all night.
— Rajah Caruth, Driver
Reflecting on his growth at Spire Motorsports, Caruth added:
I learned a lot. From what it takes on a personal commitment level. At this stage in my career, I learned what it really means to grind, listen to those around you, and work towards building something over time. I have lived through Spire’s core value of respect, and I truly think it is applicable to anywhere I will go or anything I do in life. Above all, above the wins and everything I’ve learned and accomplished, I think the intangibles and all the memories with the people I’ve worked alongside is what will live with me the most. Thank you to Jeff (Dickerson) and everyone at Spire that has helped me along the way, and who knows, maybe I will be back in the building some day.
— Rajah Caruth, Driver
The No. 71 rides Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-087, whose resume includes a win at Homestead-Miami with Kyle Larson in March and recent top-10 finishes with Caruth aboard. The blue and white HendrickCars.com livery continues to showcase the ongoing support of the Hendrick Automotive Group, reaching fans and customers across the national network of car dealerships and support centers.
Kevin Manion’s Leadership Shapes the No. 71 Team
Veteran crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion brings more than three decades of experience to the No. 71 box, including steering Daniel Suarez to victory in the 2016 Phoenix Truck Series event. Manion’s storied record at the one-mile oval comprises a Truck Series win, four top-fives, and multiple successes in both Xfinity and Cup Series events. Manion was integral to launching Spire’s Truck Series program, and his impact has spanned victories in all three national divisions—highlighted by his 2010 Daytona 500 triumph and 17 wins in the Xfinity ranks, along with 12 Truck Series checkered flags.
Manion’s versatility was on full display last year, as he guided teams across all three NASCAR national series, notably leading efforts for Ty Dillon in the Cup Series and Carson Hocevar’s select races in Xfinity. With ambitions high, Manion and his crew have prepared meticulously for the challenges Phoenix will present this weekend.
Corey LaJoie Seeks a Strong Finish in No. 77 Chevrolet
Corey LaJoie enters the Phoenix finale piloting the No. 77 Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado after a fourth top-five of the season last weekend at Martinsville. Despite early water temperature issues, LaJoie rallied from outside the top 20, showcasing resilience that has come to define his stint with Spire. In just five starts with the organization this campaign, he’s captured four top-ten finishes, including an eighth-place qualifying run and consistent pace at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The 34-year-old, a seasoned competitor with 15 Cup Series starts at Phoenix and a career-best 18th in the 2022 finale, has been a cornerstone presence in the Truck Series for Spire, amassing three top fives and six top tens in 2025 alone.
Gainbridge, the team’s primary sponsor, is a tech-forward financial services provider based in Zionsville, Indiana, aiming to put accessible financial solutions within reach of every consumer. LaJoie is set to compete in Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-091, a truck already boasting three top-five and four top-10 finishes in just four races. In its debut at Kansas Speedway this May, William Byron steered it to a runner-up result, while LaJoie’s own drives at Michigan and Richmond contributed to the chassis’s average finish of 5.0.
LaJoie looked ahead to the Phoenix challenge, saying:
I’m looking forward to closing out the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season at Phoenix. It’s a tricky place because you’re a little underpowered and track position means everything. The surface gets slick, and pit road can be just as challenging with how smooth the concrete is, so you’ve got to be disciplined all night. Hopefully, we can cap off the year strong with our No. 77 team and finish on a high note.
— Corey LaJoie, Driver
Team Dedication: Racing and Community Impact at Spire Motorsports
Spire Motorsports’ commitment to excellence is matched by its ongoing efforts supporting vital causes like breast cancer research, bringing together employees, families, fans, and industry partners. Across its fleet of talented drivers and veteran crew chiefs—names like Brian Pattie, Kevin Manion, Carson Hocevar, and William Byron—Spire’s collaborative spirit has fueled success both on and off the track.
This all-hands approach has helped Spire achieve milestone wins this season and strengthened connections within the NASCAR community, from veterans like Phil Parsons, Benny Parsons, and FOX Sports to young talents carving out new achievements. Corporate support from organizations such as HendrickCars.com, Gainbridge, and Transportation Charter Services not only funds on-track advancements but also empowers fans and customers with accessible automotive experiences and financial tools.
With the season’s finale at Phoenix Raceway fast approaching, Spire Motorsports’ unified focus is on capitalizing recent progress, honoring those affected by breast cancer, and earning standout finishes to set the stage for even bigger achievements in future Truck Series competitions.
