Spire Motorsports is set for another high-stakes weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, for the DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne. The team, entering with momentum and a lineup featuring Daniel Suárez, Michael McDowell, and Carson Hocevar, is aiming for strong results and valuable points at one of the most demanding road courses on the schedule. This Spire Motorsports NASCAR race preview highlights the team’s history at COTA, recent performances, and what’s at stake in the 2026 event.
Recent Form and COTA Track Record for Spire Motorsports
Since debuting at COTA, Spire Motorsports has collected three top-15s and six top-20s in 12 starts at the Texas road course. Last year, Michael McDowell equaled the team-best finish of 11th, originally set by Corey LaJoie in 2023. The organization brings to COTA the Nos. 7, 71, and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s, piloted by Daniel Suárez, Michael McDowell, and Carson Hocevar, respectively, each with unique skills suited for the technical challenge ahead.
This year’s DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne will be broadcast live on FOX at 3:30 p.m. EST, with full race coverage on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90, offering fans comprehensive access to every lap and storyline as the third points event of the 2026 season gets underway.
Daniel Suárez: Road Course Resilience and Renewed Focus
Daniel Suárez returns to COTA with the confidence of recent strong performances and a hunger to build on unfinished business from a year ago. He’ll drive the No. 7 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, hoping to capitalize on the speed he showed at last year’s event, where he qualified fifth and recorded stage finishes of eighth and tenth before an incident cut his day short on lap 51, relegating him to 36th place.
With five COTA starts, Suárez averages a qualifying spot of 9.2, though his race finishes have suffered from bad luck, editing his average finishing position to 30.2. He’s demonstrated pace by leading 16 laps at the venue and, notably, captured the pole at the 2023 Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course with a blistering 87.968-second lap. The Mexican driver’s career highlights include a win at Sonoma Raceway in 2022, and consistent top-fives at major road circuits like Indianapolis, Watkins Glen, and Road America.
Last Sunday at Atlanta, Suárez and the No. 7 team made strategic adjustments throughout the event, overcoming handling challenges to surge into the top five during NASCAR Overtime, earning his 26th career top-five and 77th top-10 in the Cup Series premier division.
Man, every time we come back to COTA it just gets better. The new layout really makes the corners come alive, it’s exciting for the fans and honestly, it’s just as exciting for me in the car. You’ve got to be aggressive, you’ve got to be precise, and that’s what makes this place special. For me, the new 20-turn layout is more technical and strategic, keeping me more focused with every lap. I am excited to get back out there.
— Daniel Suárez, Driver
Ryan Sparks: Strategy and Stability on the Pit Box
Leading the No. 7 team is Ryan Sparks, a crew chief with 204 Cup races under his belt, including six top-five and twelve top-ten finishes since starting in 2020. Sparks achieved his best COTA finish of 11th in 2023 and has held dual roles as Crew Chief and Competition Director at Spire Motorsports since 2021. His background at Richard Childress Racing and championship campaigns in the Truck Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series add depth to the tactical foundation for the team at Austin.
Michael McDowell: Road Course Expertise and Season Goals
Michael McDowell brings significant road racing experience and past success to the fold, driving the No. 71 Katz Coffee Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. At COTA, McDowell boasts five starts, highlighted by a seventh in the inaugural race and only a single finish outside the top 15. He’s run competitively, leading laps and demonstrating resilience, especially in last year’s event, where a penalty likely cost him another top-five.
McDowell, who earned a career-high three top-five finishes on road courses in his first year with Spire Motorsports, enters COTA ranked 20th in the standings, within striking distance of the playoff cutoff. Last weekend at Atlanta, despite mid-race contact and damage, he battled back to a 20th-place result. With 50 career starts on road courses, he’s compiled one win, six top-fives, and 14 top-tens, plus noteworthy victories in other series such as the 2004 Star Mazda Championship and in sports car racing.
This weekend, McDowell will have his cousin, Jason Noll, assisting Michael Fisher on the spotter stand, adding familiarity and precision to race communications. The No. 71 car will feature a vibrant Katz Coffee livery, while also receiving support from Austin-based Tecovas, with both brands representing their Texas roots on the national stage.
I’m looking forward to going to COTA. Obviously having a road course early in the season is beneficial, especially for me with my background in sports cars and road-course racing. The first handful of races are places we have had success, even though Daytona and Atlanta didn’t play out the way we wanted. We had some good speed and opportunities on the two drafting tracks so far, but now we can learn where we have improved our road-course program from last year. We had three top-five finishes on road courses and a penalty at COTA last year potentially cost us a fourth, but this weekend we will have a lot of opportunities to score some big points, and race for a win with Katz Coffee onboard.
— Michael McDowell, Driver
Travis Peterson: Engineering Success on the 71 Team
Travis Peterson, crew chief for McDowell, is well-versed in road racing success. He masterminded McDowell’s win at the 2023 Verizon 200 and boasts six top-fives with McDowell, all on road courses. A mechanical engineering graduate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Peterson’s technical acumen and race strategy are assets on the challenging COTA circuit. Peterson has contributed to multiple wins with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and championship seasons with RFK Racing and JR Motorsports, bringing a wealth of experience to Spire’s road course ambitions.
Carson Hocevar: Building on Momentum and Experience
Carson Hocevar, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, enters his third COTA start with the No. 77 Chili’s Ride The ‘Dente Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Last week at Atlanta, Hocevar powered through adversity to earn a fourth-place finish—his second top five and third top ten in the last three Atlanta races. Through the opening events, he has propelled the No. 77 team to fourth in the championship standings.
Known for strong qualifying performances, Hocevar started fourth in last year’s COTA qualifier, marking his best career road course start, and raced to a 13th-place finish. With solid results at COTA in the Truck Series and a then-career best third at Watkins Glen on a road course, the young driver’s learning curve continues to climb. The No. 77 will showcase a refreshed Chili’s livery, celebrating the partnership with Brinker International and honoring the brand’s legacy of hospitality and community initiatives like the collaboration with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Our guys on the No. 77 team have done a great job this year building us fast Camaros, and I don’t see that changing this week. Of all the road courses, this is definitely the one that has been the most challenging for me. We always qualify well on road courses. The goal for Sunday is to keep it on the asphalt and not make mistakes. If we can keep it clean, we’ll maximize our day and come out of the weekend with a solid points day.
— Carson Hocevar, Driver
Luke Lambert: Crafting Consistency and Opportunity
Luke Lambert leads the No. 77 team as crew chief, now in his third season with Spire and fourth working alongside Hocevar. The duo has notched a pole, four top-fives, and sixteen top-tens across 82 races together. Lambert’s road course credentials span 42 NASCAR Cup Series events, with competitive results at COTA including a 13th-place finish with both Chris Buescher and Hocevar.
His experience extends to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where Lambert directed top-ten finishes in seven of nine road course events, marked by a third-place run at Charlotte’s ROVAL in 2022. His technical knowledge and tactical calls will be critical as the No. 77 team seeks to convert qualifying speed into race day results in Austin.
Inside Spire Motorsports: A Team on the Rise
Spire Motorsports, co-owned by Jeff Dickerson and Dan Towriss, has advanced quickly since entering full-time NASCAR Cup competition. The team’s breakthrough win came with Justin Haley at Daytona in 2019, followed by a Truck Series victory at Martinsville from William Byron in 2022, and their latest triumph at the Fr8 Racing 208 at Atlanta in 2026 with Kyle Busch.
In 2026, the organization is competing in the Cup Series with the same three Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s—Nos. 7, 71, and 77—and contests the Truck Series with the Nos. 7 and 77 Silverados. Spire also brings its presence to Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing, fielding a No. 77 sprint car. With roots in Mooresville, North Carolina, the team continues to grow in stature and competitiveness, attracting drivers such as Daniel Suárez, Michael McDowell, and Carson Hocevar, alongside notable crew chiefs and technical staff who bolster their bid for success in all series.
Significance of the COTA Weekend for Spire Motorsports
As the Cup Series makes only its 13th start at COTA, Spire Motorsports is well-positioned for a standout performance. Each of its drivers brings momentum, whether in road course pedigree, strong form in recent races, or rapid adaptation to new cars and strategies. The multi-car entry allows a wide array of tactics, critical for success on the technical and strategic 20-turn Austin circuit. Daniel Suárez, Michael McDowell, and Carson Hocevar will each aim to convert qualifying speed and race pace into critical stage points and a run at victory.
The team’s technical alliances, evolving partnerships with brands rooted in Texas like Katz Coffee and Chili’s, and the combined experience of crew chiefs Ryan Sparks, Travis Peterson, and Luke Lambert contribute to a robust foundation. Whether it’s chasing another top-10 or targeting a breakthrough win, Spire’s performance this weekend will shape their momentum as the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series progresses. Fans and followers will be watching to see if the expertise of McDowell, the determination of Suárez, or the rapid development of Hocevar propels the Spire Motorsports group into the COTA spotlight and further solidifies its reputation as a rising force in American motorsport.
