Spire Motorsports faced a dramatic and unpredictable start to the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season, overcoming setbacks on the challenging St. Petersburg street circuit. The team’s drivers, Connor Mosack and James Hinchcliffe, each demonstrated determination and racecraft, with Mosack finishing 13th and Hinchcliffe climbing back for a top-10 in his NASCAR debut, all while representing Spire Motorsports NASCAR Truck Series at the event’s inaugural venue.
Mosack’s Gritty Performance from Pole to Thirteenth on the Streets of St. Pete
Connor Mosack, piloting the No. 7 Friends of Jaclyn/RoaringPines Motorclub Chevrolet Silverado RST, started the season opener in St. Petersburg, Florida, at the front of the grid after qualifying was cancelled due to inclement weather, giving pole positions out based on owner points. Mosack capitalized early, leading the field and contending strongly through the opening laps, only relinquishing the lead on lap seven and settling into second at the end of the first stage. By prioritizing fuel conservation and track position, the No. 7 team secured valuable stage points while expressing concern over minor overheating issues when running in traffic.
The race’s second stage saw Mosack maintain a competitive pace, remaining among the top five before an incident on lap 34 resulted in contact and damage to the hood and left side of his truck. Multiple pit stops for repairs, tire changes, and refueling—including a return visit for a fueling complication—dropped him to 29th at the stage’s conclusion. During the final stage, Mosack and his team relied on smart pit calls, slowly clawing back positions, and ultimately worked forward through the field despite the vehicle’s lingering front-end damage. Demonstrating determination, Mosack finished 13th, affirming the squad’s resolve under difficult circumstances.
“We had a pretty solid and fast Friends of Jaclyn/RoaringPines Motorclub Chevrolet Silverado. We led early on and just needed a little bit of short run speed, but long run, we were really good and just kind of took our time. We decided to stay out at the end of the stage, save fuel and keep our track position. Everyone else’s strategy didn’t really help us. With everybody taking tires we slowly faded back and it was gonna be tough to recover our track position. And then we had some contact with the wall that caused some pretty good damage, and obviously weren’t quite as fast after that. We were able to come back through the field a fair amount and then I just didn’t really have any speed left at the end, but we ended up 13th. We had a fast truck, we just need to execute a little bit better and I am looking forward to the next one.”
— Connor Mosack, Driver
James Hinchcliffe Makes Impressive NASCAR Truck Series Debut
Veteran racer James Hinchcliffe, widely known for his success in open-wheel competition, embarked on his first NASCAR start in the No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet Silverado RST. Hinchcliffe, nicknamed “Jimmy Hinch,” had minimal preparation, with only one lap of practice before rain canceled official qualifying and the starting order was dictated by series rules. He began the race in third, but an early incident saw a competitor misjudge a braking zone, leading to contact that damaged the right side of his truck and relegated him to 11th by the stage’s end.
After crew chief Chad Walter called for pit repairs at the stage break, Hinchcliffe quickly regained positions when racing resumed. However, a braking error in Stage 2 sent him spinning out of the top 10, briefly demoting him to 23rd. Though he managed only one more position before the segment closed with a green-white-checkered, his final stage showcased exceptional recovery: strategic pit stops during caution and precise driving saw him surge from 25th to the top 10 in the closing laps, holding onto 10th position by the checkered flag. The energy of Hinchcliffe’s debut brought fresh attention to Spire Motorsports and their growing presence in the NASCAR landscape.
“I had one lap of experience around here in a truck going into the race, but I learned an awful lot in those 80 laps. The first 40, I learned that I was drinking from a fire hose, to use a Ryan Hunter Ray expression. We had to learn a couple lessons the hard way. We had to figure out these tires and figure out how to race some of these guys. By the third stage, I felt really good in my Delaware Life Silverado, even with a little bit of damage, and that thing was humming along. I wish I could start the race over knowing what I knew at the start of the Final Stage, but at the end of the day, just super thankful to Spire and Delaware Life for the opportunity. I’m really happy I was able to get up there and salvage a top-10 finish after going to the back a couple times.”
— James Hinchcliffe, Driver
St. Petersburg Street Course Presents New Challenges for Drivers and Teams
The OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 in St. Petersburg marked the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ first event held exclusively on a street course, offering a new set of challenges for drivers accustomed to traditional ovals and permanent road courses. The unpredictable Florida weather affected both preparation and the grid, as rain limited practice and nullified qualifying. For Spire Motorsports, led by co-owners Jeff Dickerson and Dan Towriss, such adversity required tactical adjustments and strategic pit decisions throughout the race.
Connor Mosack and James Hinchcliffe were both impacted by incidents—Mosack’s contact with the wall and Hinchcliffe’s early-race collision—highlighting the unforgiving nature of street circuits where passing is limited and recovery from damage demands both skill and composure. Crew chiefs like Chad Walter were instrumental in adapting race strategies on the fly, particularly in calls for late-race fuel and tire management that saw both Spire entries finish solidly inside the top half of the field.
Spire Motorsports’ Recent History and Season Outlook
Spire Motorsports, based in Mooresville, North Carolina, fields full-time teams in the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, and the Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing series. Since claiming their first Cup Series win with Justin Haley at Daytona in 2019, they have continued to build momentum, with drivers like William Byron and Kyle Busch bringing further victories in the Truck Series, including Byron’s win at Martinsville in 2022 and Busch’s triumph at Atlanta in February 2026.
The organization has grown its presence with committed driver lineups in the Cup Series—campaigning the Nos. 7, 71, and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s—and an energized Truck Series program using the Nos. 7 and 77 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs. Focused on development and competitiveness, Spire’s management, including Dan Towriss of TWG Motorsports, has prioritized talent recruitment and resource allocation for success across all racing disciplines. The team is determined to maintain its standing after a promising performance during the season opener and aims to translate lessons from St. Petersburg into stronger future outings.
What Awaits Spire Motorsports in the Races Ahead
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series now turns to the renowned Darlington Raceway in South Carolina for the next round. The Buckle Up South Carolina 200 is set to run on March 20 and will be broadcast live both on FS1 and the NASCAR Racing Network, with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio coverage also available. This event is the fourth of 25 points-paying contests on the Truck Series calendar, giving Spire Motorsports another opportunity to showcase resilience and adaptability as the season continues.
With drivers like Connor Mosack and James Hinchcliffe gaining experience and crew leadership such as Chad Walter making critical decisions, the team is determined to build on its intense and passionate efforts from St. Petersburg. As Spire Motorsports consolidates its position within the competitive field, fans and followers can remain engaged via official team channels and stay updated as the championship race unfolds.
