Spire Motorsports NASCAR team is entering the critical Phoenix race with confidence, driven by strong performances in prior events and the determination of its drivers. The team, which includes Daniel Suárez, Michael McDowell, and Carson Hocevar piloting the No. 7, No. 71, and No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 cars respectively, has shown competitiveness since the season’s start, and now aims to capitalize on recent momentum at Phoenix Raceway.
Suárez Reflects on Impressive Start and Team Chemistry
Daniel Suárez, behind the wheel of the No. 7 car, has quickly developed a positive rapport with Spire Motorsports, relishing both the car’s speed and the team’s structure. He emphasized the high expectations and the impressive pace the team has managed to achieve so far:
“My experience has been very good. I feel like we started off strong in Daytona and Atlanta. We have good speed and momentum. I am very pleased with Spire Motorsports. We are pushing ourselves to get better and better each week. You never know, you can work very hard, have all these meetings, communications, and chemistry, but you just never know exactly where you are going to stack up. I am impressed with the structure and speed at Spire. I was expecting to be fast, but this is faster than what I was expecting. In Daytona, I probably had the fastest superspeedway car I’ve ever been in. I still am learning the team and car, but so far to this point I am very impressed with what we are bringing to the racetrack.”
— Daniel Suárez, Driver
This enthusiasm is critical as the group prepares for Phoenix, building on their growing synergy and the lessons learned from both superspeedway and early-season races.
Team Spirit and Connections Beyond NASCAR
Suárez not only focuses on his own team’s progress but also maintains strong ties with other racers. When asked about the INDYCAR series and racing crossovers, he shared his enjoyment and personal connections:
“I have a couple of friends in the INDYCAR series — my amigo Paisano Pato, who I’ve known for over 20 years and also Scott McLaughlin. I’ll definitely be rooting for them. I think the INDYCAR Series is amazing. I really love watching those guys race. INDYCAR has a different fan base than NASCAR, which makes it great to bring families together to enjoy both series. I really enjoyed crossing over between the two at Indianapolis – it was a lot of fun – and I’m looking forward to doing it again.”
— Daniel Suárez, Driver
These cross-series relationships emphasize not only the camaraderie among top drivers but also broader efforts to unite fans and families across racing disciplines.
McDowell Looks to Build on Past Phoenix Success
Michael McDowell, steering the No. 71 car, is ready for Phoenix and the following traditional oval in Las Vegas, recognizing these races as important benchmarks. He highlighted the strategic importance of these tracks for evaluating overall team performance:
“I feel like with Phoenix and Vegas you start to see and feel where you are as a team, because you go back-to-back on superspeedways and then a road course with Circuit of the Americas. They are all important. They all count points, but you don’t know really where you stack up on your overall program until you get through all those different types of tracks. So, building off last year, our Phoenix package was good. We finished in the top 10 last fall and we were fast. We have good notes and a good baseline going into Phoenix this weekend.”
— Michael McDowell, Driver
His emphasis on previous top-10 finishes and valuable data demonstrates Spire Motorsports’ commitment to consistently refining their approach at each circuit.
Hocevar Optimistic Entering Busy Schedule Phase
Carson Hocevar, representing the No. 77, approaches this stretch with confidence, reflecting on solid points standings and optimism for upcoming tracks. He relayed his perspective on the transition into more familiar race types:
“We are right where we want to be heading into this part of the schedule. Anything can happen at Daytona and Atlanta, and road courses aren’t my favorite, but we are still 10th in points with some really good tracks coming up for us. We qualified really well with MINER at Phoenix last year, but got caught up in someone else’s mess. We excel at the 1.5-mile tracks like Vegas, and we ran in the top 10 at the Southern 500 last year. I’m excited to get into the heart of the schedule.”
— Carson Hocevar, Driver
Hocevar’s perspective highlights how previous performances at Phoenix and other notable races like the Southern 500 provide insight into the team’s potential as the campaign progresses.
Anticipation Grows for Spire Motorsports at Phoenix
As Spire Motorsports prepares for the upcoming Phoenix Raceway battle, the organization is energized by solid results, growing team chemistry, and the clear ambition shown by its drivers. With insights from crew chiefs like Ryan Sparks and Travis Peterson supplementing their experienced driver lineup, Spire aims to translate strong notes from last fall and early-season success into an impactful Phoenix showing. All eyes will be on their efforts this weekend as the team seeks to solidify its place among the NASCAR field and continue building impressive momentum.
