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Spire Motorsports has made some major jumps this season, and now they have their three-car driver lineup locked up for 2024. They have done everything we listed when we asked what Spire needed to do to become contenders including improving their shop space, getting a young driver to build around, starting a driver development program by buying Kyle Busch Motorsports, and signing Carson Hocevar. Now, the question is what should Spire’s expectations be in 2024, and how good will they be?
Corey LaJoie has had a career year with Spire Motorsports as he has career highs in top-5s, top-10s, laps led, points position, average start, and average finish. With that in mind, and the improvements that Spire is making as a race team in 2024, LaJoie’s expectations should be high. He is expected to continue to be the number one driver of the race team.
As far as what that looks like, LaJoie should find a way to at least compete for a Playoff spot, and maybe a race win. Expecting him to make the Playoffs and win a race in 2024 are good high-end goals to set for LaJoie, but, they are probably on the top end of what he is capable of. If he can finish in the top 20 in points and continue to show steady improvement from this year, that should be a successful season for LaJoie.
Zane Smith is finally getting his shot in the NASCAR Cup Series. His expectations as a rookie may be higher than others just because he has spent so much time in the Truck Series with success. He also has nine Cup Series starts to his credit with one top-10 in the 2023 Coca-Cola 600.
Smith knows that he will be moving on to Trackhouse following the 2024 season, and, he will be starting with a brand new team since Spire just purchased the charter for the team. His marker for success will be his teammate, Carson Hocevar. If Smith beats Hocevar, that will be a successful season.
Overall, Smith could look to finish somewhere between 20th and 25th in the standings, with a top-20 being a spectacular season. Maybe he can compete for a win if Spire equipment allows it, but, his main goal will be to learn the Cup Series as he prepares to step into a top ride with Trackhouse in 2025.
Carson Hocevar has impressed in his fill-in drives in the Cup Series this season. He has run in the top 20 for most of his races in the Cup Series, and that is stellar, especially considering the equipment he is in. His expectations are likely similar to Zane Smith, but, Hocevar’s goal should be to learn in his rookie season.
Again, beating Smith is probably the thing Hocevar wants to do the most since that is Hocevar’s best gauge of where he is at. However, again, finishing between 20th and 25th in points is probably about his expectation with a top-20 being a stellar rookie season. However, he has surprised us so far, so why can he not do it again?
As a race team, Spire should expect to improve in 2024. If they have the same year they did this year with the new resources they have, that would be a failure. Making the Playoffs is definitely a good reach goal, but, is it realistic?
Keep in mind that LaJoie is still 26th in points, so he would have to jump 10 drivers to point his way in. Maybe he can win a race, which is not out of the question, but that is tough to do. Overall, next year there should be solid, consistent improvement. Maybe it’s not their breakout year, but, that year could be coming soon.
