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.
Joey Logano could break Richard Petty’s 47-year-old record for the most consecutive drafting-track races led this weekend at EchoPark Speedway. After leading laps in the Daytona 500, Logano has now led in 19 straight drafting-track races, dating back to 2023, tying a mark The King set from 1974 to 1979.
Logano now has a clear opportunity to move past Petty and claim sole possession of one of NASCAR’s longest-standing superspeedway records, and considering his and Team Penske’s history of dominance in this style of tracks, it seems that he is poised to break it.
Chris Gabehart has responded to Joe Gibbs Racing’s lawsuit, strongly denying the allegations and calling the claims “false,” “frivolous,” and “retaliatory” in a public statement released this Friday.
After the lawsuit became public, on Thursday, Gabehart spoke out for the first time, stating that he did not share any confidential JGR information with Spire Motorsports or any third parties and that he intends to prove that in court. He also said a third-party forensic review of his personal devices found no evidence supporting the accusations, adding that JGR declined an offer to examine Spire’s systems before filing suit.
“Yesterday afternoon, Joe Gibbs Racing filed a lawsuit claiming — falsely — that I shared JGR confidential information with Spire Motorsports and/or other unnamed third parties… I feel compelled to speak out today and forcefully and emphatically deny these frivolous and retaliatory claims.”
Gabehart said he will address the matter further in a formal legal response in the coming days.
You can learn more about the lawsuit, why it started and all the context surrounding it in the article linked below
Weather could play a major role in the NASCAR weekend at EchoPark Speedway, with current forecasts calling for a 40% chance of rain Saturday afternoon and increasing to 55% in the evening. While conditions are expected to improve, contingency plans are already in place in case races cannot be completed as scheduled
NASCAR has not announced any official schedule changes yet, as decisions will be based on how conditions develop in real time. With rain chances increasing through Saturday afternoon and evening, teams are preparing for multiple outcomes, and Sunday is expected to serve as the primary backup window if events can’t be completed as planned.
Conditions are constantly being monitored, but fans should be prepared for possible schedule adjustments throughout the weekend. We’ll keep you updated throughout the race weekend here on The Daily Downforce
