Menu
Heading into 2025, Spire Motorsports is overhauling its driver lineup and personnel. In addition to these major changes, a new rumor suggests that the team is considering adding another piece to its 2025 puzzle.
Expansion is a major topic of conversation in NASCAR this year alone. Front Row Motorsports and Trackhouse Racing have already announced their expansion of three full-time cars. Furthermore, 23XI Racing is a prime candidate for expansion to three cars, with the team already in agreement to purchase a third charter, pending NASCAR’s approval.
During NASCAR’s 2025 Charter negotiations, there were many rumors that NASCAR wanted to limit teams to three Charters a piece. While 13 of 15 teams have signed the new Charter Agreement, there is no word that this rule is official. However, if it were, it wouldn’t keep teams from racing part-time or “open” the fourth car.
For three charter teams, Spire Motorsports, this sounds like the route they might take in 2025. Brakehard on TikTok recently dove into a rumor he had heard about Spire adding a fourth part-time car in 2025. This alleged car would be a part-time “open” car.
@brakehard WILL SPIRE MOTORSPORTS FIELD A 4TH CAR IN 2025? #nascar #racing #motorsport ♬ original sound – brakehard
The term “open” refers to a team that has no charter tied to an entry. A charter allows a team to enter one car into every NASCAR Cup Series points race and share revenue with NASCAR and its tracks. Racing an unchartered car is financially risky, so most teams do not field an open car full-time.
This season, Legacy Motor Club, 23XI Racing, and Kaulig Racing are the charter-owning teams that have fielded part-time open cars this season. Open cars typically don’t win races. These teams use these cars for developmental drivers, “all-star” drivers, and “ringers.” Meanwhile, other part-time cars like the MBM Motorsports No. 66 and NY Racing’s No. 44 are more for the love of the game.
Spire would likely use this for developmental talent. However, there is no indication of what the plan with the fourth car could be. Brakehard suggests that it could be a developmental car for Spire and Hendrick drivers like Corey Day and Rajah Caruth. Spire has a deep relationship with Hendrick Motorsports, one that rumors suggest will grow deeper in 2025.
Spire has had a busy Silly Season so far. The team is losing one full-time driver next year and has already “traded” Corey Lajoie to Rick Ware Racing for Justin Haley. The team is replacing the departing lease driver, Zane Smith, with former Daytona 500 Champion Michael McDowell.
The team is also adding valuable personnel for 2025. Crew Chief Travis Peterson is following McDowell to Spire from FRM, while the team hired Crew Chief Rodney Childers and Spotter Eddie D’Hondt from Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 4.
Beyond these team moves, there is a rumor that Spire could move to Chevrolet Tier 1 support in 2025. This rumor suggests that Hendrick Motorsports would be a major player in this growth.
It has been a major year of development and growth for Spire Motorsports, and adding a part-time car, regardless of the driver, is a logical step in the right direction.
What do you think about all this? Let us know on Discord or X what your take is, and don’t forget you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
