Spire Motorsports is riding a wave of momentum into an uncertain Watkins Glen weekend, and not even a gloomy forecast can dampen their spirits. With rain expected on Saturday and even higher chances on Sunday's Cup race day, the team is focused on sustaining their impressive surge through the NASCAR landscape.
The spotlight shines brightest on Carson Hocevar, NASCAR's rising star who recently scored a popular victory at Talladega Superspeedway. Fresh off sweeping the front row in Texas Motor Speedway qualifying—and even attending Monday's exclusive Met Gala alongside Beyonce, Nicole Kidman, Serena Williams, and Steph Curry—Hocevar enters Watkins Glen sitting sixth in Cup points. He's the second-highest Chevrolet driver, trailing only Chase Elliott in third.
Hocevar's teammate, Daniel Suarez, is also making waves. After being let go by Trackhouse Racing last season, Suarez has rebounded impressively, currently holding 14th in points. That places him ahead of notable names like Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, and Kyle Busch—a testament to Spire's growing competitiveness.
If the playoffs started today, Spire would secure two of the 16 spots—a remarkable turnaround from last season, when the team's best finish was 22nd (Michael McDowell), followed by Hocevar in 23rd and Justin Haley in 31st.
"We're right where we want to be," Hocevar said. "Winning for Jeff and everyone at Spire Motorsports was incredible, and while we're sixth in points with a 98-point cushion on the cutline, we've left some points on the table this year. We got turned while leading at Daytona and lost spots on late-race restarts at Bristol and Richmond. But we've shown what we're capable of week-in and week-out. We just have to keep putting it all together like we have the first 11 weeks."
Hocevar, known for his aggressive racing style that creates excitement whether he wins or loses, has carried the biggest share of publicity for Spire. But with Suarez building a season that should carry him into playoff contention, it's clear this team is no longer just a feel-good story—they're a legitimate force on the track.