Spire Motorsports is one of the biggest storylines heading into 2025 as the NASCAR Cup Series silly season gets underway. Known for its steady rise from a small team, Spire is now making bold offseason moves that indicate it’s ready to take the next step. The team’s recent hires are raising questions about whether this is the beginning of a serious change for the team, and fans and insiders are taking notice.

In the past, Spire was viewed as a fringe team, but the narrative has entirely changed with the latest personnel changes. This organization is signaling that it won’t be content with being a mid-pack team any longer by bringing in proven names and adding depth to its technical staff. Despite what fans are speculating about what these changes might bring, one thing is clear: Spire Motorsports wants to make a statement.

The announcement that Matt McCall and Dax Gerringer will be joining Spire Motorsports spread quickly through the NASCAR community. Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports discussed these additions in a widely shared X post, noting Spire’s growing tech. As he succinctly put it, “Matt McCall goes from RFK to Spire as director of vehicle performance … Dax Gerringer goes from the SHR No. 4 team engineer to Spire as technical director.”

Speaking of McCall, he has had an amazing journey at RFK Racing. Under his guidance, Brad Keselowski qualified for back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Additionally, RFK officially announced McCall’s departure three weeks ago, expressing gratitude for his contributions. “We want to thank Matt for his dedicated efforts over the last three seasons…and we wish him well in future endeavors,” RFK Racing posted.

Matt McCall has been the crew chief for Brad Keselowski’s #6 car at RFK Racing for the past three seasons, and Gerringer served as lead engineer for the #4 Stewart-Haas Racing team. He joined Spire because of his long-standing relationship with Jeff Dickerson, the team’s co-owner. This personal connection and the opportunity to help a rising team reach its full potential led him to leave RFK Racing. As a member of Spire’s vehicle performance team, he brings innovative ideas and perspectives.

It couldn’t have come at a better time for Spire. By bringing McCall and Gerringer on board, Spire will be able to compete with the sport’s best. These moves have sparked Spire’s potential. Gerringer will offer valuable insight into SHR’s technical development thanks to his experience with a championship team. Spire seems poised for growth with McCall’s proven leadership.

But something proves Spire is turning heads

Spire Motorsports’ aggressive approach this offseason has been met with enthusiasm by NASCAR fans. The team’s upward trajectory lit up social media platforms with speculation and praise. A fan said, “Spire about to become the number 2 Chevy team within the next year or 2.” Definitely, with Hendrick Motorsports being the No. 1 Chevy after Kyle Larson leading with the top most wins in 2024 and Golden Boy Chase Elliott winning the MPD award for 7th time in a row, Spire’s top rookie, Carson Hocevar, has all the potential.

Another fan added, “Spire is about to cook in 2025,” suggesting a big season is on the way. Hocevar’s final points finish marks the best result for a Spire Motorsports driver. “I feel like teams spend a lot of money to gain two or three spots, right? So to be the highest finishing Spire car ever for their tenure — I think their highest ever is 26th — that’s what I’m probably most proud of is 21st is really good, I thought,” Hocevar added.

Since Spire started out as a backmarker team, fans have been impressed with how far it’s come. One commenter summed up the sentiment perfectly, saying, “Wow, Spire is really doing anything necessary to become a top Chevrolet team. It’s awesome to see an organization grow from a small backmarker team to a team that could potentially get top 15, top 10, and maybe a win next year.” 

Remember when Carson Hocevar clinched the Sunoco Rookie of the Year title in his debut Cup Series season? He joined fellow 2024 honorees Jesse Love in the Xfinity Series and Layne Riggs in the Craftsman Truck Series. It looks like Spire Motorsports is making moves, snapping up talent from drivers to engineers!

Another fan noted Spire’s bold recruitment strategy, quipping, “Spire poaching everyone,” while another kept it simple, “Two common W’s from Spire.”

Overall, Spire Motorsports had its first full-time season in 2024, earning four Top 5 finishes and 13 Top 10 finishes with Justin Haley, Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith, and Carson Hocevar.