Spire Motorsports is sticking with familiarity while elevating from within as it sets its leadership structure for the 2026 NASCAR season. The team confirmed its crew chief lineup, retaining several key figures across its three-car Cup Series program while preparing for a full-time return to the Craftsman Truck Series.
These guys will lead the charge in 2026. pic.twitter.com/j34U579Wos
— Spire Motorsports (@SpireMotorsport) December 12, 2025
After the 2025 campaign, Spire leaned on continuity and experience, promoting internal leaders and retaining veteran crew chiefs with championship and race-winning backgrounds.
Cup Series lineup and leadership structure
Matt McCall has been promoted to Cup Series Competition Director. McCall previously served as Spire’s Director of Vehicle Performance. Kevin Rutherford of Frontstretch reported that the move was part of a broader restructuring announced alongside the Truck Series return. McCall is a former Cup Series race-winning crew chief and joined Spire at the start of the 2025 season.
Ryan Sparks will serve as crew chief for the No. 7 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Suárez. Sparks spent much of last season in a dual role that included competition leadership. Joseph Srigley of Racing America reported that Sparks will now “focus on being the shot-caller of the No. 7 in 2026, driven by Daniel Suarez.” Sparks replaces Rodney Childers, who left Spire after the 2025 season.
Travis Peterson will continue as crew chief for Michael McDowell and the No. 71 Chevrolet. Peterson joined Spire with McDowell in 2025. Srigley reported that in their first season together, the pairing recorded several top-five and top-10 finishes while competing full-time.
Luke Lambert also remains in place as crew chief for Carson Hocevar and the No. 77 Chevrolet. Lambert moved to Spire with Hocevar ahead of the 2024 season and will continue working with the driver in 2026.
Truck Series program details for 2026
Spire Motorsports will field the No. 7 and No. 77 trucks in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The team last competed full-time in the series before shifting its main focus to Cup racing. Rutherford reported that the Truck Series return was confirmed at the same time as the Cup Series promotions.
Kevin “Bono” Manion has been named Truck Series Competition Director. Manion previously served as crew chief for Spire’s No. 71 truck and brings championship-winning experience to the role.
Brian Pattie will serve as crew chief for the No. 7 truck, while Chad Walter will continue as crew chief for the No. 77 entry.
Context from the Spire Motorsports 2025 season
Spire Motorsports campaigned three full-time entries in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season: the Nos. 7, 71, and 77 Chevrolets.
The team did not record a victory and finished outside the top tier in the final points standings. Rodney Childers, a prominent, championship-winning crew chief, joined the No. 7 team for the start of the 2025 season but parted ways.
Joseph Srigley of Racing America described the new lineup as having “no brand-new hires,” instead pointing to a reshuffling of roles for long-time members of the organization. Rutherford also emphasized that the announcements tied the Cup and Truck leadership under one unified plan.
With the crew chief lineup now finalized, Spire Motorsports is expected to share more updates later in the offseason as preparations continue for the 2026 NASCAR season.
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