In seven NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) starts at Watkins Glen International (WGI), Spire Motorsports has logged one top-20 finish. Corey LaJoie, driver of the No. 7 Gainbridge Chevy Camaro, earned a team-best 20th-place finish in the 2023 Go Bowling at The Glen. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NCS for LaJoie, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively. The Go Bowling at The Glen from Watkins Glen International will be televised live on USA Network Sunday, Sept. 15, beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 28th of 36 races on the 2024 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Countdown to Green on USA will take the green flag at 2:30 p.m. EDT.
Corey LaJoie – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Corey Lajoie will pilot the No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports in Sunday's Go Bowling at The Glen.
In five previous NCS starts at Watkins Glen, LaJoie has one top-20 and two top-25 finishes.
In the NCS most recent stop at Atlanta Motor Speedway, LaJoie rolled off 25th and survived late-race mayhem to earn a respectable 15th-place finish.
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In last year's trip to Watkins Glen, the father of three notched his first top-10 qualifying effort on a road-course and made the second round of qualifying for the first time in his Cup Series career. After rolling off 10th, the driver of the No. 7 Gainbridge Camaro secured a 20th-place finish, the team's 13th top 20 of 2023.
The 32-year-old qualified on the pole and led five laps in last season's ARCA Menards Series event at WGI, but a brake issue took him out of contention.
Over 263 NCS starts, the Concord, N.C., native has earned four top-five and 10 top-10 finishes and led 161 laps in NASCAR’s premier division.
Corey LaJoie Quotes
You’ve had the pace to qualify up front at the road courses over the past year. What’s the key to keeping it in the mix this weekend?
“Our road course package has been making a lot of strides. We have had the speed to qualify up front at the road courses this year, but really only have Sonoma to show for it. The tire wear will throw a wrench in the strategy, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity for a good finish on Sunday with Gainbridge on the hood.”
Zane Smith – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
On Sunday, rookie driver Zane Smith will make his first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International driving the No. 71 Focused Health Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports.
Smith owns one NASCAR CRAFTFSMAN Truck Series start at the 2.45-mile road course in upstate New York where he qualified eighth and finished sixth.
The 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Champion finished 17th in the most recent Cup Series road race on the Chicago Street Course in downtown Chicago on July 7.
Smith has posted three top 20s on the three road courses raced so far this season. His best finish being 16th at Sonoma Raceway in California.
Smith will carry the No. 71 primary sponsor, Focused Health, on Sunday. Focused Health is a National Health Insurance agency founded by industry veterans with over 60 years combined industry experience. Primarily focused on the government programs space, Focused Health partners with payors and employers to deliver health insurance solutions for individuals and families. For more information visit AtFocusedHealth.com.
Race fans can order Focused Health No. 71 Zane Smith merchandise at Zanesmithracing.com.
Zane Smith Quotes
You’ve posted some of your best finishes this year on road courses, how is your confidence heading into this weekend at Watkins Glen?
“I really enjoy racing road courses, so I’m looking forward to Watkins Glen this weekend. I’m definitely ready to get some momentum on our side after the last couple of weekends and I think we have a good shot there. We’ve had some good results in the road races this season and I am hoping for our best one yet this weekend. Excited to have Focused Health back on board my Spire Motorsports Chevrolet for another fun weekend in upstate New York.”
Carson Hocevar – Driver, No.77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Carson Hocevar will make his first NCS start at Watkins Glen International in Sunday's Go Bowling at The Glen, piloting the No. 77 Mattress Warehouse Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports.
Last week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hocevar started 32nd and brought home a 16th-place finish in the Quaker State 400.
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The 21-year-old has raced at The Glen once before in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series when he started ninth and brought home a 10th-place finish in the 2021 United Rentals 176.
Over the first three road races of 2024, Hocevar has an average starting position of 14.6.
The youngest NCS driver in the field ranks 22nd in points and leads the Cup Series Rookie of the Year standings. Over the course of the season's first 27 races, Hocevar has notched four top-10 and nine top-15 finishes.
CJ Winslow, rear-end mechanic for Hocevar’s No. 77 machine, will be headed home this weekend. The Elmira, N.Y., native has been a mechanic in all three of NASCAR’s national touring series over the past 10 years.
Carson Hocevar Quotes
This will be your first time running at Watkins Glen in the Cup Series. This year has been full of new tracks with a lot of unknowns. Do you find the unknown to be detrimental or beneficial?
“I’m excited to get back to the Glen. I ran there in 2021 with the trucks and had a lot of fun. I’ve wanted to go back since and I’m finally getting the opportunity. The unknown this year has helped me and everyone else has some unknowns this week too, with the tire changes from Goodyear. It seems so hard to pass there and if what they’re saying about the new tire is true, it rewards guys who don’t qualify well and could add a little more fun to the race. Spire qualified top 10 last year there with Corey (LaJoie) so I think we could be legit.”
Spire Motorsports PR
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