In eight NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Spire Motorsports has logged one top-20 and three top-25 finishes with six different drivers. Corey LaJoie earned a team-best 20th-place finish in last October’s 4EVER 400. The Mooresville, N.C., team fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NCS with Justin Haley, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
The Straight Talk Wireless 400 from Homestead-Miami Speedway will be televised live on NBC Sunday, Oct. 27 beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 34th 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 NBC will take the green flag at 2 p.m. EDT.Justin Haley – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Justin Haley will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chili’s® Grill & Bar Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Haley has earned one top 25 in three previous Cup Series starts at the South Florida oval, collecting a venue-best 23rd-place finish in last season’s 4EVER 400. He has logged four starts in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at 1.5-mile track, recording back-to-back top 10s in 2020 and 2021. Haley has also registered top-10 efforts in both CRAFTSMAN Truck Series appearances at the circuit, finishing eighth and ninth in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
The veteran racer has collected four NASCAR Xfinity Series checkered flags and three NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series wins, making him one of just 41 drivers in history to have earned victories across all three of NASCAR’s National Touring Series.
The 25-year-old is a veteran of 141 Cup Series starts and has notched one win, five top fives, 16 top 10s and led 102 laps in NASCAR’s premier division.
In last weekend's South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Haley started 16th, and despite racing with the leaders for much of the event, finished 17th after the team was caught on the wrong side of fuel strategy.
In total, Haley has made 39 Cup Series starts for Spire Motorsports, with the bulk of races coming during the 2021 season behind the wheel of the team’s No. 77 machine. He made his first Cup Series start in "The 305" with the team in 2021 where he finished 26th.
Haley has signed a multi-year agreement with Spire Motorsports and will pursue NASCAR Cup Series championship honors behind the wheel of the No. 7 Chevy in 2025.
Haley recorded top 10s at Darlington Raceway (May), Worldwide Technology Raceway (June) at Talladega Superspeedway (Oct.) this season. He has paced the field for 29 laps and completed 99.3 percent of the laps contested in 2024.
Haley, a native of Winamac, Ind., made his NCS debut for Spire Motorsports on April 28, 2019 at Talladega Superspeedway on his 20th birthday. He picked up both his and the team’s first win – an upset of practically unprecedented proportions – less than three months later in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro.
Chili’s is a leader in the casual dining industry and the flagship brand of Dallas-based Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT). Chili’s is known for its big mouth burgers, Chicken Crispers®, full-on sizzling fajitas and hand-shaken margaritas. Chili’s takes its food seriously – but not themselves – because dining out should feel like a celebration even if there is nothing to celebrate. Chili’s passion is making everyone feel special, and every day, ChiliHeads make it their job to spread #ChilisLove across almost 1,600 restaurants in 27 countries and two territories. And Chili's cares. Chili’s hosts local Give Back Events to support kids, education and hunger and has raised more than $100 million benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through generous Guest donations. Find more information about Chili’s at chilis.com, follow on Twitter or Instagram, like them on Facebook or join Chili’s on TikTok.
Chili’s iconic chili-pepper logo will adorn the hood of the No. 7 Camaro for the fifth time this season. Corey LaJoie brought the brand a top-five finish in the season-opening Daytona 500 and a top 10 in September's Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington.Justin Haley Quotes
Across the garage, Homestead is one of the most-endeared tracks to race at. Why is that?
“Homestead is a fun place to race. The tire falloff is severe, which makes for lap time variability. The various grooves allow you to make time, no matter how your car drives. I haven’t gotten the results I’ve hoped for there, but I think we can turn that around this weekend. It is really cool to have Chili’s aboard, and I hope I can put on a show for them.”
Zane Smith – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Zane Smith will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Sunday's Straght Talk Wireless 400 behind the wheel of Spire Motorsports' No. 71 Wellcare Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.
The 2022 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Champion made three starts in the series at the South Florida oval, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the 2022 event.
Smith posted his 14th top 20 of the year with a 16th-place effort last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
During his time at Stewart-Haas Racing, crew chief Stephen Doran called the shots in the 2022 event for Kevin Harvick, filling in for veteran crew chief Rodney Childers. As an engineer for Harvick's team, Doran racked up seven top-five finishes and the race victory in the 2014 edition en route to that season's NASCAR Cup Series title.
Smith will carry the teal, Wellcare colors on his Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 on Sunday. Wellcare provides Medicare Advantage plans you can depend on and offers coverage that goes beyond Original Medicare with more of the benefits you really want. With Wellcare, you’ll have a team who listens and supports you each and every day. Visit WellcareNow.com to find out which Wellcare Medicare Advantage plan in your area is best for you.
'Ohana Health Plan, a plan offered by Wellcare Health Insurance of Arizona, Inc. Y0020_WCM_133439E_CZane Smith Quotes
How are you feeling about your first Cup Series start at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend?
“I’ve always looked forward to going to Homestead. It’s a unique mile-and-a-half, and even though we haven’t gotten the best results at the intermediates this year, we’re coming off a top 10 at Kansas. That definitely gives us some positive momentum heading into the weekend. I’m excited to have Wellcare on board my Chevrolet and to go 400 miles on Sunday! Still a lot to accomplish in the final three races this year.”
Carson Hocevar – Driver, No.77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Carson Hocevar will pilot the No. 77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports in Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
In last week’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Hocevar reached the second round of qualifying for the fourth time on the season, where he posted the the sixth-best lap of the session. He battled handling issues throughout the race and was relegated to a 23rd-place finish.
The Cup Series Rookie of the Year contender will be making his first start at the South Florida oval in NASCAR's premier division.
Hocevar is the defending winner of the 200-mile CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event at Homestead. After starting on the outside of the front row, he paced the field for 11 laps and converted the second-most quality passes in the field (50) en route to his fourth NCTS victory on the season. The triumph secured his spot in the Championship 4 two weeks later at Phoenix Raceway.
The youngest NCS driver in the field ranks 21st in the division's championship point standings, leading the Sunoco Rookie of The Year standings by 99 points. Over the course of the season's first 33 races, he's notched one top-five, five top-10 and 12 top-15 finishes.
Crew chief Luke Lambert called Noah Gragson’s 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at the 1.5-mile oval. His 11 Cup Series appearances are highlighted by a runner-up finish in the 2014 event with Ryan Newman. The race marked the first Championship 4 in series history, where Newman came just 0.500 seconds from claiming the title.
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Fans can meet Hocevar Sunday morning at 11:15 for a 15-minute Q&A Session at the NASCAR Experience Stage in the Homestead-Miami Speedway Fan Zone.
Hocevar will also make an appearance at the Chevrolet Display in the Fan Zone on Sunday 11:30 a.m.Carson Hocevar Quotes
You have had success at Homestead in the past. How does that help your confidence heading into the weekend.
“I’m excited to get back to Homestead. I’ve ran really well at Miami in the trucks and it is a fun track overall. I didn’t get to run the Cup Series race there last year, but was able to watch and learn some things. Winning a race at a track helps build your confidence. Luke (Lambert) and everybody at Spire likes this racetrack, and Luke even won the XFINITY race a couple years ago with Noah (Gragson). So yeah, we’re pretty excited.”
The high line has been the preferred line at Homestead. Do you still see that as the case, or has the Next Gen car allowed the other lines to make just as much ground?
“I don’t know if running against the fence is the end all be all. I feel like with this car, you can move around a bit more. With the old car, you had to bang it against the fence. I think the best line is probably going to be around the fence, but at the same time, it’s super easy to knock a toe link out or bend up the suspension. I’m ready to get to practice and figure out what the best lines are going to be for me and my No.77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevy.”
Spire Motorsports PR
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