Justin Haley will not return to Spire Motorsports for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. As has been speculated for months regarding the driver’s future with the team, it is now official with three races left in the season.
Haley, 26 years of age, left Rick Ware Racing last year with seven races remaining to join Spire and drive the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet. After earning just one top five and two top finishes this season, and ranking 31st in driver points, the team is moving on from the native of Winamac, IN.
Spire Sends Haley Off with Praise
The team made the announcement on Tuesday regarding the driver’s tenure. No plans have been announced for his replacement in 2026.
“This is a decision that was not taken lightly,” said Jeff Dickerson, Spire Motorsports co-owner. “Justin has been a member of the Spire family since he was a teenager. We’ve watched Justin grow from a young driver trying to make his mark in the sport to a proven winner.
“He helped strengthen our organization into what it is today. He made us winners and returned home after forging his own path in the Cup Series.
“Justin is the embodiment of a true racer who has quietly become a respected competitor within the NASCAR garage and will be an incredible asset to his next team.”
The team still has drivers Micheal McDowell in the No. 71 and Carson Hocevar in the No. 77 Chevrolets.
Haley Has Had Bumpy Road
In 2019, Haley gave the team its first victory at Daytona International Speedway winning a rain-shorted event. He left Spire after 2022 to race at Kaulig Racing for two seasons going winless while earning four top five and 10 top 10 finishes.
Late in 2023, RWR announced Haley as its new driver for the 2024 season. Later that year, Spire and RWR swapped Haley for Corey LaJoie with seven races remaining.
When the 2025 season started, Spire put Haley and Championship winning crew chief Rodney Childers together. However, after just nine races, Childress left the team and moved Spire Competition Director Ryan Sparks to work with Haley.
Who Ends up Where
Early speculation has Haley returning to Kaulig and driving one of the five Dodges they will field next year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Having a familiarity with the team and they need to fill the five driver seats could make sense.
As usual this time of year in NASCAR, teams are looking to announce changes for the following year to build sponsor interest and support. Haley is a personable driver who corporate supporters have enjoyed working with during his career.
Speaking of, talk has Daniel Suarez as a possibility to drive the No. Chevrolet for Spire. The manufacturer is already familiar with Suarez who drove their Camaro for Trackhouse Racing the past five seasons posting two trips to Victory Lane.
Suarez will retain some of his current sponsors to bring his new team. In the ever changing corporate funding of NASCAR teams, that will make the Monterrey, Mexico native an attractive prospect for interested parties.
Justin Haley Out at Spire Motorsports