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Spire Motorsports announces Daniel Suárez as Justin Haley replacement for 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season

Meby: Nick Geddes10/22/25NickGeddesNews
Daniel Suárez
Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Spire Motorsports announced Wednesday that Daniel Suárez will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet full-time in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Suárez is replacing Justin Haley, whom Spire is parting ways with at the conclusion of this season.

Freeway Insurance will serve as an anchor sponsor for the No. 7 team. Spire did not announce who will sit atop the pit box for Suárez and the No. 7 team.

“Spire’s growth over the last few years is quite impressive,” Suárez said in a statement. “That’s something I have mentioned to every single member who I have talked to at Spire Motorsports. I’m sure I’m not the only person who can see that and I’m excited to be part of it now. I know that even with the growth Spire has had the last few years, it hasn’t reached its full potential, just yet.

“There is a lot more out there to achieve, and I want to be part of that. I want to be part of that growth and use my experience to help my team, and the entire company continue to grow.”

Suárez, like Haley, lost his ride this season. Trackhouse Racing is replacing Suárez with Connor Zilisch, the 19-year-old phenom who is currently dominating the competition in the Xfinity Series. With playoff drivers Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen occupying the other two seats, Suárez was the odd man out at Trackhouse.

Suárez, 33, joined Trackhouse in 2020, becoming the flagship driver of what was at the time, a one-car team. He made the playoffs in 2022 and again in 2024. The 2025 season, however, has not gone to plan. Suárez is 28th in the points standings, with just seven top 10s and two top 5s in 34 starts. Suárez has an average finish of 20.912.

Daniel Suárez taking Justin Haley’s seat at Spire

Haley, meanwhile, never got the arrow pointing up in his second stint with Spire. He joined the team late last season in a driver swap with Rick Ware Racing which sent Corey LaJoie the other way. Spire hired championship-winning crew chief Rodney Childers to sit atop the pit box for the No. 7 team.

Haley and Childers weren’t a fit, and the latter left Spire just nine races into the season. Haley is currently 31st in the points, with just a pair of top 10s and one top five on his resume.

Haley’s 2026 plans are still unknown. Just 26, he should see more opportunities to prove himself elsewhere, whether that’s in Cup or in one of NASCAR’s lower series.