Spire Motorsports is in the midst of a transition. The 2024 Silly Season has already been a rollercoaster ride, especially after Stewart-Haas Racing announced its exit. Spire also contributed its big announcement as it would be releasing Corey LaJoie from his full-time seat in Cup. As the team gains prestige in the garage, the big question is who would field the No. 7 Chevrolet?

The rumor mill has been spinning around an existing Cup Series driver, but recently Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Xfinity star has also been added to the list of candidates. This young driver’s outstanding performance would easily earn him a spot in the Cup Series alongside Spires’ promising rookie Carson Hocevar.

Another young stallion in Spire

Signing four-time Craftsman Truck winner Carson Hocevar was a milestone for Spire Motorsports. The Cup Series rookie lacks over a decade of experience compared to Corey LaJoie. But Hocevar has more than made up for it in his racing – he has scored 84 more points in 22 races and finished on the lead lap 17 times to LaJoie’s 14. And he’s had success outside of NASCAR, too. Hocevar recently won the Battle of Berlin, so insiders have speculated that Hocevar’s superior performance gave Spire a benchmark that ultimately led to LaJoie’s ouster. Now another 21-year-old is set to give LaJoie a run for his money.

On an episode of Performance Racing Network, guest Dustin Albino outlined some possibilities for the No. 7 Chevy. He initially put forward the idea that Rick Ware Racing driver Justin Haley could become the new face of Spire. “You hear the names, but Justin Haley comes to mind. He obviously has ties to Spire, he gave them their first win, you know, under crazy circumstances at Daytona 5 years ago. I think he’s a top candidate.”

Another name, however, was Sam Mayer, the six-time Xfinity winner with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Albino explained his good prospects. “There are definitely other guys out there who could maybe contribute some money. A team like Spire still needs money. So I would say Justin Haley is a top candidate, but there are other drivers out there, like Same Mayer. He’s made it clear to me, he’s made it clear publicly, that he wants to move to the Cup Series.”

Sam Mayer is a fixture on the racetrack, building a stellar resume under Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team and being a 2018 graduate of JRM’s Late Model program. In 2020, Mayer made history by becoming the second-youngest driver to win a NASCAR race – winning the Bristol Craftsman Truck Series race at just 17 years old. He broke out on the Xfinity Series scene last year and has some notable wins that have continued this year.

Although Mayer’s strength lies on road courses, his first victory on an oval track was unforgettable.

When Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s student reached a milestone

Much like Shane van Gisbergen, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s pupil also struggles with ovals versus road courses. Long known as a road course ace, Sam Mayer has been on a winning streak on Xfinity road courses over the past year. He took his first NXS win at Road America, followed by a trophy at Watkins Glen and a second-place finish at Indianapolis. However, Mayer proved his versatility by finally winning an oval race at Homestead-Miami. He led an impressive 46 laps and held off a competitive Riley Herbst to win his fourth Xfinity trophy last year.

Last year, Sam Mayer was happy about his success and emphasized how important oval racing is for NASCAR. “I mean, getting rid of that first win. But no matter what it is, it’s always great. And to be able to back it up with two more wins on circuits. You feel pretty pumped and excited about it. But the only other hurdle is getting to grips with the art of the oval, because NASCAR is about circuit racing. And you want to be able to do everything in this sport. And finally, to get that oval win is great. It’s almost like another relief. It almost feels like the first win again.”

This year, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s student has surprised fans twice. His victory in Texas was the second closest result in Xfinity history, and Mayer won again in Iowa. Spire Motorsports is apparently looking to sign a real racing gem for its 2025 Cup Series calendar.