With NASCAR's silly season just a few months away, Kyle Busch's future is the biggest uncertainty in the Cup Series right now. Now the uncertainty may be less.
Bob Pokrass of Fox Sports wrote that if Busch were to leave RCR, which he is still reluctant to do, joining Spire Motorsports is the "most logical" destination for the future Hall of Famer.
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There were reports in February that Spier wanted to hunt big game in the NASCAR Silly Season. Team co-owner Jeff Dickerson is adamant that Spire become one of the top teams in the Cup Series and has shown a willingness to take aggressive steps to improve.
However, no move is necessarily guaranteed. Carson Hocevar is emerging as a superstar in NASCAR and scored a dominant win for Spire at Talladega. Meanwhile, the inclusion of Daniel Suarez has been a huge benefit.
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Suárez, who many believed was struggling to save his Cup career entering 2026, has the highest average starting position (12.92) and average finishing position (15.00) in his Cup Series career. He currently sits 14th in the points, one spot off the lead in The Chase while Busch is 24th.
Who could replace Kyle Busch at Spire Motorsports?
Entering 2026, the most likely scenario appears to be that Daniel Suarez does not live up to expectations in his first season with Spire Motorsports and is replaced by Kyle Busch in the No. 7 car. Circumstances may have changed that.
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However, Michael McDowell has been Spire's worst performing driver this season. Despite finishing second at Watkins Glen, McDowell is 21st in points and trails Suarez in average starting position (17.78), average finishing position (19.92), and points (225, 21st).
""It's tough... but, no, I don't plan on quitting my job anytime soon. But I feel like there's clearly a limit to how long you can do this. I don't know what that number is, but I want to perform well and as long as I'm performing well, I love doing it.
Michael McDowell talks to The Athletic's Jordan Bianchi about his struggles this season, plans for the future
McDowell, who will turn 42 in December, has given no indication of interest in moving away from full-time racing. If Spire wants to make a change, it now seems possible that Busch could replace McDowell in the No. 71 car next season.
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However, the most likely outcome is that McDowell will get another season with Spire and Busch will remain with Richard Childress Racing. If both drivers struggle to perform well again in 2027, they will surely be replaced by up-and-comers in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.
