Michael McDowell to Drive No. 71 Spire Motorsports Entry Beginning in 2025

Let NASCAR Cup Series Silly Season begin. Michael McDowell, who announced on Wednesday morning that he will depart Front Row Motorsports at the end of the 2024 season, will officially move to Spire Motorsports as the driver of the No. 71 Chevrolet in 2025.

McDowell, for the first time in his racing career, will have a multi-year driving contract.

"This is a new chapter for my family and me, and we’re incredibly thankful for the opportunity that’s in front of us,” said McDowell in a team press release. “It’s going to take some hard work, but I feel like everything is in place for us to be successful as a race team — to win races and contend for championships. People are the greatest asset to any organization, and with Spire’s vision, ambition, knowledge, and dedication, we will achieve great things. Failure is not an option, and that’s the mindset that it will take to achieve our goals."

With McDowell sliding behind the wheel of the No. 71 entry next season, Zane Smith, the current driver of the car, will be on the lookout for a new place to race in 2025. Smith, 24, is currently on loan to Spire Motorsports from Trackhouse Racing, which retains the rights to Smith.

That's another silly season domino to fall later, but for now, the talk of the town is McDowell, who, along with Front Row Motorsports, emerged from the pits of underdog hell over the last seven seasons.

Together, McDowell and Front Row Motorsports enjoyed increasing success with each passing season, and the partnership ultimately has culminated in two NASCAR Cup Series victories, two NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Berths, two NASCAR Cup Series pole positions.

90% of McDowell's career top-five finishes, and 87.5% of the drivers career top-10 finishes have come with Front Row Motorsports despite nearly 50% of his career starts coming in non-Front Row Motorsports equipment.

Prior to his stint with Front Row Motorsports, McDowell was most famously known for his massive qualifying crash at Texas Motor Speedway in 2008. Now, McDowell is a multi-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner, and he has become a bonafide threat at the front of the field in the series.

This ultimately led to the once over-looked racer becoming a hot commodity in the NASCAR Next Gen era, where the field is closer than it's ever been.

Can McDowell be a game-changer for Spire Motorsports? That is to be determined, but he certainly brings a veteran presence and a winning pedigree to a Spire Motorsports team, which features a younger driver roster including Carson Hocevar and Corey LaJoie.

“Michael McDowell is a proven winner and brings a NASCAR Playoff pedigree,” said Spire Motorsports president Doug Duchardt. “Michael has always been committed to elevate his teams. His experience and enthusiasm are a perfect fit for Spire Motorsports, and we are sure he will be a great teammate to both Corey LaJoie and Carson Hocevar. We’re thrilled to keep up the positive momentum by adding someone as accomplished as Michael to our driver lineup."

Photo Credit: Will Bellamy, Racing America