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Marco Andretti to drive Homestead-Miami, Phoenix Truck Series races for Spire Motorsports

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated 10/12/23

For two more races this season, Marco Andretti will suit up for Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He will close out the season at Homestead-Miami and Phoenix with the No. 7 Spire team. Of course, he’s got some sponsorship with him.

We last saw Andretti at Mid-Ohio, before the Group 1001/Gainbridge partnership was official and solidified. Since then, Corey LaJoie signed an extension, Spire bought a third charter and added Zane Smith via Trackhouse Racing for 2024, bought Kyle Busch Motorsports, and signed Carson Hocevar to a multi-year deal in the No. 77 car.

To say they have been busy since that moment earlier this year, is an understatement. Whatever Marco Andretti and his group are working on, it’s making big waves already. Perhaps this is just a preview of what we can expect to see full-time in 2024.

Spire Motorsports announced Marco Andretti will race the final two races of the season. For Homestead-Miami, he will be sponsored by Kin Insurance, Group 1001 is an investor. Gainbridge will carry the No. 7 for Phoenix.

.@MarcoAndretti will return to Spire No. 7 Silverado for the Truck races in Homestead 10/22 and Phoenix 11/5. @Group_1001, an investor in @Kin, will be primary for next weekend’s race. Parity Week by @Gainbridgelife will assume the primary at Phoenix. https://t.co/GXYXdWcuWB pic.twitter.com/DcxAK9jtOo
— Spire Motorsports (@SpireMotorsport) October 12, 2023

“I want to expand my limited stock car experience and get some laps in on the bigger ovals,” Andretti said in a press release. “Homestead and Phoenix are going to be very different from the ovals I raced with the SRX Series and, obviously, much different from Mid-Ohio, which is what I want.”

Marco Andretti and Spire Motorsports deepen ties

It isn’t just in NASCAR where the Andretti family is getting involved. Of course, Michael Andretti is trying to get a new F1 team. That remains to be seen. In the meantime, Spire Motorsports and Marco have deepened their ties.

Whatever is going on at Spire Motorsports, it is awesome. They have just dumped a ton of money into improving their own organization and making a real upgrade in facilities and in driver talent.

No offense to Ty Dillon, but adding Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith (even on a one-year loan) is a clear upgrade. Hocevar took a LEGACY M.C. car that had only finished in the top-20 twice this season. He then went on to race in the top-20 for four straight races, including a season-best finish for the 42 car at Bristol when he was P11.

Marco Andretti is getting back in a Spire truck. He wants experience on ovals, but why? Hopefully, he will run a busier schedule next year if not full-time. I think he’d be a great addition to the series. Still, we’ll have to wait and see.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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