You may recognize the Spire Motorsports name from the NASCAR Cup Series, with drivers Carson Hocevar, Michael McDowell and Daniel Suárez. However, the organization also made a name for itself in other NASCAR series and now in sprint car racing.
It was Jeff Dickerson, one of the organization’s co-owners, that made the call to field sprint cars, said team’s PR rep, Matt Klug.
“Jeff has always been committed to grassroots racing,” Klug said. “He wants to see that industry survive.”
In fact, Spire Motorsports sponsors Clauson Marshall Racing and its driver Tyler Courtney. Last December, though, Spire Motorsports unveiled its Ascent Program, which included the goals of building a championship-winning-caliber sprint car team.
“The purpose of the Spire Motorsports Ascent Program is to give opportunity to anyone looking to breakthrough and build success in motorsports,” said Heather Griffin, Spire Motorsports Director, Communications & Public Relations. “A lot of our current crew members on our NASCAR Cup Series and Craftsman Truck Series programs worked their way through various grassroots forms of racing to get where they are now. There is a lot of talent in other forms of racing, from drivers to mechanics and engineers. This is our chance to provide support and opportunity for those looking to make a career out of racing.”
Spire Motorsports started its Ascent Program with a full-time sprint car team for High Limit Racing. To lead the effort, the company hired Eric Prutzman. He is a longtime crew chief and has a history of success with Kasey Kahne Racing in World of Outlaws. To steer the car, they had Gio Scelzi in mind from the get-go.
“Eric was tasked with building our program from the ground up,” Klug said. “Jeff identified Gio early in the process. He saw Gio as talented and … he knew with Gio being available, he was the driver to be in that seat.”
Scelzi proved that their faith in him was worth it. He recently earneda $100,000 win in a High Limit Racing event at Port Royal Speedway. It served as a testament for Spire Motorsports’ ability in putting together a winning combination together — and one that’s not limited to the NASCAR Cup Series, Craftsman Truck Series or High Limit Racing. The organization has also fielded a dirt late model for Hocevar, as well as Devin Moran.
More importantly, they hope to bring others up to the NASCAR level, like Tristan McKee. McKee has raced pavement late models as part of Spire Motorsports development program. He looks to make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut soon.
“Spire has always provided opportunities to drivers when we can,” Griffin said. “If someone comes through any of our programs who wants to move to NASCAR or another form of racing, and we have a way to get them in the door, we will certainly do so.”
Mike Adaskaveg has written hundreds of stories since the website’s inception. This year marks his 54th year of covering auto racing. Adaskaveg got his start working for track photographer Lloyd Burnham at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway in 1970. Since then, he’s been a columnist, writer, and photographer, in racing and in mainstream media, for several outlets, including the Journal Inquirer, Boston Herald, Stock Car Racing, and Speedway Illustrated. Among Adaskaveg’s many awards are the 1992 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Ace Lane Photographer of the Year and the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) George Cunningham Writer of the Year.
