NASCAR: 3 teams that still need charters for 2022
By Asher Fair
Teams needing charters for 2022: No. 2 – Spire Motorsports
The situation of Spire Motorsports, particularly as it pertains to the charter market, is an interesting one, and in more ways than one.
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season was the team’s first season with two full-time entries after they ran just the #77 Chevrolet in their first two seasons in the series in 2019 and 2020. But in 2021, they owned three charters.
In addition to continuing to field the #77 Chevrolet for multiple drivers, they also fielded the #7 Chevrolet for Corey LaJoie, making him their first ever full-time driver. However, their third charter was leased out to Trackhouse Racing Team for 2022.
But they sold two of their three charters, including the one that they had leased out, to Kaulig Racing for next year, with the Matt Kaulig-owned team set to compete full-time in the Cup Series for the first time with two entries.
Trackhouse Racing Team, which knew all along that they would not be able to lease a charter from Spire Motorsports for two straight seasons, ended up acquiring the Chip Ganassi Racing operation, and that included their two charters.
Meanwhile, Spire Motorsports now just have one charter for 2022. LaJoie is set to return, but questions abound when it comes to the #77 Chevrolet. The team had been in advanced talks with StarCom Racing to purchase their charter, as StarCom Racing shut down after the 2021 season, but that charter was ultimately sold to 23XI Racing.
Like with GMS Racing, keep an eye on Rick Ware Racing as it pertains to Spire Motorsports potentially upping their charter count for next year. If they can’t do that, the future of the #77 Chevrolet will become a bit more interesting.