Spire Motorsports revealed itself as the buyer of assets Leavine Family Racing, effective at the end of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. With the purchase of LFR, Spire plans to expand to a two-car team in 2021, as Leavine Family Racing shuts down.
“This is an exciting moment for Spire as we take the natural next step in our long-term plan to build our race team and prepare for the Next Gen car in 2022,” Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson said. “Bob Leavine invested more than money into LFR and this industry. He built a team brick by brick, and we have long admired how he took his own steps in the garage. He also did it with his family at his side. We won’t let that be lost in this transaction. When you build something with your family, it always means a little bit more. His ability to connect with fans was genuine and we are thankful he chose us to carry this team forward.
“These are no doubt trying times, but I have never been prouder to be part of this sport. NASCAR has managed several difficult situations this spring and into the summer. We believe in the ownership model that NASCAR has built and where this sport is going now more than ever.”
The assets purchased by Spire Motorsports include a charter and a race shop but no race cars. LFR leases its cars from Joe Gibbs Racing through a technical alliance, so cars will be returned to JGR.
Cup Series rookie Christopher Bell will finish the 2020 season as driver of LFR’s #95 entry before moving to Joe Gibbs Racing to replace Erik Jones in the #20 in 2021. Spire, which is in its second year fielding the #77 has had several drivers in its car. The team isn’t ready to announce a driver lineup are car numbers for next year.
Spire joined the Cup Series after buying a charter from the now-defunct Furniture Row Racing at the end of the 2018 season. To this point, Spire Motorsports has competed without owning a race shop or physical equipment, instead fielding cars prepared, primarily, by Premium Motorsports.
Spire Motorsports has one Cup Series wing, coming with NASCAR Xfinity Series regular Justin Haley at Daytona International Speedway last year.
