Spire Motorsports Scores Landmark Deal as Modo Casino Expands Across Entire Lineup

If you walk through the garage area at any NASCAR Cup Series event, you can smell two things distinctly: high-octane fuel and money. Speed costs cash. How fast you want to go usually depends on how deep your pockets are.

For a long time, Spire Motorsports was the team known for doing more with less, scrapping for every inch of asphalt against the mega-teams. That narrative is officially dead and buried. In a move that solidifies its status as a leading force in the garage, Spire Motorsports has secured a significant expansion of its partnership with Modo Casino.

We aren’t talking about a small decal on the quarter panel here. For the 2026 season, the social gaming platform is going nationwide across the team’s entire three-car stable. This deal signals a massive shift in how the industry views the organization.

After a successful trial run with rookie standout Carson Hocevar in 2025, Modo is doubling down. They are putting their chips on the table for Michael McDowell, Daniel Suárez, and Hocevar in a coordinated effort that spans the season from the high banks of Daytona to the humid finale in Miami.

A New Era of Commercial Strength for Spire Motorsports

It is rare in modern stock car racing to see a sponsor scale up this quickly. Usually, a brand dips a toe in the water, sponsors two or three races, and maybe expands a little the following year. For Modo Casino to jump from a partial schedule on one car to a presence across three distinct teams speaks volumes about the front office at Spire Motorsports.

David Jumper, the Chief Marketing Officer at ARB Interactive, noted that the energy around the program in 2025 was undeniable. The ROI was there. The fan engagement was there. Now, the goal is to weave that energy through the entire 2026 calendar. This partnership effectively erases the “underdog” label. Spire Motorsports is no longer the team hoping to survive.

They are the team planning to thrive. By securing a partner that believes in the organization’s vision enough to plaster their branding on three different drivers with three unique driving styles, Spire has proven they offer a marketing platform that rivals the heavy hitters like Hendrick or Gibbs.

McDowell Carries the Banner at the Great American Race

There is no stage bigger than the Daytona 500. It is the Super Bowl of our sport, and it happens right out of the gate. The pressure is immense. The eyes of the world are tuned in. For the 2026 iteration of the Great American Race, Michael McDowell’s No. 71 Chevrolet will carry the primary Modo Casino scheme.

This is a perfect pairing of driver and moment. McDowell is a former Daytona 500 champion. He knows how to navigate the draft, how to survive the inevitable “Big One,” and when to make his move.

Having a committed partner on the hood for the biggest race of the year provides stability that allows a driver to focus purely on the racing line.”NASCAR fans live on competition and community,” McDowell said regarding the news.

He understands that having a sponsor buy into the whole team, rather than just a single driver, creates a unified front in the shop. McDowell will also carry the colors at Texas Motor Speedway and the grueling Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, putting the brand front and center for the sport’s tests of endurance and speed.

Strategic Activation for Suárez and Hocevar

The brilliance of this deal lies in how Spire Motorsports and Modo have mapped out the schedule. They aren’t just throwing paint schemes at random races. They are targeting specific markets that make sense.

Daniel Suárez will take the baton when the series heads to the Midwest for the street-fight atmosphere of Chicagoland Speedway in July. Suárez has a diverse, passionate following that resonates in major metropolitan markets like Chicago. But the real sentimental favorite on the schedule will be the season finale.

Suárez will close out the 2026 campaign at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Modo on board. For a brand based in that region, this is a homecoming. It allows them to activate locally, bring their employees to the track, and celebrate on Championship weekend in their own backyard. Jumper called it a “huge moment” for the company, and rightfully so.

Meanwhile, Carson Hocevar, who helped start this relationship, will carry the colors to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September. The “Magic Mile” draws a loyal, knowledgeable crowd that appreciates hard racing, a style that fits Hocevar perfectly.

Why Fan Engagement is the Real Driver

The days of slapping a logo on a hood and hoping for TV time are over. Modern ROI in NASCAR comes from being part of the culture. Bill Anthony, the President of Spire Motorsports, emphasized that fans noticed Modo’s presence in 2025 because it felt authentic.

The brand’s business model relies on social interaction, mirroring NASCAR’s garage culture. By physically showing up, creating compelling paint schemes, and engaging with fans in the grandstands, they build loyalty. Spire Motorsports has positioned itself as the conduit for that connection. They understand that they are selling an experience, not just billboard space at 200 miles per hour.

What This Means for Spire Motorsports

This announcement is perhaps the strongest indicator yet of Spire Motorsports’ health and long-term trajectory. Here is the reality of the business: when you secure a primary sponsor for the Daytona 500 and major market races a full year in advance, you change the workflow of your entire shop.

Instead of the sales team scrambling in January to find funding to put tires on the car, the focus shifts entirely to performance. The engineering team can focus on wind tunnel data. The pit crews can focus on reps. The drivers can focus on simulation. Financial stability buys focus, and focus buys speed.

It also validates Spire Motorsports’ growth strategy. They have spent the last few years acquiring charters, improving their facilities, and hiring top-tier talent. A multi-car, Tier 1 sponsorship deal like this validates those choices in the market. It demonstrates that corporate America views Spire as a safe, high-value investment opportunity.

What’s Next

The 2026 season is shaping up to be the year Spire Motorsports stops knocking on the door and kicks it down. They have a driver lineup capable of competing on any track type, from superspeedways to road courses. Now, with Modo Casino fueling the organization, they have the commercial stability to match their on-track ambition.

When the haulers unload at Daytona in February 2026, the No. 71 won’t just look different; it will carry the weight of a franchise that has officially arrived. The partnership is signed, the cars are being prepped, and Spire is ready to race.