“Why are Spire drivers causing trouble for everyone?” a NASCAR fan remarked after the Indianapolis weekend. While Hendrick Motorsports is receiving praise for dominating this season, Spire Motorsports is attracting attention for all the wrong reasons. Two rookie drivers, in their first Cup car experience, have managed to alienate their peers. This may be due to inadequate guidance from their teammate Corey LaJoie.
At the Brickyard 400, Carson Hocevar created chaos on lap 110. Known for his wild driving, this wasn’t surprising. However, another Spire rookie caused an unexpected issue with Chris Buescher on the final lap, suggesting Corey LaJoie’s guidance might be off track.
Chris Buescher Criticizes Spire Driver
NASCAR’s return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval was eventful, with multiple caution flags due to aggressive driving. Carson Hocevar, for instance, clipped Ryan Blaney, causing a chain reaction that wrecked Jimmie Johnson and Joey Logano. Hocevar is quickly gaining a bad reputation. Meanwhile, another Spire rookie, Zane Smith, caused a problem at the race’s end that went largely unnoticed until now.
With two laps remaining in the Brickyard 400, RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher was aiming for a top-20 finish when Zane Smith aggressively blocked him, forcing Buescher’s car into the grass. Buescher managed to recover and finished 22nd. His spotter, Mike Herman, initially thought Corey LaJoie was responsible, but Buescher corrected him, blaming the 71 car’s driver, Smith.
Corey LaJoie’s influence is evident, as both rookies are adopting his aggressive style. LaJoie himself has been involved in several incidents, such as his push at Pocono that wrecked Kyle Busch.
This was Zane Smith’s first notable aggressive move. Smith, who replaced Buescher in 2022 at the Gateway race, had previously shown promise by completing all 240 laps and finishing 17th.
NASCAR fans are increasingly concerned with Spire Motorsports’ behavior. One fan sarcastically suggested that Spire might be seeking attention by irritating the entire field. Another fan criticized LaJoie’s leadership, saying he should be guiding the rookies to drive cleaner and safer. Some fans found humor in the spotter’s confusion and Buescher’s dismissive comment about Smith.
Despite Zane Smith’s clean record, his recent actions have surprised fans. One noted this was Smith’s first incident and hoped he wouldn’t follow LaJoie and Hocevar’s path. Another fan found Buescher’s comment about Smith particularly harsh.
NASCAR is scrutinizing Spire Motorsports for their disruptive behavior. Fans hope the team will adopt a more respectful racing approach moving forward.
