Spire Motorsports and Gainbridge, a Group 1001 company, have agreed to a multi-year sponsorship agreement, which will debut this weekend in both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
The partnership will rotate between the organization’s two full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, beginning Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Corey LaJoie will pilot the No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet Camaro.
After Atlanta, Gainbridge will then alternate its primary sponsorship between LaJoie and teammate Ty Dillon, who pilots the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro, for 16 of the final 18 NASCAR Cup Series events in 2023.
Additionally, third-generation IndyCar competitor and 2022 SRX Champion, Marco Andretti, will pilot the organization’s No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado in Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with sponsorship from Group 1001.
“We look forward to partnering with Spire Motorsports, Corey, and Ty and adding to the robust Gainbridge motorsports sponsorship portfolio,” said Mike Nichols, Chief of Sponsorship Strategy & Activation at Group 1001. “We are excited to watch Marco compete at Mid-Ohio this weekend in the Group 1001 paint scheme alongside Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez, who has had a successful rookie campaign competing for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship carrying the Gainbridge colors.”
In recent years, Gainbridge has expanded its presence across all forms of motorsports, serving as a primary sponsor of both Colton Herta in the NTT IndyCar Series, and defending ARCA Menards Series champion Nick Sanchez in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
“Today is a monumental day and a pivotal moment as we welcome Gainbridge to the Spire Motorsports family,” said Spire Motorsports co-owners Jeff Dickerson and T.J. Puchyr. “This is the culmination of uncompromised dedication and hard work by many people. When we made the commitment to bet on NASCAR and become team owners almost five years ago, achieving a seminal moment like this was a foundational part of the plan. The mission of Spire Motorsports has always been both giving and earning respect. We undertook this journey to prove ourselves to the industry while positioning our team to work with and represent global brands. This announcement validates that journey.
LaJoie, who joined Spire Motorsports for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, is a veteran of 218 starts at NASCAR’s top level, in which time he’s amassed a pair of top-five results and six top-10s, all for underfunded organizations.
The Concord, North Carolina native is a third-generation racer, whose father and grandfather are both members of the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame. LaJoie has scored victories in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, ARCA Menards Series, and NASCAR Whelen Modified Series on his way to Cup.
Dillon, LaJoie’s teammate at Spire Motorsports, made his NASCAR Cup Series debut nearly a decade ago and is the grandson of legendary NASCAR team owner Richard Childress. In that time, the 30-year-old driver has made 220 starts, with two top-five and seven top-10 results.
A native of Welcome, North Carolina, Dillon joined Spire Motorsports at the beginning of the season and has slowly and steadily improved the organization’s second entry, in an attempt to have both of Spire Motorsports’ entries compete for victories.
Andretti, who made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut last season at Charlotte’s ROVAL, has 251 starts in the NTT IndyCar Series, with six poles, two victories, and 20 finishes son the podium. In 15 starts at Mid-Ohio, Andretti logged six top-10s, including a venue-best sixth in 2009.
“I can’t wait to get my feet wet in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series,” said Andretti. “I’m grateful to Group 1001 and Spire Motorsports for making this happen. I have a lot of laps in an Indy car around Mid-Ohio. It’s going to be a bit different but a lot of fun. The Cup Series guys I have spoken to said I will love it.”
