The storm clouds have parted, and the sun is shining on Daniel Suarez. It is no secret that the Mexican driver faced a tough week recently. His wife, Julia Piquet, his mother, and his mother-in-law were involved in a spine-chilling car crash accident last Monday, following the Charlotte race. And with just three races left until Suarez steps out of the Cup car for Trackhouse Racing, his future talks have just heightened, putting more pressure on the 33-year-old.

However, there might be a spot available. Spire Motorsports recently announced the departure of one of its drivers. CEO Jeff Dickerson has decided Justin Haley’s fate in 2026, calling it “a decision that was not taken lightly.” The 26-year-old will be packing up his bags to exit the team after running with them for 6 years. But could the 2016 Xfinity Series champion be filling those shoes?

Corey LaJoie reveals who will fill Justin Haley’s spot

Looking at the big picture, Daniel Suarez seems like the most obvious choice. And NASCAR veteran Corey LaJoie may just have confirmed it. Speaking on his Stacking Pennies podcast, he said, “The 7 car gets another victim (referring to Justin Haley). I hate—I really do hate that for him because he went from driving the 48 car, like that he was in the pipeline for that, to now he doesn’t have a seat. I could obviously have a lot of behind-the-scenes information on how all that stuff went down, but I do think Justin is better than what this year has shown. And that is a dumpster fire over there at the moment, that 7 team in particular. So it seems like Suarez is gonna be in that seat.”

And maybe Suarez might just be the best solution. He brings 323 cup starts worth of experience, including two wins, a large fan following, and a bit of sponsorship backing. Currently 28th in the standings, he’s only slightly ahead of Haley, but his seven top 10s this year show that he has solid pace in some races, despite 9 early retirements.

As for Haley, it’s easy to see why Spire Motorsports is parting ways. He has struggled for consistency this season, and even a mid-season crew chief swap couldn’t change the tide. For reasons unclear, the combination just never clicked with either Rodney Childers or Ryan Sparks. It hasn’t exactly been a stable seat either, considering Corey LaJoie lost it a year before his contract was up, and now Justin follows suit.

But the big question is, would Daniel Suarez fit in at Spire Motorsports? Possibly. The 33-year-old is all set to leave Trackhouse at the end of this year. He has the experience and knows what he wants in a car, which can be both an asset and a challenge. Suarez’s win at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in the Xfinity Series was quite a statement, but he needs to do that more consistently and at the highest level. Still, Suarez would likely be a short-term solution.

With many drivers’ contracts expiring after 2026 and Spire’s clear ties to Kyle Busch’s program, the team may have long-term eyes elsewhere. Hocevar appears locked in for the future, so Daniel Suarez might get a two-year deal at most. And amid Haley’s departure from Spire, this could work in the Mexican driver’s favor, giving him flexibility from new opportunities in the foreseeable future.

However, things look dicey for Justin Haley. With no confirmed seat next year, his future has become one of the sport’s biggest talking points, especially as his former home, Kaulig Racing, undergoes a seismic shift. With Ty Dillon and AJ Allmendinger locked into Kaulig’s Cup seats and Truck spots filling quickly, the door for Haley appears only slightly ajar. But for now, the NASCAR community has a lot to say about this hypothetical swap as the speculations begin.

NASCAR fans rally behind Daniel Suarez’s potential shift to Spire

This fresh news has stirred up a wave of reactions across Reddit, and not all of them are focused on his stats. Many see Daniel Suarez as a marketing asset as much as a driver. One fan put it bluntly, “Suarez brings a fanbase, which I’m sure will help them sell sponsorship. And Suarez usually gets a mention on the broadcast, especially when they’re at a track vaguely near Mexico, so that’s good for the team. That alone is an improvement over Haley, who I have genuinely forgotten was in several races this year.” It is a harsh take, but it captures the sentiment that while Haley has quietly put in laps, Suarez commands visibility, something Spire could use as it continues to expand its presence.

Others, however, are more concerned about the logistics behind Spire’s growing ambition. The team’s decision to field three full-time cars has fans questioning whether they are spreading themselves too thin. As one user observed, “I think Spire most likely just doesn’t have enough juice in the organization yet to pull off 3 cars, but having 3 cars is so valuable, so it would make sense to have a shit ride and let Hocevar be the lead man getting good stuff. 3 is the magic number for max value, even if all the cars are not good.”

That realistic take underscores the delicate balance Spire faces, building competitive depth while maintaining resources, all while keeping their rising star, Carson Hocevar, front and center. Still, some fans have their eyes beyond the immediate shuffle, talking about Hocevar’s next big step, preferably at Hendrick Motorsports. One predicted, “I think Hocevar will end up in the 48 after Bowman,” hinting that Spire might just be a stepping stone for its most promising driver.

Carson’s rumored move to Hendrick Motorsports has been going on for a while now. After a strong run at Michigan, leading 32 laps despite starting mid-pack, it ended in disappointment with a late-race flat tire. But that didn’t break Carson’s spirit. Hocevar dropped hints that he is aware of Mr. H’s eyes on him. Speaking post-race, he said, “We saw Mr. H [Rick Hendrick] earlier… We were outrunning two of Mr. H’s cars. And ultimately, that’s great for all of us [Spire Motorsports], to have all three up there. It’s just crazy.” And with Alex Bowman being the weakest link among his teammates, Carson’s NASCAR game could just level up.

Another weighed in on the comparison between Suarez, Haley, and the elite Hendrick tier. Refusing to believe these rumors, the fan said, “I don’t care what anyone says, unless (Jeff) Gordon, Chad (Knaus), or Mr. H say it, I will never believe Haley was going to replace Bowman. Haley is great, but I don’t think he is on Bowman’s level.” And for those wondering if Suarez is making the right call, one fan summed it up neatly: “Is this an upwards move from the 99? Trackhouse has been off all year, and Spire in the first half or so of the season had MULTIPLE chances at winning.”

Between loyalty, performance, and long-term opportunity, fans are clearly split, but one thing is for sure. Spire’s evolving driver lineup has ignited a passionate debate about who truly belongs where in NASCAR’s ever-shifting hierarchy