Ryan Sparks Returns as Crew Chief for Justin Haley at Spire Motorsports
Ryan Sparks steps back into the crew chief role for Justin Haley’s No. 7 car at Spire Motorsports following the mutual parting with Rodney Childers. This marks a return to a familiar position for Sparks, who also serves as the team’s competition director.
Reflecting on the shift, Sparks stated, “There is never a good time for any of these things to happen, but we’ll put the headset back on and see if we can get some aggressive strategy.” He emphasized the goal of accumulating points and improving the performance of the No. 7 team throughout the season.
Sparks previously worked with Haley in 2019 and briefly reunited with him in late 2024. Sparks praised Haley’s professionalism and capability, highlighting their chemistry as a significant asset: “He’s got a tremendous ability; I love working with him.”
With three cars under Spire’s banner, the organization has bolstered its personnel, notably with Matt McCall, director of vehicle performance. Sparks noted the organizational depth as a vital factor in navigating his dual responsibilities: “We’ve got so much depth and a really tight-knit group at Spire… It just makes it seamless.”
While McCall was considered for the crew chief position, Sparks pointed to his previous rapport with Haley as a deciding factor. “I’m the guy talking on the radio, but we’re all in this together,” Sparks explained. “We didn’t want to take away from what Matt was doing at the shop.”
As Sparks prepares for his race weekend responsibilities, he remains focused on achieving a playoff-contending status for Spire Motorsports, stating, “That’s the goal this year. It’s easy to talk about it; it’s really hard to do.”
With a reinvigorated team dynamic and a strategy in place, Sparks aims to elevate the performance of the No. 7 car in the upcoming races.
