Michael McDowell’s racing career began at a young age in Glendale, Ariz. He started racing BMX at three, eventually transitioning to karting, where he dominated the tracks, winning 18 consecutive feature races and earning multiple championships. McDowell moved to open-wheel racing in the early 2000s, claiming success in the Formula Renault and Star Mazda Championships. At 22, he shifted to stock car racing, joining the ARCA Menards Series. In 2007, McDowell had an impressive rookie season, winning four races, nine pole positions and claiming Rookie of the Year honors. Following his time in the ARCA Menards Series, McDowell spent the 2007 season running part time in NASCAR’s CRAFTSMAN Truck and Xfinity Series. During the 2008 season, McDowell earned his first Cup Series start with Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) at Martinsville Speedway, the start of his lengthy and accomplished 17-year career. McDowell’s career took a major step in 2018 when he joined Front Row Motorsports. His breakthrough moment came in 2021 when he won the Daytona 500, marking his first-ever Cup Series victory after 358 starts. He later added a win at the 2023 Verizon 200 on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With over 500 Cup Series starts, McDowell has accumulated two wins and six pole positions. Off the track, McDowell is dedicated to his Christian faith, family, and charitable causes. He resides in North Carolina with his wife, Jami and their five children.

Travis Peterson, an accomplished NASCAR crew chief, joins Spire Motorsports to lead the efforts of Michael McDowell and the No. 71 Chevrolet ZL1 for the 2025 season. Peterson, 33, has championed McDowell’s efforts since 2023, guiding the veteran driver to six pole positions, one win, four top-five, and 15 top-10 finishes. Their standout achievement came with a win at one of NASCAR’s crown jewel venues, the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard during the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course race in 2023. Peterson, a Wisconsin native, began his NASCAR career after earning a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He honed his skills at Joe Gibbs Racing before moving to JR Motorsports, where he contributed to Chase Elliott’s 2014 NASCAR Xfinity Series title. Peterson’s experience grew with Hendrick Motorsports, where he was a key member of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 team during the 2015-2018 seasons. Following his time with Hendrick Motorsports, Peterson spent five seasons as a lead race engineer at RFK Racing, placing himself in elite company, while on the rise to becoming one of NASCAR’s premier Cup Series crew chiefs.