Spire Motorsports’ Touted Rookie Prospect to Make JRM Debut in August at Bristol, Will Run Part-Time Schedule Before Going Full-Time in 2029
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 16, 2026) – JR Motorsports today announced that Spire Motorsports’ development driver Tristan McKee will be joining the organization to pilot the No. 9 Chevrolet, beginning with the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, Aug. 13, 2027. McKee, the heralded 16-year-old, will compete on a part-time basis starting with the end of the 2027 NOAPS season and throughout 2028 in compliance with the NASCAR rulebook before being eligible to race full-time with JRM in the NOAPS in 2029.
“Adding a driver like Tristan to our organization for multiple years is a testament to how we operate as a company,” said JRM CEO Kelley Earnhardt-Miller. “JRM has always looked to help the growth of young, up-and-coming drivers and Tristan fits that mold. His accomplishments at such a young age behind the wheel speak for itself and I’m really looking forward to watching him develop and mature over these next three years while competing for race wins and championships.”
McKee, who will be running part-time for Spire behind the wheel of the No. 7 in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series next year, has already made a name for himself in NASCAR’s top-three series, as he became the youngest driver in the history to earn a top-five finish after finishing fifth at Bristol in the NCTS race on Sept. 17. Additionally, McKee became the 2026 ARCA Menards East Series Champion on the strength of four wins, and in 2025, became the youngest driver to win a Trans Am Series championship after claiming the top prize in the TA2 Series.
“I can’t wait to get started at Bristol next year with JRM,” said McKee. “It means the world to have the opportunity to compete in one of their cars and I can’t thank Dale (Earnhardt Jr.), Kelley, LW and everyone at JRM and Spire for this chance. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can build together.”
“We’ve been really fortunate to be a part of Tristan’s development and felt that this next step to JRM was the best thing for him as we look ahead to the future,” added Spire Co-Owner Jeff Dickerson. “JRM has been the benchmark of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for years and I can’t think of a better place for Tristan to go and to learn from than with the best that the series has to offer.”
Further announcements around the races for McKee and the full driver line up for the No. 9 Chevrolet will come at a later date.
ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
JR Motorsports is the racing operation co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame member and 15-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick. Now in its 25th year of overall competition, JR Motorsports competes in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series where it currently fields four full-time teams and earned championships in 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2024. The company also owns seven titles in regional Late Model divisions with consecutive championships in 2022-23 and a prized national title in 2020. To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.
ABOUT SPIRE MOTORSPORTS:
Spire Motorsports fields full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing.
The team, co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executive Jeff Dickerson and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss, earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado its first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent victory came May 24, 2026, when Daniel Suárez won the NASCAR Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
In 2026, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series and the Nos. 7 and 77 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The Mooresville, N.C., organization also fields the No. 77 410 sprint car in Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing competition.
