At Watkins Glen, Michael McDowell pointed to Tristan McKee as the likely successor for Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 ride, as results and team ambitions reshape NASCAR’s future.
NASCAR’s next wave is already turning heads, and Michael McDowell says he knows who could be next behind the wheel of Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 car.
Speaking to reporters at Watkins Glen. the veteran driver described Tristan McKee as “the real deal” and indicated he believes McKee is the likely successor when McDowell eventually steps away.. The comments land during a period when NASCAR’s so-called “silly season” typically approaches soon. and teams begin planning for who should fill key seats.
McKee enters the conversation with a fast-rising background. Earlier this year, he was ranked 14th among the top NASCAR prospects for 2025 by Bob Pockrass, and his momentum has been built across multiple series. In 2025, McKee became the second-youngest ARCA winner at Watkins Glen.
That breakthrough came soon after another milestone: he had become the youngest driver ever to win in the CARS Tour Pro Late Model division just two years prior. With his trajectory drawing attention, the natural question is how quickly he can translate that success toward bigger NASCAR stages.
Timing could still be a factor.. McKee doesn’t turn 16 until August. and while he has already competed in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East. the path forward includes proving himself at higher levels such as the Truck Series and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.. Even so, it is unlikely he is ready for a full-time Cup Series opportunity in the near term.
Realistically. McDowell suggested McKee is at least three years away from having a legitimate shot at a full-time Cup Series ride. and the possibility of that timeline being extended is not out of the question.. For a young driver. the jump in competition and the demands of weekly performance often require more seasoning than early hype can cover.
McDowell, meanwhile, is not signaling an immediate exit from racing. He turns 42 in December and, as reported, intends to remain in the No. 71 for several more seasons. Still, even for a driver who wants to keep racing, the broader situation inside the team can set the pace for what happens next.
One pressure point for McDowell is results.. His most recent win came at the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard in 2023. and the performance picture since then has not held steady.. For Spire Motorsports. which has been aiming higher. the downward trend adds urgency to decisions about who can deliver consistent competitiveness.
In 2024. McDowell posted seven top-10 finishes along with six pole positions. leading 256 laps and ending the season with a 14.58 average starting position and a 21.31 average finishing position.. The following year. his production dipped: he led 96 laps. still recorded six top-10s and two poles. but his average starting position fell to 15.69.
By 2026, the numbers have continued to shift in the wrong direction.. Through 11 races. McDowell ranks 23rd in points with 189. sits 18th in average starting position at 19.0. and is 24th in average finishing position at 21.5.. When those splits stack up over a season, they can influence how quickly a team looks for a different direction.
Those decisions are happening as Spire attempts to reposition itself among the stronger competitors. The report noted that the organization has made it clear it wants to be one of the top Cup Series teams, and roster developments around it reflect that push.
Carson Hocevar is one of the key names in that effort, particularly after earning his first Cup Series win at Talladega. Daniel Suarez is also part of the picture, with the report describing a rebound year during his first season with Spire.
Within that lineup, McDowell is described as the worst-performing driver at Spire Motorsports right now. That assessment, paired with the contract clock mentioned in the report, sets the stage for what could happen after the 2026 season.
If McDowell’s contract expires following 2026. the report said it would not be surprising if Spire chooses to replace him in the No.. 71 next year.. In that scenario. McKee’s blend of early success and continued progression could make him one of the most logical options for a team trying to move forward.
And that is where the conversation at Watkins Glen carries weight beyond one set of remarks: McDowell’s belief in McKee is essentially a snapshot of how NASCAR talent development and performance expectations are colliding.. As Spire pushes toward the top tier. it may look toward the kind of rising prospect who can grow into the role—rather than depend on results that are trending the wrong way.
NASCAR Michael McDowell Tristan McKee Spire Motorsports No. 71 Watkins Glen silly season