One of IndyCar's royal families could be making a foray into the NASCAR world, although it wouldn't be the first time the Andretti Name has raced in NASCAR.
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According to Adam Stern with SBJ.com, Andretti Autosport might be on the brink of a big move to stock-car racing.
It's still not official, mainly in the rumor mill, but it sure seems like something is up. It appears to be more than just Marco Andretti racing in Spire Motorsports trucks, or a key Andretti IndyCar sponsor becoming a major sponsor for both of Spire's Cup cars, with Gainbridge joining the top series on Corey Lajoie's No.7 and Ty Dillon's No.77 cars.
We're announcing a multi-year partnership with @GainbridgeLife, a @Group_1001 company. Gainbridge will be primary on @CoreyLaJoie's or @tydillon's car starting this weekend! Group 1001 will be primary on the 7 truck, driven by @MarcoAndretti at Mid-Ohio. https://t.co/aAEq9eW566 pic.twitter.com/RWBLPXIhC9
— Spire Motorsports (@SpireMotorsport) July 5, 2023
With all of these little moves, it sure seems like Andretti has some form of interest in NASCAR. NASCAR is in the family's blood, with Andretti patriarch Mario Andretti winning the Daytona 500 in his lone NASCAR Cup start in 1967. It didn't stop there as Mario's nephew John famously won two Cup races during a 17-year career in NASCAR's top series.
Who Is Behind Andretti Autosport's Potential NASCAR Move?
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival
It's hard to tell if this is Mario's son Michael who owns the team's idea, or if grandson Marco is the leading force behind a potential move to NASCAR. Marco, who won the Superstar Racing Experience Championship in 2022, has become quite a master behind the wheel of a stock car. Marco Andretti appears to have a bigger impact in ownership, rather than racing full-time in open-wheel competitions.
This all may just be a coincidence, as it seems clear the Andretti team's real focus has been trying to get a Formula One team. Michael Andretti recently came up short when trying to purchase an existing team, and although that hasn't been an easy path thus far for the organization, a move into NASCAR might not be a bad idea as well.
Spire Motorsports might be the perfect opportunity to buy into the Cup Series, as that has also been the possible spot where fans have long speculated Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s eventual Cup team could come to life.
It seems to be a polarizing idea across the NASCAR world, and it has fans more than excited. There is no concrete evidence, but all these moves and changes at Spire Motorsports sure point to something big on the horizon.
