Two playoff-hopeful drivers, Michael McDowell and Justin Haley, will showcase a new sponsor as the Cup Series season continues.
According to a press release, Fly Alliance has joined forces with Spire Motorsports on a two-race primary deal. The go to air-travel provider for Spire Motorsports will take over McDowell's No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro for one race and Haley's No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro for one race.
The first race featuring the Fly Alliance scheme will be the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway on Aug. 23. McDowell will highlight the company while trying to win at the track where he first visited victory lane in the Cup Series.
Haley will not showcase the Fly Alliance scheme until well into the playoffs. He will run a different version than McDowell as he takes on Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 12.
Photo credit: Spire Motorsports
"When you work in a business that demands flexibility and many times requires on-demand air travel, it's imperative to partner with an organization that understands those demands and can react in real time," said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson in a statement.
"Chris Tasca and his team at Fly Alliance are the best in the private aviation business and their fleet is second to none. We don't just depend on Fly Alliance to get us from place to place, we also utilize their aircraft to serve as a comfortable and private space where I can communicate with our drivers, crew chiefs and team leaders before and after a race weekend.
"No detail is ever left to chance, and safety is always the first priority. The service has been exceptional since our first flight."
The addition of the new sponsor comes at a time when McDowell and Haley fight for the precious few remaining playoff spots. McDowell is the closer of the two drivers. He is 19th in the Cup Series standings, and he is 129 points below the cutline. McDowell sits in must-win territory, but he has both a road course and Daytona remaining before the start of the playoffs.
Haley, for comparison, is 29th in the Cup Series standings. He also enters the Iowa Speedway weekend in must-win territory. He has a rain-shortened race win at Daytona on his resume, as well as a 13th-place finish at Iowa Speedway. These two tracks likely stand as his best opportunities to win his way into the playoffs.
"Iowa was one of my favorites last season and I've always enjoyed racing there," Haley said in a press release. "I have raced at Iowa in all three NASCAR series and have good seat time there.
"We've had a good stretch lately with the No. 7 team and we're building momentum each week. I feel like we are in position for a good result this weekend."