Stephen Doran Leaves SVG After 7 Wins to Return to Spire With Michael McDowell

· Yahoo Sports

Stephen Doran will return to Spire Motorsports as Michael McDowell’s crew chief on the No. 71 Chevrolet for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season, the team announced Monday.

Doran has spent the last two seasons as Shane van Gisbergen’s crew chief at Trackhouse Racing. Spire made the move official on X.

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The change follows Trackhouse’s own announcement earlier Monday. Trackhouse confirmed on X that Blake Harris, Alex Bowman’s crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports, will lead van Gisbergen’s No. 97 team in 2027.

MotorBiscuit reported the Harris move over the weekend, following a RACER report on Nov. 6. Harris has been Bowman’s crew chief on the No. 48 since 2023, and Hendrick has not yet named Bowman’s crew chief for 2027.

Seven Road-Course Wins With Van Gisbergen

Doran and van Gisbergen won seven races together. All of them came on road or street courses.

Van Gisbergen, a New Zealander, won three titles in Supercars, the top touring car series in Australian motorsports, before moving to NASCAR full time in 2024. He finished 12th in the 2025 standings. He was 17th this season and the top Trackhouse driver in the final standings, despite missing the Chase.

Doran knows the No. 71 team. He was Zane Smith’s crew chief on Spire’s No. 71 in 2024 before moving to Trackhouse.

Doran Says the Timing Felt Right

In Spire’s announcement, Doran thanked Trackhouse owner Justin Marks and van Gisbergen.

“I’m incredibly thankful to Justin for giving me the opportunity to be a crew chief at Trackhouse,” Doran said. “I’m equally grateful for the opportunity to work alongside SVG. He’s a world-class driver on the track and an even better person away from it. I’ll truly miss the people and relationships I’ve built within the Trackhouse family.”

“The timing felt right to return to Spire Motorsports. Coming back to the No. 71 team is something I’ve thought about since leaving at the end of 2024,” he said. “What Jeff, Dan, and the entire organization have built in such a short time is impressive, and I’m excited to be part of what’s ahead. I can’t wait to get to work with Michael and the entire team as we push to become a consistent race-winning organization for years to come.”

Jeff Dickerson, who co-owns Spire with Dan Towriss, said the team was eager to bring Doran back.

“Our 2027 season starts today so we’re eager to bring Stephen back to Spire Motorsports,” Dickerson said. “He’s an exceptionally talented individual, a winning crew chief and someone who fits in with our group, seamlessly.”

Doran replaces Travis Peterson, who followed McDowell to Spire from Front Row Motorsports for the 2025 season. Peterson has been offered an engineering role with the team.

McDowell won the 2021 Daytona 500 and has driven Spire’s No. 71 for the past two seasons.

Spire’s Cup lineup also includes Daniel Suárez and Carson Hocevar, whom the team suspended for Sunday’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

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