Crew chief Travis Peterson to follow McDowell to Spire
MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Spire Motorsports confirmed Tuesday that Travis Peterson will follow Michael McDowell over there and serve as his crew chief again in 2025.
Peterson became McDowell’s crew chief in 2023 at Front Row Motorsports when Blake Harris moved to Alex Bowman and Hendrick Motorsports after a successful 2022 season. Peterson has been a worthy successor. They had a strong 2023 season, highlighted with a win at the Indianapolis road course.
While they’ve struggled a little more this season, they’ve still matched their Top-5 finishes (2) from last season, are on-pace to outdo their Top-10 finishes from last season (8) and, this year, are far ahead of their poles (3) and laps led totals (151) from last season (none and 97 laps led, respectively).
Peterson and McDowell will take the helm of the No. 71 team from Stephen Doran and Zane Smith. It’s unclear where Doran and Smith will go next season.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com