NASCAR spotter Eddie D'Hondt has inked a multi-year contract with Spire Motorsports which will begin in 2025. D'Hondt will bring his wealth of experience to the No. 7 team, partnering with driver Justin Haley.
Announced publicly on October 11, 2024, D'Hondt shared his excitement on social media. The 65-year-old stated:
"Very excited to announce a signed multi-year deal to join @SpireMotorsport and the #7 team. Can't wait to get started & help building forward."
Very excited to announce a signed multi-year deal to join @SpireMotorsport
— TheEddieD’ (@TheEddieDHondt) October 11, 2024
and the #7 team. Can’t wait to get started & help building forward. 🏁 pic.twitter.com/bKeh6ERv4b
D'Hondt’s illustrious career began on Long Island, New York, with an early start in street stocks at local tracks like Islip Speedway and Riverhead Raceway in 1981. He entered the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 1986 and soon moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1996 to further his career in the NASCAR Cup Series. His journey into NASCAR commenced with roles as a mechanic and tire specialist. Over the years, D'Hondt established himself as a key player, working with teams such as Ranier-Walsh Racing and Junie Donlavey's team.
His tenure at Hendrick Motorsports saw him contribute to many high-profile successes, including aiding Jeff Gordon in his last career win at Martinsville and being part of Chase Elliott’s 2020 Cup Championship triumph. Relationships forged with crew chiefs like Alan Gustafson enriched his legacy. Before his stint at Hendrick, D'Hondt played vital roles with teams including Bill Elliott Racing, Evernham Motorsports, and Robert Yates Racing, spotting for noted drivers such as Kyle Busch and Elliott Sadler.
D'Hondt also ventured into team ownership with D'Hondt Motorsports, competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series, working with high-profile drivers like Danny O'Quinn Jr., David Gilliland, and Kyle Busch. Notably, he managed to steer Busch to a runner-up finish at Watkins Glen in 2008.
In 2024, D'Hondt found himself at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) as the spotter for Josh Berry and the No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team. However, with SHR’s impending closure, effective at the end of 2024, he was left to find a position elsewhere. His collaboration with Rodney Childers at SHR, who holds the position of crew chief, is set to continue at Spire Motorsports. Childers will transition alongside D'Hondt to support Justin Haley.
NASCAR Cup Series: Current Standings
- William Byron - 3122 points
- Christopher Bell - 3105 points
- Kyle Larson - 3100 points
- Denny Hamlin - 3078 points
- Alex Bowman - 3074 points
- Ryan Blaney - 3073 points
- Tyler Reddick - 3062 points
- Chase Elliott - 3061 points
- Joey Logano - 3048 points
- Daniel Suárez - 3041 points
- Austin Cindric - 3032 points
- Chase Briscoe - 3029 points
- Ty Gibbs - 2144 points
- Martin Truex Jr - 2130 points
- Brad Keselowski - 2104 points
- Harrison Burton - 2048 points
- Ross Chastain - 812 points
- Chris Buescher - 810 points
- Bubba Wallace - 789 points
- Kyle Busch - 684 points
- Carson Hocevar - 579 points
- Todd Gilliland - 560 points
- Michael McDowell - 548 points
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr - 522 points
- Noah Gragson - 516 points
- Ryan Preece - 495 points
- Josh Berry - 491 points
- Austin Dillon - 478 points
- Corey LaJoie - 456 points
- Erik Jones - 452 points
- Justin Haley - 448 points
- Zane Smith - 442 points
- Daniel Hemric - 442 points
- John H. Nemechek - 392 points
- Kaz Grala - 178 points
- Cody Ware - 130 points
- Joey Hand - 43 points
- Jimmie Johnson - 40 points
- Derek Kraus - 32 points
- David Ragan - 17 points
- Kamui Kobayashi - 8 points
- Will Brown - 6 points
- Juan Pablo Montoya - 5 points
- Cam Waters - 2 points
