Corey LaJoie, who is currently 28th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings after a difficult season, has decided not to rejoin the Spire Motorsports No. 7 vehicle for the upcoming season. According to FOX Sports, LaJoie, who has a contract with Spire for the upcoming season (though he may obviously explore elsewhere), corroborated the information. The Athletic was first to report on it.
“Next year, I will not be operating the 7 car,” he declared in a press release. “I’m really proud of myself for playing a major role in making Spire a reputable grid squad, but I’m afraid I won’t be around in the future. “We will finish 2024 strong, delivering for my family, friends, and supporters who have stood by me since the beginning of the Cup Series, as well as for my partners and the guys who put a lot of effort into building nice vehicles. After Phoenix, this chapter comes to a conclusion, and I’m eager to see what the Lord has in store for my family going forward.”
LaJoie, 32, has made 258 Cup starts in his career since 2017. His greatest performance in the standings came in 2023, a year in which he averaged a 20.8 finish. However, he has not had the same success this year; with an average finish of 22.7, he is currently ranked 28th in the rankings. LaJoie became the first full-time driver for Spire in 2021, having started the company in 2019.
Rodney Childers of Stewart-Haas Racing will be joining Spire as the car’s crew chief for the upcoming season. With Michael McDowell taking over for Zane Smith in the No. 71 car and Carson Hocevar staying in the No. 77 vehicle, Spire will run three cars. “Corey LaJoie has been a cornerstone of Spire Motorsports since 2021 and it would be impossible to overstate what he’s meant to this organization and how much I’ve agonized over this decision,” Co-owner of Spire Motorsports Jeff Dickerson said in a statement, “It would be impossible to overstate what he’s meant to this organization and how much I’ve agonized over this decision.” “Corey gave this team his entire being. Before we ever had a toolbox, a race shop, or even our own cars, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work.” With Childers taking over, LaJoie’s current crew chief Ryan Sparks will concentrate on his responsibilities as competition director. Dickerson stated that it was only appropriate to replace the driver at this time.
“This is a performance-based business, and it just hasn’t been there for several reasons,” Dickerson stated. “When making a choice this big, all those considerations are taken into account. The ideal thing for Spire Motorsports is a fresh start for the No. 7 car in 2025, with Ryan going upstairs and Rodney joining the team the following season.
“Corey is deserving of another chance to be evaluated by an organization, and we will exert every effort to make that happen for him in the Cup garage. I have faith in Corey’s capacity to succeed in this sport, and I hope he will use this as fuel to disprove everyone who has doubted him.”
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