Freddie Kraft and Brett Griffin recently delved into the driver swap between Spire Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing, involving Corey LaJoie and Justin Haley. This move sees LaJoie joining Rick Ware Racing, while Haley moves to Spire Motorsports. Kraft, who is Bubba Wallace’s spotter, and Griffin discussed the deal on the *Door Bumper Clear* podcast, hosted by Dirty Mo Media, where they explored the business side of the swap and its potential impact on the drivers.
One major aspect Kraft highlighted was the challenge Justin Haley might face at Spire Motorsports. Bob Pockrass confirmed that while LaJoie and Haley are changing teams, their spotters would not be part of the swap. This means Haley will be paired with LaJoie’s spotter, Stefan Parsons, as he races for Spire Motorsports. Additionally, since Haley is moving to a Chevrolet team, he will no longer benefit from Ford’s manufacturer support, which could be a significant disadvantage for him.
Kraft acknowledged the positives of Haley’s move to Spire Motorsports but pointed out a few hurdles. He explained, “This is smart. The only thing that I’ll say for Justin Haley that I think is not on the positive side… is you’re going to Spire [Motorsports] without Rodney [Childers], and you’re going to Spire [Motorsports] without OEM [Original Equipment Manufacturer] support.” In this case, Haley’s switch to a Chevrolet team means losing Ford’s backing, which could affect his performance.
Despite these challenges, Kraft believes the early execution of the swap deal, which was initially planned for next season but is now happening immediately, is a smart move from a business perspective. Both LaJoie and Haley will get a head start by racing for their new teams for the remainder of the season, even though neither driver made the playoffs. Kraft remarked, “From a business perspective, it’s brilliant… Corey’s gonna be in that car [51] it sounds like next year, Justin’s obviously in the 7 next year, why wouldn’t you give them a ten-race head start?”
As part of the swap, Corey LaJoie will race for Rick Ware Racing, piloting the #51 Ford Mustang at Kansas Speedway, while working with spotter Chris Osborne. On the other hand, Justin Haley will drive the #7 Chevrolet Camaro for Spire Motorsports, with Parsons guiding him as his spotter.
LaJoie shared his thoughts on the move during the *Stacking Pennies* podcast. Reflecting on the swap, LaJoie noted that the decision made sense to him, as he couldn’t find many downsides to the deal. He explained his decision-making process, stating, “I’m a big T-chart kind of fella. When I do major life decisions… it comes down to T-chart, pros and cons, write it out… I don’t see very many cons of this situation to be honest with.” While LaJoie acknowledged that he had a great time racing with the #7 car, he is also enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with Ford and explore new possibilities with Rick Ware Racing.
Despite his excitement for the change, LaJoie has faced challenges recently. He suffered a Did Not Finish (DNF) at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, and he currently ranks 31st in the Cup Series standings. However, this new opportunity with Rick Ware Racing presents a fresh start for the driver, giving him a chance to showcase his skills in a different environment and work towards improving his performance in the series.
Overall, the swap between LaJoie and Haley has been a major topic of discussion in the NASCAR community, with both drivers facing new challenges and opportunities. While Haley will have to adjust to life without Ford’s support, LaJoie is eager to embrace his role at Rick Ware Racing. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how both drivers adapt to their new teams and whether this early swap gives them an edge going into next year.
Bubba Wallace’s spotter and co-host breaks down the Corey LaJoie-Justin Haley swap deal……
