In a surprising move that has captured the attention of the NASCAR community, Corey LaJoie has shared his thoughts on his recent transition to Rick Ware Racing (RWR). This shift comes as part of a unique driver swap deal with Justin Haley, who will take over LaJoie’s former ride in the #7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports. Meanwhile, LaJoie will take the wheel of RWR’s #51 Ford for the remainder of the 2024 season.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference held on September 20, where it was confirmed that LaJoie, aged 32, will officially move to RWR’s garage after completing his final race for Spire at the Bristol Motor Speedway. He is set to compete in the remaining seven races of the season for his new team, while Haley will fill the void at Spire.
LaJoie has been a vital component of Spire Motorsports since joining the team in 2021, contributing significantly to its successes over four seasons. Throughout his time with Spire, he has made an impressive 136 starts, achieving four top-5 finishes and eight top-10 finishes—a testament to his capabilities as a driver. However, his last race with Spire did not go as planned. During the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol, LaJoie faced an unfortunate DNF (Did Not Finish) after an incident involving Josh Berry, leaving him unable to complete what was meant to be a fitting farewell to the team that nurtured his career.
Reflecting on his departure, LaJoie expressed gratitude towards Jeff Dickerson, co-owner of Spire Motorsports, for giving him the opportunity to race for Rick Ware Racing. He elaborated on the mixed feelings associated with leaving a team where he has spent a significant portion of his career, likening the experience to “breaking up with your high school girlfriend.” It’s a poignant metaphor that captures the emotional weight of such a transition, highlighting the connections and memories formed over the years.
“Lot of grace from Spire and Dickerson to allow me to go do it. I think that them allowing me to go to the #51 (of Rick Ware Racing) helps me and my career progress, further it goes. But now I get to earn my chance and integrate with that team and work with Chris Lawson (crew chief) and Tommy Baldwin and Robby Benton and Rick Ware. Like, there’s a lot of motivated hungry guys that have won a lot of races over there that I’m excited to go race with,” LaJoie said during the press conference, as reported by NASCAR.
The emotional rollercoaster of transitioning teams was not lost on LaJoie. He noted that moving on from Spire—where he has developed both personally and professionally—was bittersweet. It was a significant chapter of his life, and he recognized the need to embrace the next step in his career while cherishing the memories he made along the way.
In a further twist to the narrative, Justin Haley has secured a deal with Spire Motorsports for the 2025 season, but LaJoie’s future with Rick Ware Racing remains unconfirmed at this time. LaJoie emphasized the emotional journey that accompanies such changes, sharing his experience of feeling “mad” and “sad” before ultimately arriving at a place of appreciation for his time at Spire. He remarked, “You go through all the emotions, mad, sad … I think where I’m at currently a week removed is that I’m super appreciative. Super appreciative of Jeff [Dickerson, team co-owner] and T.J. [Puchyr, co-owner] and for Spire giving me the opportunity, for believing in me from the jump when we were trying to whiteboard this thing and what we’ve grown it to has been pretty cool.”
LaJoie’s performance in the current season has been a rollercoaster ride. Initially, he made a strong impression with a fourth-place finish at the Daytona 500, signaling a potentially successful year ahead. However, his performance dipped significantly thereafter, and he struggled to secure another top-10 finish until he managed a P9 finish at Darlington Raceway, just before the regular season ended. This decline in performance may have contributed to the decision for Spire Motorsports to look for new talent, leading to LaJoie’s exit from the team.
As LaJoie gears up for his new challenge with Rick Ware Racing, all eyes will be on him to see how he can prove his worth in the upcoming races. The remaining seven races in the 2024 calendar will be critical for LaJoie as he aims to showcase his talent and adaptability in a new environment. With a new team and fresh opportunities, he has a chance to demonstrate that he can still be a competitive force in the NASCAR circuit.
The upcoming races will not only test LaJoie’s skills behind the wheel but also his ability to integrate with a new team and contribute to their success. Fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating how LaJoie will rise to the occasion and make a name for himself in this new chapter of his career with Rick Ware Racing. As he embarks on this journey, LaJoie will carry the lessons learned from Spire while aiming to carve out his legacy in NASCAR’s ever-evolving landscape.
