Corey LaJoie unveils Iowa Hawkeyes paint scheme to run at Iowa Speedway
Spire Motorsports announced Tuesday that Corey LaJoie will drive an Iowa Hawkeyes-themed paint scheme in this Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway.
LaJoie’s No. 7 Gainbridge/Iowa Hawkeyes Chevrolet will feature the Tigerhawk on the hood with a black and gold color scheme.
“The No. 7 is extra special this weekend as we bring together two unique sports properties from our portfolio and give Iowans a home-state car to pull for in the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway,” said Mike Nichols, Chief of Sponsorship and Activation at Group 1001, in a statement. “From Caitlin Clark to now this, Gainbridge® has stepped up to support Iowa athletics and we hope that all of Iowa will rally around Corey LaJoie and cheer him on to victory lane.”
Gainbridge, Lajoie’s primary sponsor, also sponsors Iowa Athletics. Earlier this year, the company inked a multiyear partnership with Clark, now guard of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, to become a brand ambassador.
“The NASCAR event at Iowa Speedway is a marquee event for the state and we’re thankful that Gainbridge® is shining a big spotlight on Learfield and Iowa athletics,” said Gabe Aguirre, Vice President and General Manager, Hawkeye Sports Properties. “We’re all rooting for Corey LaJoie in that No. 7.”
Corey LaJoie trending in right direction after solid run at Sonoma?
Hopefully for LaJoie, a fresh coat of paint will bring along some much-needed success. LaJoie currently sits 30th in the points standings with only one top-10 in 16 starts. He did, however, finish P11 this past Sunday at Sonoma, his best finish since a P16 result at Darlington last month.
LaJoie has been outrun by his Spire teammate Carson Hocevar, a rookie in the NASCAR Cup Series. Hocevar is 22nd in the points standings and picked up a top-10 finish at Gateway earlier this month. Denny Hamlin said on his “Actions Detrimental” podcast last week he feels LaJoie has lost his mojo.
“Corey is not quite, you know, they’ve lost some mojo somewhere, somehow over this last year, I would say,” Hamlin said. “It’s only been like, kind of the speedways, where they would show up. And then you know, for whatever reason this No. 77 has gone from running like, dead-last last year to you know, they put Carson in and now he’s running P15 most weeks.”