Kevin Harvick names winner in Spire, Rick Ware Racing driver swap with Corey LaJoie, Justin Haley

This Sunday’s Round of 12 opener at Kansas will be a first for both Corey LaJoie and Justin Haley. As part of the driver trade announced this past Friday at Bristol, LaJoie will pilot the No. 51 Ford for Rick Ware Racing while Haley will step into the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports.

Spire confirmed that Haley will drive for Spire in 2025, while it remains to be determined if LaJoie will be with RWR next season. RWR president Robby Benton called it a good opportunity to work with LaJoie for the final seven races of the season as the team evaluates its plans for next season.

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In every trade, there’s a winner and a loser. While the next handful of weeks will ultimately determine the answer to that question, Kevin Harvick believes, for now, that Haley has the advantage over LaJoie from a car performance standpoint.

Kevin explains benefit of Spire, Rick Ware Racing trade for Justin Haley

“The 7 and the 77 [at Spire] have had a handful of weeks where they’ve run well,” Harvick said on Tuesday’s “Happy Hour” podcast. “I think the way that Corey’s race ended this week with the accident, and everything that happened has kind of been the way that things have gone over the last few months or couple years. And, you know, I think when you look at the 51 of Justin Haley and the things that he’s done in the car, I would say he’s the guy that’s come out ahead on this particular scenario from car performance.

“How that goes as far as personnel and how everybody meshes, who knows. And who knows what the plan is, is that car going to get more embedded at RFK or what happens? So, it’s still extremely awkward and strange and not the common way to be.”

Rodney Childers excited to work with Justin Haley in 2025

Haley, 25, became of high interest to several teams during Silly Season. Even with a year remaining on his contract at RWR, it always appeared 2025 would bring along a better opportunity. Haley has raced his way to ninth place finishes at the Darlington spring race and Gateway this season. Rodney Childers, one of the most accomplished crew chiefs in the sport who signed a multiyear deal with Spire in July, will serve as Haley’s crew chief next season.

It’s the best opportunity to date for Haley, who could see his talent truly unlocked at a team like Spire.

“I think it’ll be good,” Childers told Matt Weaver of Sportsnaut. “It’ll be interesting because I’ve never been around him much. With Josh [Berry] I’ve been around him at Late Model races and his short track days. But Justin, all I know is all the good things people say about him. And just what I’ve seen from being around him in the garage. It’s just clear to me that he’s a good person with good values. And at this point in my career, that’s really important to me.

“There are a lot of people in this garage that believe in his ability and hopefully I do that justice. And really, at this point in my career, it’s going to be fun for me to go over there because I think it will rejuvenate me. I need to be in an environment that will challenge me like I think this one will. I think I’m going to have to work harder and be more involved. And that’s going to be perfect for me over there.”