NASCAR insider shares latest update on Corey LaJoie, Rick Ware Racing plans for 2025
Corey LaJoie has just two races remaining on his audition for Rick Ware Racing after coming over via trade from Spire Motorsports last month.
LaJoie stepped into the No. 51 Ford in place of Justin Haley, who is now piloting the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire. When RWR made the announcement, team 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. Those plans are still to be determined, Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports said Tuesday.
“RWR plans still TBD,” Pockrass wrote on X. “Would think Corey LaJoie still in the mix for the 51. Also wouldn’t rule out, if a charter goes to RFK, running a second car at least part-time.”
LaJoie, at the very least, has put himself in the mix as Pockrass mentioned. The 33-year-old struggled during his nearly four-year tenure with Spire but has seen some encouraging results since joining RWR. LaJoie has three top-20 finishes in five starts, including a P15 result in his team debut at Kansas.
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Corey LaJoie posting encouraging results in second half of NASCAR season
Prior to the trade, he finished P9, P15 and P8 at Darlington, Atlanta and Watkins Glen, respectively. The top 10s at Darlington and Watkins Glen were his first ever in the Cup Series at a non-superspeedway. It looked like LaJoie was finally hitting his stride this season, however, Spire went in a different direction.
The announcement caught LaJoie off guard. The next emotion was excitement about the new opportunity.
“To get in with another process, new people who are excited to have you over there and think their cars are just as good as the one I’m driving, to integrate with that system, to get in the Ford camp, get the feel, the simulator and how that correlates to reality, I think there are a lot of positives,” LaJoie said. “To be able to jump in a car that you know you’re going to be able to work towards a future with, with seven races to go, and just knock the new off of it.”