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NASCAR veteran announces surprise departure after the 2024 season

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NASCAR veteran announces surprise departure after the 2024 season

As a devoted NASCAR fan, I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness as I reflect on Corey LaJoie’s impending departure from Spire Motorsports at the end of the 2024 season. The Charlotte, North Carolina native has had an up-and-down career in the Cup Series, but his tenure with Spire Motorsports holds a special place in my heart.

Corey LaJoie won’t return to Spire Motorsports next year despite having renewed his contract for multiple years ago.

According to The Athletic, LaJoie announced through a statement that he will be leaving the team after the 2024 season – making them the initial source of this information.

In 2021, the 32-year-old racing driver from Charlotte, North Carolina, signed a full-time contract with Spire Motorsports, marking their initial full-time hiring. Prior to this, he had spent the previous two seasons (2019 and 2020) competing for Go Fas Racing in the Cup Series.

Corey LaJoie out at Spire Motorsports

Over the course of 128 races with his team, LaJoie has achieved six top-ten results, four of which were top-five finishes. Notably, all of his best finishes occurred in superspeedway races: a fourth place at Atlanta Motor Speedway, another at Talladega Superspeedway, and yet another at Daytona International Speedway.

In the 2023 Cup Series season, LaJoie worked alongside a permanent teammate for the first time in his racing career. As a result, he reached a new personal best by ending up in 25th position in the overall standings, with a notable edge over his teammate Ty Dillon, who finished in 32nd place and was seven positions behind, along with a significant difference of nearly 250 points.

In the year 2024, Spire Motorsports grew to field three cars. LaJoie currently ranks 28th in points, with a five-position gap between him and his rookie teammate Carson Hocevar. However, Hocevar has recently achieved a career-best finish of second place at Nashville Superspeedway, displaying improved form. Meanwhile, LaJoie maintains a five-spot lead over another rookie teammate, Zane Smith.

With only four races left in the regular season and a gap of 228 points from the playoff cutline, LaJoie must claim victory to make it to the playoffs for the first time in his career.

As a long-time NASCAR fan and follower of Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), I’m saddened by the news that LaJoie is leaving the team after confirmation that Rodney Childers, SHR crew chief, will be joining Spire Motorsports in 2025. The racing world is a small one, and changes like these can have ripple effects on teams, drivers, and personnel.

As a gaming enthusiast following the latest racing news, I used to believe LaJoie would remain my go-to driver for the No. 7 car through 2025. However, with Childers starting a new team, it’s now uncertain who will take the wheel first.

Hocevar is predicted to be back with the team in 2025 for a second term, yet it’s unclear which cars he and McDowell will operate due to LaJoie’s exit. Regardless, there’s still speculation that Smith will transfer to another team.

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2024-07-26 15:02

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