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NASCAR: Ex-full-time driver returning to former team for 2025

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2024 NASCAR Cup Series wrapped up and I found myself moved from Spire Motorsports to Rick Ware Racing in a sort of swap with Justin Haley. Interestingly, Haley’s new contract with Spire Motorsports secured his spot behind the wheel of the No. 7 Chevrolet for all of 2025, but I didn’t hear about any similar agreement for me.

2024 saw LaJoie driving the No. 51 Ford, but there remained questions about his potential return to the team permanently in 2025.

It became clear that Rick Ware’s doubts were accurate when his racing team declared they would reduce from two full-time teams to just one. Instead of operating two full charters, one was given on lease to RFK Racing. The teams have been in a technical partnership since 2023, and this move led RFK Racing to increase their number of cars from two to three for the year 2025.

Cody Ware was then confirmed as the full-time driver of the No. 51 Ford after driving the No. 15 Ford part-time in 2024.

Nevertheless, Rick Ware Racing intends to field the No. 15 Ford on a part-time basis in 2025, with one of their scheduled appearances being at the Daytona International Speedway next month, aiming to secure a spot for the Daytona 500 season opener.

It’s been made official that LaJoie will be driving the car now labeled as No. 01 during Speedweeks, as it corresponds with his Stacking Pennies brand. He’s also planning to participate in multiple races this year, though the specific events haven’t been disclosed yet.

He will additionally take on the role of an analyst during five races that will be aired on Amazon Prime Video, one of the two new broadcasters as part of the sport’s recently signed seven-year media rights agreement. This five-race sequence is set to kick off with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25th and wrap up with the Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 22nd.

Since the No. 15 Ford isn’t a guaranteed entry (it’s an open entry), LaJoie doesn’t automatically qualify for the Daytona 500. There are currently nine such open entries on the list, and only four (possibly five) additional spots remain among the chartered cars.

In order to secure a spot, he has two options: focus solely on speed during the single-car qualifying round, or alternatively, compete in one of the two Bluegreen Vacations Duel races to qualify.

The single-car qualifying for the Daytona 500, known as the “Great American Race,” is set for February 12. On the following day, Thursday, there will be two Bluegreen Vacations Duel races at 7:00 p.m. ET on Fox. The main event will take place on Sunday, February 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET also on Fox. Sign up for a free trial of FuboTV to catch all the excitement from the “World Center of Racing”!

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2025-01-28 16:32

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