Cup Series driver Corey LaJoie has been dropped by Spire Motorsports, where he currently drives the No. 7 Chevy Camaro ZL1. While he was initially expected to run the rest of 2024 with Spire, he will officially swap teams next week to complete the season with NASCAR Ford team Rick Ware Racing (RWR), where he will drive the No. 51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
Both teams broke the news on social media. Justin Haley, who is currently driving the No. 51 Mustang, will trade places with LaJoie, driving his No. 7 Camaro for the remainder of the season. Haley started with RWR at the beginning of 2024, but will not complete a full season with the organization. He has been signed to drive the No. 7 Camaro full-time in 2025, and is getting a head-start on his partnership with the Chevy team in the final seven races of the 2024 season.
LaJoie joined Spire at the start of the 2021 season. He signed a multiyear extension to drive the No. 7 Camaro in August 2023, but will not fulfill that obligation. He’s currently 28th in the Cup Series points standings and has three top-10 finishes this year, but his partnership with Spire has failed to yield a single victory.
At this time, RWR has not announced definite plans for 2025. It’s not clear if LaJoie will continue to race for them next year, but Robby Benton, president of RWR, stated that the team will reevaluate its 2025 plans once the 2024 season is complete.
Haley, meanwhile, is 32nd in the points standings and scored two top-10 finishes while driving the No. 51 NASCAR Ford. He has one Cup Series victory under his belt, winning at Daytona in his third start in the division in 2019.
The reason for the driver swap between RWR and Spire is not clear. However, earlier this year, Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson stated, “…the best thing for Spire Motorsports is a clean slate for the No. 7 car in 2025. Corey deserves a fresh look from another organization, too, and we’ll do everything we can to help him get another opportunity in the Cup garage.”
Both drivers will race for their current teams at Bristol on September 21st, 2024, but will officially swap teams for the race at Kansas on September 29th.
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