The choice to let go of LaJoie, 32, came as a surprise, especially since Spire had recently announced the hiring of seasoned crew chief Rodney Childers, who was set to work with LaJoie and the No. 7 Chevrolet next season.
Since joining Spire in 2021, LaJoie has become a mainstay, achieving four top-five and six top-10 finishes over the course of four seasons, including a commendable fourth-place finish in this year’s Daytona 500.
The team stated that a new full-time driver for the No. 7 car will be revealed at a later time.
Statement from Spire Motorsports
“Corey LaJoie has been an integral part of Spire Motorsports since 2021, and it’s hard to express how vital he has been to our organization and how much pain this decision has caused me,” commented team co-owner Jeff Dickerson.
“Corey dedicated himself to this team. He worked tirelessly before we even had a race shop, tools, or our own cars. Looking back, those days seemed much simpler than where we stand now.”
“Initially, our goal was just to reach the racetrack. Now, our focus is on consistently vieing for top-10 finishes and aiming for wins in the near future.”
Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports, Gainbridge Chevrolet Camaro
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Although LaJoie was not cited in Spire’s news release, he shared a statement with The Athletic earlier Thursday, affirming his exit but expressing his intent to “finish 2024 strong.”
Just under a year ago, in August 2023, Spire announced a multi-year contract extension with LaJoie.
“In racing, there are always changes, but one constant is that this is a performance-driven industry, and our results haven’t been satisfactory for various reasons,” Dickerson remarked. “These factors play a crucial role in making such a significant decision.”
“As Ryan (Sparks) transitions to a different role, and with Rodney (Childers) joining us next season, it’s best for Spire Motorsports to start anew with the No. 7 car in 2025. Corey deserves a fresh start with a new team, and we’ll assist him in finding another opportunity in the Cup series.”
LaJoie has made 258 starts in the Cup Series over nine seasons and has 22 starts in the Xfinity Series and five in the Trucks. He has yet to win a NASCAR national series race.
