UPDATE: Spire Motorsports has confirmed that Corey LaJoie will not drive the No. 7 in 2025.
Original: Spire Motorsports will have a new driver in its NASCAR Cup Series No. 7 in 2025, The Athletic reports.
According to The Athletic, Corey LaJoie will not be returning to the No. 7 following the 2024 season.
LaJoie has been full time in the Spire No. 7 since 2021, recording a career-best points finish of 25th in 2023.
He currently sits 28th in the 2024 standings, with one top five and one top 10 this year.
“I won’t be driving the [No.] 7 car next year,” LaJoie said in a statement to The Athletic. “I take a lot of satisfaction from having an integral part of building Spire into a respectable team on the grid, but unfortunately the future won’t involve me. We will finish the remainder of 2024 strong, continuing to deliver for my partners, my guys who work had to build good cars, family, fans and friends who have supported me since day one in the Cup Series.”
The team hired Rodney Childers to be the crew chief of the No. 7 for 2025 earlier this month. It also revealed earlier this year that Michael McDowell will join the team next year.
The driver of the No. 7 for 2025 has not yet been announced.
Chase began working with Frontstretch in the spring of 2023 as a news writer, while also helping fill in for other columns as needed. Chase is now the main writer and reporter for Frontstretch.com's CARS Tour coverage, a role which began late in 2023. Aside from racing, some of Chase's other hobbies include time in the outdoors hunting and fishing, and keeping up with all things Philadelphia sports related.
Whew, about time.
Lost any respect for LaJoie when he deliberately wrecked Reed Sorensen in a Daytona qualifying race. After his dad pancaked the wall with the bottom of his car there in 1984, you’d think he’d have some respect/concern about driver safety, but I guess he doesn’t.
I told you so. He will need to buy a ticket for his cup races next year. Note to Spire, buy out KFB from RCR..
Spire can pay with all the money they’ll be saving from not having to repair torn up race cars.
Too bad. Nascar needs a few back markers that are willing to ruffle a few feathers and I thought Corrie over the last couple years was just coming into his own.