Corey Lajoie will not return to the No. 7 Spire Motorsports team in the NASCAR Cup Series next season.
The driver issued a statement to The Athletic confirming reports that began to circulate earlier in the week about a potential change within the organization.
“I won’t be driving the 7 car next year,” LaJoie said. “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 hard to build good cars, family, fans and friends who have supported me since day one in the Cup Series.
“This chapter ends after Phoenix and I’m excited to see what the Lord has in store for my family next.”
Lajoie seemed to maximize the potential of the No. 7 last season, taking it to a 20.8 average finish without a single DNF. He signed a multiyear contract extension in August where both parties expressed a sentiment of being building blocks to each other.
Then came 2024, an objective disaster of a season in which Lajoie has been involved in a league leading number of crashes. The team just hired championship winning crew chief Rodney Childers to lead the No. 7 team but it will not be with Lajoie.
Team co-owner Jeff Dickerson issued a candid statement in support of his soon-to-be former driver.
“Corey LaJoie has been a cornerstone of Spire Motorsports since 2021 and it would be impossible to overstate what he’s meant to this organization and how much I’ve agonized over this decision,” Dickerson said. “Corey put his heart and soul into this team. He rolled up his sleeves and went to work before we had a race shop, a toolbox or even our own cars. Those days, looking back, were so much simpler than where we are in our journey now. Back then, we just wanted to get to the racetrack. Today, we’re consumed with consistently battling for top-10 finishes and contending for wins in the near future.
“In racing, there are always variables but one thing we all know, is this is a performance-based business, and it just hasn’t been there for several reasons. All those reasons are factored in when it comes to making a decision of this magnitude. With Ryan (Sparks) moving upstairs, and Rodney (Childers) coming in next season, 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. I believe in Corey and his ability to be successful in this sport and look forward to him using this as motivation to prove all his doubters wrong.”