Corey LaJoie will not drive the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series next season.
LaJoie was informed by the team on Wednesday.
An eight-year veteran of the Cup Series, LaJoie has driven for Spire Motorsports since 2021. He signed a two-year contract extension last season.
“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 has six top-10 finishes and four top-five finishes in the No. 7 Chevrolet. He finished a career-best 25th in the championship standings last season.
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Spire Motorsports announced July 9 the hiring of Rodney Childers for next season. Childers will lead the No. 7 team. When that news was announced, it indicated that LaJoie would be the car’s driver.
It is not known who will replace LaJoie next season.
“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,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “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.”
Spire Motorsports will field three full-time entries in 2025. Carson Hocevar drives the No. 77 Chevrolet and Michael McDowell will join the organization to drive the No. 71 Chevrolet.
This story has been updated to include the statement from Spire.