CONCORD, N.C. — Following the 2024 Cup Series season, Corey LaJoie and Spire Motorsports will part ways after four years together.
Corey LaJoie, driver of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, said Thursday he will not return to the team following the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.
“I won‘t be driving the 7 car next year,” LaJoie told The Athletic, which broke the news. “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.”
Later in the day, Spire Motorsports officials issued a statement confirming the organization would move on from LaJoie.
“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.”
LaJoie spent four years with Spire in the NASCAR Cup Series, tallying four top fives and six top 10s in 129 races so far, with a career-best finish of fourth coming three separate times at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona Int’l Speedway.
The 32-year-old driver made his Cup debut in 2014 and spent his first seasons with BK Racing, TriStar Motorsports and GoFas Racing before landing at Spire.
With four races remaining in the 2024 regular season, LaJoie is 28th in points.