The choice to now not assign LaJoie, 32, modified into especially surprising as when Spire launched its rent of outdated college crew chief Rodney Childers starting next season, it modified into to be crew chief for LaJoie and the No. 7 Chevrolet.
LaJoie has been a fixture at Spire since 2021 and has four top-5 and six top-10 finishes over four seasons, including a fourth-situation accomplish on this yr’s Daytona 500.
A contemporary beefy-time driver for the No. 7 shall be launched at a later date, the crew said.
Assertion from Spire Motorsports
“Corey LaJoie has been a cornerstone of Spire Motorsports since 2021 and it would possibly perchance well well presumably be now not doable to overstate what he’s supposed to this group and how a lot I’ve agonized over this decision,” said crew co-proprietor Jeff Dickerson.
“Corey build his coronary heart and soul into this crew. He rolled up his sleeves and went to work sooner than we had a rush shop, a toolbox and even our enjoy autos. As of late, looking out aid, had been loads extra effective than where we are in our rush now.
“Support then, we ethical wanted to accumulate to the rush song. At the unique time, we’re consumed with consistently struggling with for top-10 finishes and contending for wins within the discontinuance to future.”
Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports, Gainbridge Chevrolet Camaro
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photos
LaJoie modified into now not quoted in Spire’s news release however he equipped an announcement to The Athletic earlier Thursday in which he confirmed his departure however vowed to “accomplish the relaxation of 2024 solid.”
It modified into much less than one yr ago – August 2023 – that Spire launched a multi-yr contract extension with LaJoie.
“In racing, there are always variables however one ingredient all of us know, is here’s a performance-primarily primarily based mostly enterprise, and it ethical hasn’t been there for so a lot of reasons,” Dickerson said. “All those reasons are factored in in phrases of you decide of this magnitude.
“With Ryan (Sparks) keen upstairs, and Rodney (Childers) coming in next season, the finest ingredient for Spire Motorsports is a desirable slate for the No. 7 car in 2025. Corey deserves a contemporary peep from one other group, too, and we’ll accomplish every part we can to assist him accumulate one other different within the Cup storage.”
LaJoie has 258 begins within the Cup Series over nine seasons, 22 begins in Xfinity and 5 in Autos. He has neve obtained a NASCAR national assortment rush.
