What’s Happening?

A long-running yet seemingly quiet story of the 2025 Silly Season is Corey Lajoie’s unexpected free agency. However, recent reports suggest that Lajoie could have found his route to stay in the Cup Series.

• Corey Lajoie is a second-generation driver and a nine-year Cup Series veteran. Lajoie is known for his No. 7 ride at Spire Motorsports, the team he has been with as its first full-time driver in 2021.
• Spire, in a transitional period, shockingly announced that the team would part ways with Lajoie following this season. Despite the announcement in July, neither the team nor the driver have made their move for 2025.
• Rick Ware Racing has long been a backmarker in the NASCAR Cup Series. However, the two-car team has made massive strides in just the past two seasons.

Is This His Best Move?

So far, Corey Lajoies’ recent job prospects for 2025 have seemed slim, with Truck Series rides making up the bulk of his rumor mill. However, a new report from Jordan Bianchi of the Athletic suggests that there is a high likelihood that Lajoie and Rick Ware Racing will join forces in 2025.

This move, while seemingly a downgrade from his current role at Spire, is still the best option for the aging veteran. In his nine seasons in the Cup Series, six of those full-time, Lajoie has just four top-fives and ten top-tens in 263 starts.

While Rick Ware Racing is a statistical downgrade from Spire, it might be Lajoie’s only move at the top level. Some drivers prefer to stay competing at the top level, despite ride quality, due to the security that comes with a chartered Cup Series ride.

Lajoie also benefits from a move to RWR by having a fresh start. Not only is RWR a new team for Lajoie, but it is also a new manufacturer in Ford. Coming over from Chevrolet, Lajoie is in a season where he has seen a sudden drop in statistical consistency from past seasons.

Ware may not have been Lajoies only option. Bianchi also reported that Lajoie said he is getting calls from other interested parties. Nonetheless, Ware may need Lajoie just as much as Lajoie needs the team.

What Does This Mean for RWR?

Rick Ware Racing has not only been one of the worst statistical full-time NASCAR Cup Series entries since its 2017 revival. In 643 starts, RWR has only two top-fives and 11 top-tens.

These eight seasons in the Cup Series include a cast of all three current NASCAR Manufacturers and 42 different drivers, including a USAC National Champion and a Formula One World Champion.

However, the team turned a corner in 2024. First, it committed to Ford and made major changes in its staffing and alliances prior to this season. These changes included a young full-time driver in Justin Haley. Haley is only the third full-time driver in 2024 and a coalition with RFK Racing.

Now, long-pointed rumors that Haley is headed to Spire to replace Lajoie in 2025 seem to be true. While Ford makes up the majority of free-agent drivers, the veteran Lajoie might be the right call.

While it’s a tough debate, RWR found something with Haley this season and earned their second-ever top-five this summer at Daytona. Lajoie, seeking a fresh start, much like Haley last year, could do something special at RWR.

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