The choice to not retain LaJoie, 32, was particularly shocking as when Spire introduced its rent of veteran crew chief Rodney Childers starting subsequent season, it was to be crew chief for LaJoie and the No. 7 Chevrolet.
LaJoie has been a fixture at Spire since 2021 and has 4 top-five and 6 top-10 finishes over 4 seasons, together with a fourth-place end on this 12 months’s Daytona 500.
A brand new full-time driver for the No. 7 can be introduced at a later date, the group stated.
Assertion from Spire Motorsports
“Corey LaJoie has been a cornerstone of Spire Motorsports since 2021 and it might be unimaginable to overstate what he’s meant to this group and the way a lot I’ve agonized over this determination,” stated group co-owner Jeff Dickerson.
“Corey put his coronary heart and soul into this group. He rolled up his sleeves and went to work earlier than we had a race store, a toolbox and even our personal vehicles. These days, wanting again, have been a lot less complicated than the place we’re in our journey now.
“Again then, we simply wished to get to the race monitor. Immediately, we’re consumed with persistently battling for top-10 finishes and contending for wins within the close to future.”
Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports, Gainbridge Chevrolet Camaro
Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
LaJoie was not quoted in Spire’s information launch however he supplied a press release to The Athletic earlier Thursday by which he confirmed his departure however vowed to “end the rest of 2024 sturdy.”
It was lower than one 12 months in the past – August 2023 – that Spire introduced a multi-year contract extension with LaJoie.
“In racing, there are all the time variables however one factor everyone knows, is this can be a performance-based enterprise, and it simply hasn’t been there for a number of causes,” Dickerson stated. “All these causes are factored in relating to making a call of this magnitude.
“With Ryan (Sparks) shifting upstairs, and Rodney (Childers) coming in subsequent season, the perfect factor for Spire Motorsports is a clear slate for the No. 7 automobile in 2025. Corey deserves a contemporary look from one other group, too, and we’ll do every thing we are able to to assist him get one other alternative within the Cup storage.”
LaJoie has 258 begins within the Cup Collection over 9 seasons, 22 begins in Xfinity and 5 in Vehicles. He has neve received a NASCAR nationwide sequence race.
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