Corey LaJoie to attempt Daytona 500, transition to analyst role in 2025
MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Corey LaJoie will attempt to make the Daytona 500 with Rick Ware Racing and transition to an analyst role in 2025.
LaJoie will try to make the 67th Daytona 500 in a No 01 Ford Mustang. He will have support from DuraMAX and Take 5 Oil Change.
LaJoie touted the No. 01 as a part of the creation of a “Stacking Pennies Performance Brand.” The name originates from his Stacking Pennies podcast that began four years ago.
“Rick Ware is someone who makes things happen. He’s a great guy who has been a generous friend in helping me get this vision of Stacking Pennies Performance off the ground,” LaJoie said.
LaJoie will also serve as an on-air analyst role for Prime Video. Their NASCAR coverage begins May 25 with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“My presence on the track will look different than it has in previous years and it’s going to bring a new host of challenges. But my heart is set on making a lasting impact in the sport and the communities NASCAR reaches. Between Rick Ware, Prime Video, and the support of partners DuraMAX and Take 5 Oil Change, I’m able to follow my heart,” LaJoie said.
LaJoie has raced full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series since 2017, racing over half the races for the last eight seasons.
With seven races to go in the 2024 season, Spire Motorsports negotiated a deal with RWR that saw them trade LaJoie for Justin Haley. Spire subsequently signed Haley to a multi-year deal.
LaJoie earned three Top-20 finishes in the final seven races of 2024, with a best finish of 14th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in RWR’s No. 51 Ford.
RWR signed Cody Ware to drive the No. 51 Ford full-time in 2025. LaJoie is set to make some starts with RWR beyond the Daytona 500.
2025 Daytona 500 Open Entries
- Corey LaJoie – No. 01 Rick Ware Racing Ford
- Justin Allgaier – No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
- JJ Yeley – No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet
- Martin Truex Jr. – No. 56 TRICON Garage Toyota
- Anthony Alfredo – No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet
- Chandler Smith – No. 66 Garage 66 Ford
- BJ McLeod – No. 78 independent Chevrolet entry
- Jimmie Johnson – No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Helio Castroneves – No. 91 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Castroneves is locked into the field with the new Open Exemption Provisional. If he has to take the OEP, the race will feature 41 cars. That would let four other open entries into the field.
If Castroneves races his way into the field, either through a fast enough qualifying time or finishing well enough in his Duel, the race will feature 40 cars. That would let three open entries into the field.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com