Haley, LaJoie to swap rides beginning at Kansas

BRISTOL, TENN. — Justin Haley will join Spire Motorsports and Corey LaJoie will join Rick Ware Racing, starting next weekend at Kansas Speedway.

LaJoie will drive RWR’s No. 51 Ford in the NASCAR Cup Series, while Haley will drive Spire’s No. 7 Chevrolet.

According to Spire, Haley signed a multi-year contract with the organization that will begin at Kansas. LaJoie’s deal is reportedly for the final seven races of the season.

Haley previously drove for Spire, winning for them at Daytona in July 2019. Since then, he has earned four wins and a third-place points finish in 2020 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In three full-time Cup Series seasons, he has impressed, especially with RWR.

“Justin Haley is a very talented driver. He has done a lot to help elevate RWR,” RWR President Robby Benton said. “Justin came to us over the Olympic break with a longer-term opportunity that would serve his career well. We were sympathetic to his desires, as Justin committed to RWR early last year and has since played a key role in the growth of our organization. We didn’t want to compromise his growth or our own. In our talks with Justin following the break, we agreed to release him from his contract with RWR.”

Benton said they needed a new plan and turned to Corey LaJoie.

“Obviously, we needed a new plan to maintain the momentum we’ve gained this year. And Corey LaJoie joining RWR allows us to keep moving forward. These seven races provide a unique and unconventional opportunity to work together now and evaluate what we may be able to accomplish together going forward. Corey wants to continue his path toward winning in the NASCAR Cup Series, and so do we. We’re like-minded in that pursuit,” Benton said.

In July, Spire Motorsports announced LaJoie wouldn’t return to the No. 7 Chevrolet. LaJoie has been with the team since 2021.

“Corey LaJoie has been a cornerstone of Spire Motorsports and we’re incredibly appreciative of all the time, effort and energy he has invested in our program. RWR is getting a workhorse in Corey. He’s dedicated to his craft and his tenacity brings out the best in those around him,” said Jeff Dickerson, the co-owner of Spire Motorsports.

Dickerson alluded to their prior relationship with Haley has a standout quality.

“We’ve known Justin Haley for many years. And we have been bullish on his talent from the beginning of his NASCAR career. Justin, and his win at Daytona, put us both on the map. It was a pivotal moment for his career and our organization. We’ve both grown since that day, as Justin has proven his talent in the Cup garage and he comes back to an organization that is very different from the one he left a few years ago. Getting back together now, rather than waiting until 2025, gives us an excellent opportunity to build a baseline and be a step ahead when we get to Daytona next February,” Dickerson said.