With eight races left on the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series calendar, two teams are making changes for the remainder of the season.
Rick Ware Racing (RWR) has acquired driver Corey LaJoie from Spire Motorsports, and Spire Motorsports has procured driver Justin Haley from RWR. Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway will be the last race for each driver with their current organizations. Beginning with next weekend’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, LaJoie will take over the No. 51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for RWR, and Haley will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports.
While LaJoie’s pending partnership with RWR will mark his first stint with the team, Haley’s upcoming drive with Spire Motorsports serves as a homecoming. Haley began his NASCAR Cup Series career with Spire Motorsports, winning the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in just his third career NASCAR Cup Series start.
“Justin Haley is a very talented driver who has done a lot to help elevate RWR,” said Robby Benton, president, RWR. “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.
“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.”
LaJoie comes to RWR after spending the last four seasons (2021-2024) at Spire Motorsports.
“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, co-owner, Spire Motorsports.
“We’ve known Justin Haley for many years and 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.”
LaJoie is a 32-year-old, third-generation racer who grew up near stock-car racing’s epicenter of Charlotte, North Carolina. Haley is a 25-year-old racer from Winamac, Indiana, who began his career on dirt tracks before transitioning to pavement racing. Both drivers have worked their way up the NASCAR ladder to the elite NASCAR Cup Series, competing in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Saturday night’s race at Bristol will mark LaJoie’s 265th career NASCAR Cup Series start and it will be Haley’s 137th career NASCAR Cup Series start.
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