Who would have predicted that NASCAR’s version of musical chairs would take place going into the final seven races of the Cup Series season? Ahead of the race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Spire Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing have announced that their drivers, Corey LaJoie and Justin Haley will be swapping seats for the remainder of the season. The move could help both drivers get a jumpstart for the teams they could be racing for next season, with Haley being confirmed as a driver for Jeff Dickerson’s No. 7 Chevy in 2025.

RFK Racing co-owner Brad Keselowski was also interested in Justin Haley’s services, amidst talk that the team is keen to secure a third charter for next year. However, the 40-year-old conceded defeat, citing Rick Hendrick’s involvement in the in-season trade as a key factor that turned the tide in Spire Motorsports’ favor.

Brad Keselowski knew about Justin Haley’s impending move

Always expect the unexpected, especially in NASCAR. However, while driver swaps aren’t unheard of in the sport, the timing of the announcement by both teams raised some eyebrows in the motorsports community. Corey LaJoie and Justin Haley are set to compete for their respective teams at the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Night Race, after which the swap will take place ahead of the race at Kansas Speedway. Spire Motorsports had already announced their intention to part ways with LaJoie, but who would have predicted it would happen even before the 2024 Cup Series season ends?

As for Justin Haley, Brad Keselowski hoped that RFK Racing’s technical alliance with Rick Ware Racing would help his team secure the services of the 25-year-old racing driver for the 2025 season. However, the racing veteran conceded defeat in an interview with Fox Sports journalist Bob Pockrass, saying, “Justin had a career opportunity that wasn’t anything we could match. To be a part of Rick Hendrick’s deal there and what that means for him after 25’, that’s their announcement to have. Certainly, everybody can understand that.”

With Hendrick Motorsports having a technical alliance with Spire Motorsports, it’s easy to understand why the owner of NASCAR’s most successful team was involved in the negotiations. Traditionally, bigger teams have always had a say in smaller teams’ decisions after a partnership has been struck, especially when it comes to drivers and it was no different this time around. Justin Haley will be returning to a much different Spire Motorsports than the one he left in 2019 but with his future secure for next season, the pressure will be off the Indiana native’s shoulders going into the remaining races of this season.

The same can’t be said for Corey LaJoie, who doesn’t have a Cup Series seat for 2025 yet. Driving for Rick Ware Racing will allow the 32-year-old to impress his potential employers in the final seven races of the season. Getting a few top-1o results could be all it takes for LaJoie to cement his place at NASCAR’s highest level next year, but whether he manages to achieve those results remains to be seen.

Keselowski anxious about title hopes ahead of playoff race

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With just one race remaining before the Round of 12 begins at Kansas Speedway, Brad Keselowski knows that a result at Bristol Motor Speedway is important to keep his title hopes alive. The RFK Racing co-owner and driver hasn’t finished higher than 19th in the opening two playoff races and finds himself 12 points below the cutline going into the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Night Race at the 0.533-mile concrete oval. His teammate Chris Buescher won a surprising victory at Watkins Glen International, but with the 31-year-old not having qualified for the postseason, all he was racing for was pride.

Highlighting the anxiety that comes with being outside the playoff bubble, Keselowski said, “Being below the playoff cutoff line, it’s one of the most anxious moments of your life. I’ve been fortunate enough to win my way out of that (entering the playoffs) hole. I’ve been on the other side of it, those are tough days that test you to the fullest extent as a person and as a team. And when it goes your way, it’s one of the most rewarding feelings you’ll ever have. When it doesn’t go your way, it’s sheer disappointment.”

The 2012 Cup Series winner has the experience to turn his situation around at Bristol Motor Speedway, but with the likes of Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr also vying for a spot in the Round of 12, the competition will be tough at ‘The Last Great Colosseum’. After being involved in multiple wrecks at Watkins Glen International, Brad Keselowski will hope that lady luck is on his side going into the race, where he has secured one top-five and three top-ten results in the past.

Do you think Brad Keselowski will qualify for the Round of 12? Let us know in the comments!