The NASCAR Cup Series race at the Talladega Superspeedway ended with a massive pile-up on the last lap as Tyler Reddick took the checkered flag. One of the drivers involved in the big one was Corey LaJoie, who found himself in a scary situation with his car upright on two wheels against the wall. In a recent interview, the Spire Motorsports driver spoke about the incident and compared his feelings at the time to those of a cow going to the slaughter.
Corey LaJoie foresaw his fate before the Talladega wreck ensued
Talladega is infamous for causing massive wrecks, and several drivers have found themselves in life-threatening situations while racing on the superspeedway. It perhaps wasn’t quite as bad for LaJoie, but from a fan’s perspective, it sure looked dangerous. The driver of the #7 car knew that he was going to be involved in a wreck before anything even happened. It must have been a nerve-wracking situation for the 32-year-old, who would have ended the race in a decent position had he crossed the start/finish line.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“You’re going, and you’re just lined up like a cow going to the slaughter because you know you’re going to crash. You know that whatever car is in front of you is probably gonna see a little bit of puff of smoke and smash. Following the #5 here. Then you just kind of lifting; I think I’m in a good shake here, and then ship pow pa smash,” he said.
"There was a wheel spinning right here in front of my face." 😳@CoreyLaJoie and @SkipFlores talk through that wild finish at @TALLADEGA. pic.twitter.com/wp05ZDTHQw
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 23, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Being upright on two wheels was not the scariest part of the wreck. In fact, Corey LaJoie claimed that he was not scared because of that. What had him really concerned was the #77 car of his Spire Motorsports teammate Carson Hocevar.
Carson Hocevar could have seriously injured his teammate
Trending
Tony Stewart’s Wife Leah Pruett Pens a Heartfelt Message for Husband After His Unwavering Support for His Family
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Offers a Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to His Loyal Fanbase as He Gears Up for His Return With Budweiser
JRM Prodigy & Kelley Earnhardt’s Son Earn Major Backing as Dale Jr.’s Loyal Partners Announce 2025 Return
“It Drives Like a Forklift” – Shane van Gisbergen Controversially Splits the Difference Between NASCAR’s Proud Next Gen and Xfinity Cars
Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s Gamble on Tony Stewart’s Money Loaded Star Could Not Be Worth the Financial Hassle
You never know where you might end up in the big one, and Corey LaJoie could have been seriously injured by his teammate. The driver of the #7 car revealed that the wheel of the #77 (which was still turning) was right in front of his face as his car was in an unnatural position. That visual, paired with the smell of burning rubber, must have made the 32-year-old anxious as he scrambled to get out of that situation as soon as possible.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“It wasn’t really scary, you’re up like okay I don’t really know where I’m at. When I was up on my left side, the right front wheel of the #77 came right in my windshield and I was like oh boy. There was a wheel spinning like right here in front of my face,” Corey LaJoie added.
One can only imagine the kind of injury it would have caused Corey LaJoie had his teammate’s car made contact with any part of his body. Moments like these remind you just how much of a risk these drivers take every time they go out there and race. For that, they deserve the utmost respect from all the fans.