Corey LaJoie isn’t one to shy away from the spotlight—or a little drama. Known for his scrappy, underdog vibe and a knack for wringing every ounce of performance out of mid-pack equipment, LaJoie has become something of a divisive figure in the NASCAR world. Some love his hustle, while others can’t stand his blunt, say-it-like-it-is style.

Lately, though, things have taken a turn. After a chaotic 2024 season that saw him bouncing between teams like a pinball and winding up in a part-time ride for 2025, LaJoie has once again stirred the pot—this time with comments about NASCAR’s lower series, the Trucks and Xfinity. Let’s just say it didn’t sit well with fans or, notably, a certain Truck Series team owner, who didn’t hold back in calling LaJoie out for what he viewed as outright disrespect.

Corey LaJoie’s blunt analysis

If you’re wondering where Corey LaJoie stands heading into 2025, the short answer is… well, it’s complicated. At the start of 2024, things looked relatively stable at Spire Motorsports, where he’d been steadily building his résumé. But by mid-season, the wheels started to wobble. LaJoie jumped ship for a temporary ride at Rick Ware Racing (RWR), part of an unusual mid-season driver swap that had fans buzzing.

Now, as the dust settles, Corey LaJoie finds himself without a full-time Cup Series seat. Instead, he’ll run part-time in RWR’s No. 01 Ford and pivot toward building his brand off the track. For someone as outspoken as LaJoie, though, a quieter schedule doesn’t mean a quieter presence. In a recent chat with NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass, LaJoie made it clear why he won’t be dropping down to the Xfinity or Truck Series to keep his racing sharp. And, well, he didn’t sugarcoat it.

While his reasoning might make sense on paper, the way he delivered it didn’t exactly come across as gracious. And for Josh Reaume, owner of Reaume Brothers Racing in the Truck Series, it was a step too far. Josh Reaume took to X to comment on LaJoie’s choice description of the Xfinity and Truck Series. Reaume, wrote, “The Cup Series is indeed the pinnacle, and I can respect his desire to compete at that level. However, my frustration is that he did not communicate this opinion eloquently; instead, he insulted employees, partners, drivers, owners, fans and, I would suggest, NASCAR itself.”

So what did LaJoie say that led to such a heavily worded response by Josh Reaume? Corey LaJaoie recently sat down with Bob Pockrass to talk about his part-time roles in the Cup Series and why he prefers that over racing on Fridays or Saturdays.

“It’s all about Sunday,” he told Pockrass. Using the example of the Formula Junior categories, LaJoie said, “I don’t wanna go run F3; I wanna be a Formula 1 driver. You know, that’s just… I don’t know why there’s this media perception… yeah sure, do you wanna go and pump the ego up and hold a trophy on a Friday when there’s twelve people in the grandstands? No. I wanna compete against the best.” Lajoie undermined the support drivers in the lower tiers of NASCAR get and this didn’t sit well with Reaume at all.

To ruffle feathers, Corey LaJoie pointed to sponsorship obligations as another reason to stay Cup-focused. “I can’t also just fight with my partners that have been invested in me to go down to lower divisions because they don’t get return for their money. They wanna bring other people to the big show, not to a Friday or Saturday show,” he said.

Now, to understand why Reaume’s response carries weight, it’s important to know a bit about his background. The owner has spent years pouring his heart and soul into his Truck Series team, giving up-and-coming drivers a shot and helping keep the series alive and competitive. For him, LaJoie’s comments weren’t just dismissive—they were personal.

It’s not hard to see why Reaume’s words struck a chord with fans and insiders alike. While LaJoie might not have meant to offend, his remarks came across as needlessly dismissive of the hard work and passion that define the Truck and Xfinity Series.

Trending

1

Richard Petty Calls for NASCAR to Return to Its Roots Amid Fans Growing Resentment

2

Bubba Wallace Proposes a Bold Solution to End NASCAR’s Hypocrisy on Dangerous Daytona Finish

3

Roger Penske’s Final Hopes Slipping Away as NASCAR Fans Prepare for Honda

4

$100,000 Lighter Joe Gibbs Racing Throw NASCAR Under the Bus After the Harshest Fine in History

5

“I’ve Spent So Much Money” – Denny Hamlin Expresses Regret Investing in 23XI With NASCAR’s Declining State

What’s next for LaJoie?

So, where does Corey LaJoie go from here? On the track, he’ll kick off his 2025 season in the Daytona 500 on February 16, piloting the RWR No. 01 Ford with backing from DuraMAX and Take 5 Oil Change. He’s one of nine drivers fighting for the four open spots in the race, rubbing shoulders with names like Jimmie Johnson, Justin Allgaier, and Helio Castroneves.

Off the track, LaJoie is diving into a new venture as an analyst for Amazon Prime Video. NASCAR’s newest broadcasting partner has brought him on board alongside Danielle Trotta to cover five major Cup races, including the Coca-Cola 600 and the road-course debut in Mexico City. It’s a role that seems tailor-made for LaJoie, who’s never been shy about sharing his opinions.

For LaJoie, this shift represents more than just a new gig—it’s a chance to redefine his career. “In many ways, my driving career has been more successful than I ever could’ve dreamed, yet I lose sleep feeling I never reached my full potential behind the wheel,” he said, via NBC Sports. “The pursuit of bettering myself and others around me has never been more important than it is right now.”

And let’s not forget Stacking Pennies, his podcast-turned-brand that’s all about celebrating small victories. Between that, his part-time racing schedule, and his broadcasting debut, LaJoie’s got plenty on his plate for 2025. Whether this transition signals the start of a new chapter or the beginning of the end for his driving days is anyone’s guess.