Heartbreak for Corey LaJoie as RWR Ditch Him to Make NASCAR History

The inevitable has finally happened. Corey LaJoie is officially without a NASCAR seat after Rick Ware Racing announced its new driver for the No. 51 Ford. The 33-year-old made seven appearances for RWR in 2024, seeing a noticeable improvement in results before the Cup Series campaign ended. However, that wasn’t enough to safeguard his future in the sport’s premier series, with the team owner’s son Cody Ware being given the car for the 2025 season instead.

LaJoie, who is considered somewhat of a journeyman has had quite a NASCAR trajectory, especially last year. The North Carolina native was involved in a mid-season shuffle, switching sides from Spire Motorsports to Rick Ware Racing. However, his future in stock car racing looks far from certain as things stand.

Rick Ware Racing opts for family

2024 was a difficult year for Corey LaJoie. The racing driver ended the season 33rd in the driver standings, his worst finish in the Cup Series in the last five seasons. The 33-year-old had somewhat of an amicable split with Spire Motorsports before the season ended but in a bizarre twist of fate, the driver switched sides with Justin Haley three races after the playoffs began and was seen piloting the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford for the remainder of the season.

However, after finishing outside the top 30 in four out of his seven races for Rick Ware Racing, it seems like the North Carolina native didn’t do enough to impress his former employers. Ultimately, Rick Ware Racing opted for the boss’ son, Cody Ware, despite the inevitable chatter of ‘nepotism’ going on in the background. This is the first time in NASCAR’s charter era that all 36 chartered cars will be featuring a single full-time driver. Quite a record, isn’t it?

Cody Ware is no stranger to the world of motorsports. The 29-year-old began his career in Legends cars before switching to Late Models in the early 2010s. The racer showed his versatility by competing in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, Mexico Series as well as the Truck and Xfinity Series, and made his debut in NASCAR’s premier competition in 2017 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He made nine Cup Series appearances in 2024, finishing as high as fourth at Daytona International Speedway at the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400.

Despite the odds stacked against him, not all hope is lost for Corey LaJoie. The 33-year-old has valuable experience at the highest level and could be a viable option as a reserve driver. A move outside the Cup Series may also be on the cards, especially if he wants to compete as a full-time driver. A switch to the Truck and Xfinity Series may help the North Carolina native rebuild his confidence and rediscover his love for racing, which may help LaJoie in the long run become a better racer.

Cody Ware’s father believes his son has earned a Cup Series spot

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Corey LaJoie’s circumstances highlight NASCAR’s brutal nature. While his results have left much to be desired, being replaced by Cody Ware showed that team politics and sponsorship backing can play a huge role in getting opportunities, especially at the highest level. Rick Ware’s son has only competed for his family-owned team at the highest level, making 106 Cup Series starts but securing just one top-five and two top-ten finishes since 2017. The team will be featuring just one car in 2025, after leasing one of its charters to RFK Racing for Ryan Preece.

Rick Ware Racing’s owner has expressed faith in his son’s ability to compete at the highest level after he notched up his best results in 2024, saying, “Cody made the most of those nine races and earned his chance at a full-time schedule. It’s tough to build momentum when you’re part-time, but Cody worked well with Billy Plourde (crew chief), and now we’re excited to see what they can achieve over a full season.” As for Cody Ware, the racer is eager to prove himself against the very best and went on to say, “I’ve grown as a driver, the team has improved, and this is the best opportunity I’ve had. I want to make the most of it and earn the respect of my competitors.”

With Corey LaJoie officially a free agent, it will be interesting to see if he finds a seat in NASCAR before the season begins at Daytona International Speedway. After suffering a blow from Rick Ware Racing, could the 33-year-old opt for a seat in one of the sport’s lower tiers? Or simply head towards Amazon’s broadcasting booth just like many rumors suggest? The sharp-tongued racer certainly has the personality to become a race analyst, but would he be willing to give up his racing career for a spot in front of the camera? Time will tell.