“The rides that are valuable are gonna get bought by guys with money.” Corey LaJoie’s blunt assessment of NASCAR’s current landscape after losing his Spire Motorsports seat in 2024 was clear. His words carried weight, considering how sponsorships often dictate a driver’s future. Yet, just months later, LaJoie found himself in a situation that tested his own beliefs.

Notably, Corey LaJoie has been an underdog in the NASCAR Cup Series. He has fought for every opportunity throughout his career. However, in 2024, Spire Motorsports decided to trade him off with Rick Ware Racing for seven races, leaving LaJoie’s NASCAR future in uncertainty. While RWR offered him a part-time deal, it wasn’t enough for the veteran driver.

LaJoie desperately wanted to compete in the Daytona 500 and to secure his ride with RWR, he took a massive gamble. For all his criticism of how money dictates opportunities in racing, LaJoie himself used his kid’s college funds to secure the ride. The confession came after LaJoie locked himself into the Daytona 500 through the Thursday Duel.

In his media interaction, he joked about putting “four zeros, one comma” into the car. “It was all of my kids’ college fund rolled into one race,” LaJoie admitted. While some saw it as a desperate move by a driver betting on himself, others were left stunned. Fans couldn’t believe that a father would gamble his kids’ future for a single race. One fan didn’t hold back, tweeting, “Corey LaJoie is a terrible person and a terrible father.” The comment was harsh, but it reflected the shock fans felt after LaJoie’s admission. The fact that LaJoie had previously criticized pay-to-play drivers only fuelled the outrage.

However, Corey LaJoie’s gamble paid off. On Thursday Night Duel he finished sixth in the second group and secured his place in the main event. More importantly, Rick Ware Racing also secured sponsorships for him. DuraMAX and Take 5 Oil Change stepped up to back his No. 15 ride, allowing LaJoie to get his money back. Had sponsorship not materialized, the financial hit could have been disastrous.

The relief was evident in LaJoie’s words after the race. “I’m not sure what the future holds quite yet… but I’m excited that the first box we set out to check was coming down here and making the Great American Race, and that’s what we did,” he said. It was a high-risk move, but for now, it had paid off. Despite that, fans aren’t happy with his decision.

Fans blast Corey LaJoie for his shocking move!

Even after securing his spot in the iconic race, Corey LaJoie faced a massive backlash on social media. The NASCAR community erupted with divided opinions. While some praised his commitment to the sport, others were stunned by what they saw as a reckless, unnecessary risk. One fan questioned if LaJoie was being serious or just exaggerating, “Lord, I hope he’s joking. He’s just a bigger ass if he wasn’t.” In the past, fans have criticised comments LaJoie made about the lower NASCAR Series, despite his lack of success in them.

But for many, the optics still looked bad. Considering the unpredictable nature of the Daytona 500 and the special qualifying format, some fans slammed LaJoie for risking his kid’s future. “Stop trying to be unlikeable, Corey… Bro spent his kid’s future money on his racing passion. Had he not made the 500, this have been an extra bad look,” a fan expressed his frustration. For LaJoie, even though he made it into the race, it was an incredibly close call, since he only came in at 35th position. Even one tiny slip up could have meant he could have failed to qualify.

Though DuraMAX and Take 5 Oil Change sponsored LaJoie and returned his deposit, the outrage didn’t subside. For many, the issue wasn’t just the risk—it was how casually LaJoie seemed to brush off the gravity of the situation. A fan echoed these sentiments and wrote, “That’s so f—— irresponsible. I love racing, I would do just about anything to race in the 500, but my child’s future is off-limits, especially in a Crapshoot race like the Duels… Literally out of your control, one wrong move and boop, sorry kid, no college.”

However, some fans dismissed the outrage, claiming that LaJoie was joking. A fan wrote, “It’s sarcasm. The guy is getting paid well by Spire for this entire year. He’s fine, and if you don’t believe me, you can go listen to his Stacking Pennies podcast from a couple of weeks ago where he says it himself.”

While the debate around his decision continues, Corey LaJoie would like to utilize this opportunity. With a spot on the grid and sponsors backing his ride, the question shifts from whether he’ll race to what he can do with this opportunity. A strong showing could revive his career, but if he crashes out early, the scrutiny on his financial gamble will only intensify.