Rumor mills are working overtime, now that the NASCAR off-season is finally here. Recently, the buzz on social media was all about team owner Rick Ware looking for potential buyers to follow Tony Stewart and SHR by shutting the shop. While such information should be taken with a grain of salt, it won’t be surprising if there’s an element of truth to such leaks. As charters are in heavy demand, buyers will be flocking around, hoping to expand their Cup Series operations.

What could that mean for Corey LaJoie? Will the former Spire Motorsports driver still find a place in NASCAR’s highest level for the 2025 campaign? If unconfirmed reports are anything to go by, it would all depend on the money Rick Ware Racing has at its disposal.

Could Rick Ware follow Tony Stewart’s route towards the exit?

There is plenty of uncertainty surrounding Rick Ware Racing going into the 2025 season. The team took part in a controversial driver swap towards the end of the previous Cup Series campaign, which meant that Justin Haley went to Spire Motorsports and Corey LaJoie took over the No. 51 Ford. However, with the agreement only in place for the final seven races of the season, the 33-year-old racing driver is in somewhat of a limbo as things stand. Could he reclaim his seat, or does RWR have other plans going forward?

According to Rick Ware Racing president Robby Benton, the team is all set to field two cars for the 2025 season-opener at Daytona International Speedway. With Ryan Preece’s move to RFK Racing all but confirmed, did Brad Keselowski’s team lease the No. 15 charter from RWR? With Tony Stewart’s charters out of the picture, what will be Rick Ware’s solution going into the 2025 campaign? Will they field one full-time car and another as an ‘open’ category? According to rumors, it would all depend on what seems to be the most sustainable approach.

Despite finishing fourth at the 2024 Daytona 500, Corey LaJoie has had a year to forget at Spire Motorsports. He ended the season 33rd in the rankings, his worst finish since he became a full-time Cup Series driver. With just three top-ten results, it’s not surprising that the team’s co-owner, Jeff Dickerson, parted ways with the driver even before the season concluded. However, his performances in the final seven races with Rick Ware Racing were somewhat of an improvement, with three finishes inside the top 20.

Ultimately, it all comes down to money, a lesson Tony Stewart learned the hard way at Stewart-Haas Racing. With the team having ceased operations, the message for the rest of the NASCAR community was loud and clear. Financial sustainability is paramount for the long-term future of any racing team. Moreover, sponsorships can make or break a driver’s career and in Rick Ware Racing’s case, it could all come down to what makes the most financial sense them. However, Corey LaJoie seems to be unconcerned about his fate, as the driver revealed, “I have so many cool opportunities behind the wheel but also not behind the wheel to take into consideration of the next chapter of life is.”

LaJoie reveals his mindset amidst uncertainty about his future

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With speculation being rife about Rick Ware following Tony Stewart’s footsteps, Corey LaJoie’s fate is looking more uncertain than ever before. The 2024 season might be the last Cup Series campaign the driver might participate in for the foreseeable future if a solution regarding his seat isn’t found during the off-season. As things stand, the North Carolina native isn’t committed to any team for next year, but he’s keeping faith that the circumstances will work in his favor soon.

Sharing his thoughts in an Instagram video, LaJoie candidly said, “Through the funk, through the storm, through the negative self-talk that you work through, and you lean in and you try to figure it all out, I’ve learned that God’s closer to me in the valley than he ever was when I was at the mountain top. So I think there’s some sweet people who need that encouragement today that you got to fight, you got to claw, and you got to get out of it, but God’s with you every step of the way, and he’s closer to you in the valley than he is on the mountaintop.”

Having spent six years in the NASCAR Cup Series, Corey LaJoie has plenty of experience at the highest level. The 33-year-old has a lot to offer to the sport, but it might be in his best interest to explore opportunities in the Xfinity and Truck Series. What the racing driver needs more than ever at this point are wins, and stepping into the lower tiers might help him rediscover his love for racing once again. With Rick Ware Racing potentially taking a leaf out of Tony Stewart’s book, the North Carolina native might have no choice but to take whatever opportunities come his way if he wants to keep his motorsport dream alive.