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LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 01: Corey LaJoie, driver of the #32 VisoneRV Ford, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 01, 2019 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 01: Corey LaJoie, driver of the #32 VisoneRV Ford, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 01, 2019 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
At the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott took his third win in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season. However, it was Corey LaJoie who really stole the show with his impressive run. The Spire Motorsports driver came ever so close to adding his name to the growing list of new race winners. Unfortunately, his last-ditch attempt for the race lead ended with him wrecking. Despite the loss, there were some like NASCAR spotter Brett Griffin who applauded LaJoie’s efforts.
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He said, “The thing is, super impressive run for the #7 car. This guy goes up there, has the lead, loses the lead to Chase Elliott, takes the lead back. They are literally fighting it out at what looked like a 180 miles an hour at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Super impressed by what he and TJ Bell were doing together. Obviously you’re utilising your spotter in that scenario and this situation. But if you’re Corey LaJoie, you cannot wreck on the last lap. You have to either wreck Chase Elliott or you have to not wreck yourself. You have to get a good finish because how many times is Spire Motorsports going to be in a position to win a race.”
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What next for Corey LaJoie in the NASCAR Cup Series
Admittedly, Griffin does have a point, as LaJoie is 30 years old. Additionally, Spire Motorsports is not a regular front-running team. So nobody knows when LaJoie will have another chance to gun for a race victory. The driver has yet to take a first career win in the NASCAR Cup Series.
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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 31: Corey LaJoie, driver of the #32 CorvetteParts.net Ford, stands on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on August 31, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
He did take risks and tried to go for a last-gasp move, there is that in his favor. However, who can say that LaJoie will have a shot at doing it again? Luckily for him, there are still a few races left before regular season ends. So, Corey LaJoie will have to try and keep up the momentum.
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