Rick Hendrick’s Interest Corey LaJoie Addresses Elephant in the Room After Being Attacked by Tony Stewart’s NASCAR Driver

The 2023 Pocono Race was an absolute thrill feast for NASCAR fans, leaving them hungry for more. The race gained immense popularity, with fans enjoying every single lap of the 400 miler. Amidst the spotlight on Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson’s dramatic wreck, a few unnoticed moments are now emerging as the talk of the town.

One such instance involved the drivers of Spire Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing, who engaged in a fierce battle for the 20th position with just two laps to go. Although this incident initially flew under the radar, it took center stage after Corey LaJoie discussed it on his podcast, sparking conversations among the racing community.

What went down between Corey LaJoie and Tony Stewart’s driver?

Despite Corey LaJoie‘s lackluster on-track performance and inability to secure impressive finishes this season, he has made quite a splash. On one side, Rick Hendrick has spotted potential in Corey LaJoie as he even gave him the chance to take up the wheel of #9 car in the absence of Chase Elliott at Gateway. On the other hand, even Tony Stewart’s team is keeping a close watch on the driver as a potential replacement for Aric Almirola. Adding to his meteoric rise is the success of his widely acclaimed podcast, “Stacking Pennies.”

Watch This Story: Rick Hendrick Likely Killed Off Tony Stewarts Hopes Involving Corey LaJoie With Thoughtful Antics

On the platform, he discusses races, fellow drivers, and all the nitty-gritty of the sport. In the latest episode, Corey LaJoie opened up about his incident with Ryan Preece at Pocono Racetrack, where the two drivers seemed to have some unresolved tension: LaJoie spun the Tony Stewart driver’s car on the track.

According to LaJoie, the incident was a result of miscommunication and unfortunate timing. He explained, “At the time we all committed to the corner, he was good with letting us make the corner too wide. I didn’t realize I was already committed to running off lane off the bottom because I thought the #48 (Alex Bowman) was going to be in there. The #41 (Ryan Preece)’s spotter didn’t say the #48 was looking, so Ryan entered as though we were 2-wide, where I entered as if we were 3-wide, and we’re both fighting for the same real estate. He entered on my right front, so I was just bound in a bad aero spot and got into him, turned him around.”

LaJoie also revealed that he knew Ryan Preece had been harboring some frustration toward him since the Chicago street race a few weeks prior. “I am legitimately thinking—he and I got into it at Chicago; is he going to stick it in there or is he going to not crash all of us? And I leaned by the way, of- I think he’s going to stick it in there because he was frustrated with me from a couple of weeks ago.”

Regardless, the whole incident that followed the wreck was disturbing, and many NASCAR fans believe that strict action should be taken against violent behavior on the track. Ryan Preece’s reaction in the heat of the moment was unexpected and deserves careful consideration from the authorities.

What was Ryan Preece’s payback to LaJoie?

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After Corey LaJoie spun around the Stewart-Haas Racing driver during the race, things got heated. Following the pit stop, Preece hurried over to LaJoie’s car at the race’s conclusion, unleashing a barrage of profanity-laced confrontation. He even took a couple of shots at LaJoie while he was still in the car until security stepped in to take him away.

Eventually, Preece received a DNF, while LaJoie managed to complete the race in the 27th position.

While NASCAR races are known for their intense competition and sometimes drivers’ tempers reach boiling points, physically hitting other drivers on the track was quite an uncommon sight. Both drivers surely had better days on the track.

Not to mention, even though it wasn’t the most pristine NASCAR race we’ve ever seen, there was still enough action and excitement to go around. Besides, secretly, we would all agree – the Pocono Race is the kind that makes us all love NASCAR.

Read More: Victim Corey LaJoie Spills Beans on Post-Incident Conversation After Race-Ending Left Rear From Jimmie Johnson’s Driver