Corey LaJoie has seen his fair share of struggles. In nearly four years at Spire Motorsports, the 33-year-old has struggled to make his mark in the NASCAR Cup Series. The North Carolina native has been subjected to plenty of criticism for his performances after not finishing higher than 25th in the driver standings. A switch to Rick Ware Racing for the final seven races of the 2024 season has added to the uncertainty surrounding his future, even though LaJoie is adamant he has options.

However, fans aren’t buying into his claims. With his on-track performances leaving much to be desired, the NASCAR community has criticized the racing driver’s future in the sport, expressing that he would be better suited for a role off the track.

Is Corey LaJoie exploring career options after a lackluster 2024?

LaJoie had quite a start to his 2024 Cup Series campaign. Driving the No. 7 Chevy for Spire Motorsports, the racer finished fourth at the Daytona 500, his career-best finish at NASCAR’s highest level. However, the season since then hasn’t worked out as planned, with just one top-five and three top-ten finishes in 36 races. The son of two-time Busch Series winner Randy LaJoie eventually lost his seat at Spire Motorsports, resulting in a swap with Justin Haley at Rick Ware Racing.

Despite having seven races to prove himself to potential employers, Corey LaJoie’s struggles continued while behind the wheel of the No. 51 Ford. His highest finish was 14th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, casting a serious doubt about his future. However, the 33-year-old spoke about the opportunities at his disposal in a recent Stacking Pennies episode, saying, “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.”

When the driver-swap announcement was made at Bristol Motor Speedway, Rick Ware Racing president Robby Benton clarified that the deal with Corey LaJoie was only for the 2024 season. With no official announcement made by either party about a contract extension for 2025, the likelihood of the North Carolina native plying his trade away from the No. 51 Ford is getting higher daily. Moreover, RFK Racing has reportedly expanded its Cup Series operations for next year, potentially leasing a charter from team owner Rick Ware. This has cast another doubt about LaJoie’s future.

Despite Robby Benton confirming that two RWR cars will be competing in the 2025 Daytona 500, could one of them be an ‘open’ car while the other competes full-time?

If that is the case, Corey LaJoie could potentially be involved in a part-time capacity with the team, while the owner’s son Cody Ware, Kaz Grala, and Xfinity Series drivers such as Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer will also be fighting for a spot in the one-off races. With LaJoie exploring his options for next year, could his future lie away from the racetrack? Plenty of NASCAR fans seem to think so.

NASCAR fans unconvinced by LaJoie’s claims

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It’s fair to say that Corey LaJoie hasn’t endeared himself in the eyes of NASCAR fans. The racer has been involved in plenty of on-track incidents during the 2024 Cup Series season, resulting in questions being raised about his capability to compete against the best drivers in the sport. Having struggled to make his mark at the highest level, a fan wrote on Reddit, “Honestly, Corey’s a better media figure than a driver. He should keep doing the podcast, become a pit reporter for TV, and race in Xfinity or Trucks 2-3 times a season.”

Corey LaJoie is yet to secure a Cup Series win, despite competing at NASCAR’s highest level for over five seasons. With seats in the sport depending on performances and sponsorships, a motorsports fan questioned the North Carolina driver’s place after reading between the lines following his Stacking Pennies claim. The fan said, “Anytime an athlete mentions “next chapter of my life” it’s an indication of where their head is at. He’s likely not going to be racing for years to come and he knows it.” Echoing that sentiment, another fan went on to say that the 33-year-old’s claim was rooted in pride, writing, “Aka he has no ride for next year and is trying to make it sound like it’s by choice.”

Having been forced to retire early five times in 36 races during the 2024 season, Corey LaJoie’s performances haven’t been convincing enough for a team to place a gamble on the racing driver. Believing that his future lies away from the racetrack, a fan said, “He has way more of a voice outside the car than he does inside the car. Why not go more into the media side, his cup career has been a joke.”

Taking the responsibility of interpreting LaJoie’s claims from his podcast, another fan expressed that the racer may not have an option but to settle for an off-track role in the future. The Reddit user wrote, “Translation: I have no cool opportunities behind the wheel so I will be forced to choose an opportunity that’s not behind the wheel. And don’t put it in the newspaper that I got mad.”

What are your thoughts about Corey LaJoie’s future? Do you think his future lies in the NASCAR Cup Series?