“This is a performance-based business. And it just hasn’t been there for several reasons. All those reasons are factored in when it comes to making a decision of this magnitude,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson as he announced Corey LaJoie‘s departure. It’s no mystery why the #7, with no wins, just one top-five and top-ten finish in 22 races so far, met the sudden end to his journey with the team.

However, since then, speculation has been rife surrounding the driver’s replacement, and more importantly, his future.

With the team losing a veteran, it’s only logical that stakeholders will want to replace the 32-year-old with another experienced driver. And, the first one that comes to mind is Kyle Busch, especially with Dickerson’s relationship with the driver dating back to the early 2000s.

As a former spotter for the Richard Childress Racing driver, the Spire owner is no stranger to the #8’s talents. Busch is in the midst of the worst season in his career, with five DNFs, no wins, and a 43-race winless streak, but the team might be willing to open their checkbook when the need arises. After all, Busch is a two-time Cup Series champion. Notably, the #8 driver is already slated to pilot five Truck Series races with Spire this year. But will the team wait till 2025 for his contract to expire, or might we see some sudden silly season developments yet again?

Zane Smith is another possibility that Spire Motorsports can look toward. He’s currently driving the No. 71 Chevy for Spire Motorsports, on loan from Trackhouse Racing. While he’s set to join Justin Marks’ arsenal next season, NASCAR’s possible three-charter clause could shake things up.

With Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain occupying the permanent seats, Marks will inevitably have to choose between him and Shane van Gisbergen (who’s currently on loan to Kaulig Racing) for the third. As far as performances go, SvG might be the favored choice, leaving Zane Smith as a free agent. Will Spire take the leap? But, then again, Smith’s old team, Front Row Motorsports, has been looking to get him back, too.

“If Zane were to be a free agent for next year, I think that’s something that we would certainly be interested in for sure. I don’t know that he is, but we really believe in Zane’s talent. He’s gonna be a star…without a doubt,” said FRM General Manager Jerry Freeze, earlier this month. In the current season, #71 has just one top-five this season (a P2 at Nashville).

In a YouTube video by Eric Estepp, Estepp argued that Xfinity Series driver Sam Mayer could also be a viable candidate to take over Corey LaJoie’s No. 7 seat at Spire Motorsport. According to Estepp, Sam Mayor has the financial backing for Jeff Dickerson to consider signing the 21-year-old, who will get to stay within the Chevrolet ecosystem. As things stand, Mayer has already won twice in the Xfinity Series and was a Championship 4 contender just a year ago.

While replacing an experienced driver such as Corey LaJoie with a youngster like Sam Mayer may be a risk, it could also pay dividends in the long run. While rumors continue to circulate about Sam Mayer’s potential move to Front Row Motorsports, Spire could potentially hijack the deal if it comes to that. Notably, he has also been linked to a move to Kaulig Racing.

Then there is Ryan Preece, who’s the only Stewart-Haas Racing driver without a deal next season. Currently 26th in the driver standings with one top-five and two top-ten results, it’s not hard to see why his future in the Cup Series is in doubt. According to many, given his performances this season and Spire Motorsports’ lofty ambitions, it would be in Preece’s best interests to race in the Xfinity Series for the foreseeable future.

With plenty of drivers in contention for the vacant No. 7 seat at Spire Motorsports, another question that remains on everybody’s mind is, where will Corey LaJoie end up in the 2025 season?

What could be Corey LaJoie’s next destination?

Corey LaJoie is looking for a new NASCAR home. A veteran within the NASCAR circles, LaJoie has nine top-ten finishes in nine years, having competed in 258 races so far. Last year, the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro driver finished 25th in the driver standings, the best in his NASCAR career so far. These factors will play an important role in his future team deciding if Corey LaJoie is the right pick for them.

1. Kaulig Racing could be a possible destination for the 32-year-old. The team fields two cars in the Cup Series, with the No. 31 Chevy driven by Daniel Hemric and the No. 16 driven by multiple drivers, including Shane van Gisbergen and A.J. Allmendinger. However, the team is currently looking for financial resources, and if Corey LaJoie can bring a sponsorship with him, there’s a good chance he will be joining the team next season.
2. Another team that could depend on Corey LaJoie bringing in a sponsor is Rick Ware Racing. The team fields two Cup Series cars; the No. 51 Ford is driven by Justin Haley, while the second entry, the No. 15 Ford, has multiple drivers, including Kaz Grala..
3. Lastly, Front Row Motorsports is looking to add another charter, expanding its operations in the Cup Series to three. The team recently signed Noah Gragson, but with Michael McDowell leaving for Spire Motorsports in 2025, a spot remains open for Corey LaJoie next season. The move could be a good one for LaJoie, as the team will get to replace the experienced McDowell with another veteran driver. But that will happen only if Zane Smith turns them down first!
4. LaJ0ie could also go back to the Xfinity Series with Gene Haas’ new NASCAR endeavor, Haas Factory Team. With Cole Custer and Riley Herbst reportedly moving to the Cup Series, the team will have two open seats. Hailee Deegan could occupy one, with the #7 driver joining her next season.

Looking at all the possibilities, which silly season move do you think will come through? Let us know in the comments!