The past year has tested Corey LaJoie’s resolve. For seven seasons, he drove for Spire Motorsports, carving out a reputation as a scrappy underdog who could wring every ounce of speed from the car. But in a shocking move, Spire replaced him with Justin Haley for the 2025 season, leaving LaJoie without a full-time NASCAR Cup Series ride. Offers came his way, including a top-tier NASCAR Truck Series ride, but LaJoie turned them down.
He revealed, “Sidebar, which is one of the reasons why I didn’t wanna sign up for the No. 19 truck, I could’ve had that deal, but talking with [former No. 19 truck crew chief Charles Denike], he was getting courted pretty heavily by those guys [at 23XI Racing], and it just wasn’t gonna be a good fit if he left, I don’t think.” As fans may know, Denike joined 23XI as crew chief for the Cup Series,
Instead of settling for lower-tier series, he explored new paths, launching his podcast, Stacking Pennies, and joining FOX Sports’ NASCAR coverage. Yet, the call of the racetrack was too strong to ignore. After a challenging 2024 season, LaJoie is staging a comeback that’s as emotional as it is electrifying. On May 17, he’ll make his debut in the CARS Tour late model stock car series at North Wilkesboro Speedway, a historic track that holds a special place in NASCAR’s soul. This isn’t just another race—it’s a chance for LaJoie to reconnect with his racing roots and remind everyone why he’s a fan favorite.
The CARS Tour event, part of NASCAR All-Star Week, is a high-stakes showdown where NASCAR stars clash with short-track veterans. LaJoie’s decision to compete is a bold one, especially as he’s pulling double duty by racing a modified on Sunday, showcasing his versatility. The starting lineup reveals a fiercely competitive field, with LaJoie’s debut adding a layer of intrigue. His car, backed by Kevin Harvick’s team, features a unique hood design honoring John Chris, a nod to the fun, creative spirit LaJoie brings to the track.
“I was a little bored this weekend,” LaJoie said with a smile in a trackside interview. “I’m running a modified on Sunday, so I get a couple extra laps. Kevin [Harvick] had a car available and wanted to do some fun stuff with John Chris. His face is on the hood, so he does some fun concept things around it. He’s coming up tomorrow. Not going great right now. We didn’t unload very good, but now the transmission broke in this unit, so guys are thrashing, working on it hard, trying to get this thing turned around. Hopefully, you can get it ready to go qualify. And then we’ll try to wholesale this thing and see if we can get a little speeder.”
November 2, 2024, Ridgeway, Va, USA: NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series driver, COREY LAJOIE 51 of Concord, NC, prepares to practice for the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, VA. Ridgeway USA – ZUMAa161 20241102_aaa_a161_068 Copyright: xWalterxG.xArcexSr.x
Qualifying at North Wilkesboro is a pressure cooker, with a packed field fighting for limited spots. Talented drivers like Kaden Honeycutt, Layne Riggs, and Carson Kvapil are all competing. LaJoie will be behind the wheel of a KP Speed Motorsports car.
LaJoie, no stranger to high-stakes moments, knows the importance of getting in a solid lap. “I mean, usually I’m used to only getting one,” he explained. “So it’s way more nerve-wracking when you only get one shot at it. But having two, it seems like the first lap here was as hot as it is today. The first lap’s going to be where your money’s at. So you want to really get, you know, 100% lap down in one and make sure, though, you don’t want to blow turn three and four coming to your white flag lap because that kills both of them. And just be conscious of that and hopefully the thing turns, sticks, and goes.”
Stepping back into a late-model stock car after years in the high-tech world of Cup Series racing feels like a homecoming for LaJoie. After all, he does have two wins in the Modified series, one at Martinsville and one in Atlanta, but the return isn’t without its challenges.
“I’ve driven some super stuff in the last 10 years or so, and, you know, F 45 tires seems comparable,” he reflected. “Late-model stocks are… Heavy, high, not a lot of motor, so I feel like I got acclimated pretty quickly, but we need to make this whole girl turn a little bit better than she is right now.”
LaJoie’s comeback has ignited excitement across the racing community. Rick Ware Racing’s decision to scale back to one car further limited LaJoie’s opportunities. That’s why the event’s significance, noting how it bridges NASCAR’s past and present, with LaJoie’s participation adding a compelling narrative. He’s navigating a new chapter, balancing media roles with his hunger to compete. His rejection of lower-tier rides reflects a racer who knows his worth and isn’t afraid to bet on himself.
Whether this event marks a stepping stone to a full-time Cup Series return or simply a chance to rediscover the joy of racing, LaJoie’s presence at North Wilkesboro is a reminder of his resilience. Under the lights of this iconic track, with the crowd roaring and the smell of rubber in the air, Corey LaJoie is ready to write the next chapter of his story—one lap at a time.
Grassroots racing is spilling out exciting results for fans
Kaden Honeycutt’s heart pounded as he gripped the wheel, the roar of the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course filling his ears. The 21-year-old from Willow Park, Texas, etched his name in the record books, winning the Reverend Sour Mash Whiskey 75, his first zMAX CARS Tour Pro Late Model victory. Driving the No. 12 Chevrolet for Jimmy Mooring Racing, Honeycutt won a race that kept fans on edge.
“Now we’re one for three, we’ve got two more to go,” said Honeycutt in Victory Lane. “Big picture, this weekend, we’re just trying to get confidence back and know that I can still do it. The last couple of weeks have been kind of rough, so we’re just looking to bounce back for Niece Motorsports this weekend.” The race wasn’t easy. A late caution bunched the field, testing Honeycutt’s nerves. But he stayed laser-focused, pulling away after the restart to secure the win. His victory was redemption. After crashing out in 2023 and losing a podium in 2024 due to a late incident, Honeycutt had faced heartbreak at zMAX.
Meanwhile, at North Wilkesboro Speedway, 17-year-old Landen Lewis was setting the stage for his own moment. He claimed pole position by breaking the CARS Tour LMSC track record with a 17.769-second lap time in the qualifying session.. “Just a great race car by Rodney (Childers) and Miles (Copenhaver), they’ve worked their butts off the past week,” Lewis said. “We’ve been working on this race car. We’ve been working and working and working. This is a brand new race car for us. Not brand new but a car we haven’t run since last year and put a lot of work into refurbishing it for this weekend.”
Both drivers, fueled by passion and resilience, proved that in racing, every lap is a chance to rewrite their story.
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