Lajoie final 12 months discovered himself wanting on the skin wanting in for many of the 12 months and hated by numerous followers. His being on this place would’ve been unthinkable in 2021. When Spire was model new, he was already growing cult-hero standing because the chief of a backmarker.
When He Ought to’ve Left and Why He Didn’t
Whereas he was already unpopular heading into the 2025 season, what made issues worse was when Lajoie mentioned, “I don’t need to drive in entrance of 12 followers on a Saturday,” and had a complete rant about it. This additionally exposes one thing basic about him and why, heading into 2026, he doesn’t have a journey confirmed for the 12 months.
Lajoie confirmed flashes of expertise in his time within the Cup Sequence. Most notably within the second half of his remaining full-time season, he rebounded from the worst half-season he had in his profession. To have prime tens in drivers’ tracks like Watkins Glen and Darlington,
And again when Spire was a struggling backmarker, Lajoie bought finishes at tracks a sub-Twentieth-place automotive just like the Spire seven shouldn’t have been getting. Like 15ths at Nashville and Darlington in 2021, an eleventh at COTA in 2023, or a 14th at Texas in 2022.
However there’s an apparent downside along with his notable outcomes. Most individuals don’t care about who completed 14th, even when they did it in a automotive that was supposed to complete in thirtieth. Folks solely care about who’s in victory lane.
Why It’s Higher To Be In The Decrease Sequence
Ron Hornaday Jr. isn’t a driver most random individuals on the road can identify, however any NASCAR fan can identify him in a heartbeat. The 51 wins and 4 championships he gained earned him admiration from followers and a whole lot of respect from all drivers, even when all these wins and titles have been in NASCAR’s third tier, the Truck Sequence.
He nonetheless went head-to-head with not many future Cup Sequence winners and champions earlier than they grew to become superstars, however typically even once they have been of their prime as superstars. Particularly within the late 2000s and early 2010s, when bushwhacking, the follow of Cup drivers going to the decrease sequence, was at its peak.
This made Hornaday a litmus check for drivers coming by way of the ranks. As a result of in the event you couldn’t beat him, you didn’t belong in any of the upper tiers of NASCAR, which additionally made it exhausting to evolve additional.
Lajoie’s Case For Staying in Cup And Why It’s Incorrect
Now, Lajoie isn’t loopy for sticking to the Cup Sequence. It has its advantages. He’s not improper when he says that far more individuals watch the Cup Sequence than some other sequence. This comes with greater sponsorship cash, winnings, and the title of being a Cup Sequence driver.
To not point out all that, which implies the checks are manner higher. However is the cash and attending to name your self a Cup Sequence driver price ruining your legacy? To many followers, Corey LaJoie is a joke who solely does a superb job of wrecking the automotive.
Folks don’t care about who finishes in thirteenth, solely who wins, and along with his aggressive driving fashion and dangerous behavior of outdriving the underfunded vehicles he was given, he crashed, which stood out to most followers.
So he gained’t be remembered for the moments when his expertise actually shone, and all the pieces got here collectively for triumph. However for his lowest moments, for they have been a lot extra spectacular than his highs.
The tip of 2025 shone some hope for Lajoie. Who bought over his pleasure and drove within the truck sequence for Spire as effectively? Right here , any doubts about his abilities have been laid to relaxation. Whereas he by no means gained in his 9 begins, he earned a prime ten in all however two of them.
Together with three fifth-place finishes. Exhibiting championship-level consistency. Not too long ago, it was confirmed that Spire will return to vans, however the drivers stay unknown. Whereas he may retire to deal with a broadcasting profession, he began in 2025.
Ultimate Ideas
Many are each drivers and broadcasters, so I hope he races in vans full-time and does some broadcasting on the aspect. Thanks a bunch for studying, and keep tuned for extra content material like this.
