Corey LaJoie has been confirmed as the Brad Keselowski replacement for the upcoming Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium and will also drive the No. 99 car for RFK Racing in the Daytona 500. This move, announced in the lead-up to the season opener, reflects RFK Racing’s strategy to strengthen its presence against dominant teams like Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing at major superspeedway races.
Negotiations and Background Before the Opportunity Emerged
The opportunity for LaJoie was not sudden; discussions began last year near the start of the playoffs involving Keselowski, RFK Racing President Chip Bowers, and LaJoie himself. Keselowski identified a need for RFK to increase its numerical power on drafting tracks to better challenge Chevrolet and Toyota competitors. Initial talks considered LaJoie running five to six races during the 2026 season.
LaJoie revealed on his Stacking Pennies podcast that the talks were ongoing but slow to progress. He explained,
“Right about the start of the playoffs last year… we had been talking about trying to run five or six races this year. So, we had just been kicking around, not really moving the ball down the field…”
Corey LaJoie, Driver
Keselowski’s Injury Accelerates LaJoie’s Role
The situation shifted when Keselowski suffered a broken femur shortly before Christmas. LaJoie recounted,
“And Chip Bowers, new president of RFK, we were having coffee over at Perkile, maybe two-three days before Christmas, and he got the call from Brad that he just broke his femur,”
Corey LaJoie, Driver said. This injury prompted RFK to ask LaJoie to drive the car at the Clash and consider the potential for him to also compete in the Daytona 500.
During this period, Chip Bowers communicated to LaJoie,
“Chip said, ‘Man, we’ve got partners, and we’re trying to put together a package to go run a fourth car because we feel like you’re the guy to do it, and we need some strength and numbers.’ And he gets the call, and he didn’t tell me that Brad broke his leg. So Brad calls me. ‘Hey man, would love for you to help out here, drive the car at the Clash.’”
Corey LaJoie, Driver
Team Dynamics and Future Plans for RFK Racing
LaJoie faced uncertainty over whether he would drive the No. 6 car at Daytona or continue with the newly planned fourth entry, which complicated the team’s immediate strategies. Aware of Keselowski’s determination to race despite his injury, LaJoie anticipated a competitive situation. However, as Keselowski’s prognosis improved, RFK finalized their intentions to expand the team and secured sponsorship support from Trimble, confirming LaJoie’s role behind the wheel of the No. 99 at the Daytona 500.
An Iconic Number Returns with Enthusiasm
Looking ahead, Corey LaJoie and former driver Carl Edwards plan to commemorate the revival of the No. 99 car on social media. LaJoie noted Edwards’ excitement about the return of this iconic number, emphasizing the significance of bringing it back to the track under the RFK Racing banner as a positive development for their racing organization.
