Corey LaJoie will take over the No. 77 entry in the Craftsman Truck Series for Spire Motorsports for the final eight races of the 2025 season. This change came after Andrés Pérez de Lara shifted to the No. 44 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet for the remainder of the year. LaJoie, previously a Cup Seriesdriver for Spire, enters this new role eager to compete and enjoy the experience despite starting the year without a full-time ride.
Background and Previous Appearances in the Truck Series
At the beginning of the 2025 season, LaJoie was without a full-time position in NASCAR’s top three national divisions, though he remained under contract with Spire Motorsports. Earlier in the year, he made a single Truck Series start driving Spire’s No. 07 entry at Michigan, where he finished in fifth place, showing strong potential in limited opportunities.
Team Adjustments Bring LaJoie Back Behind the Wheel
The move to the No. 77 truck is part of a team reorganization, which has consolidated efforts and personnel within Spire Motorsports. LaJoie expressed enthusiasm about returning to competition under these circumstances, saying,
“They had a team shuffle with the 77 and it’s consolidated some efforts and some personnel, and maybe because they already told me that we’re going to finish the year, they just plug me into it to have a little fun, try to contend for some wins. And it’s been fun working with Chad Walter in that No. 77 group.”
—Corey LaJoie
He added that the arrangement allows both him and the team to make the most of the final portion of the season, explaining,
“I think it really is, truly, they’re trying to get their money’s worth out of me. The last couple of months, they’re paying me out of the contract. So it gets me off the couch. Get me out of my, you know, blowing some leaves and raking my backyard on a Sunday afternoon or Saturdays. Nonetheless, I want to go out there and give those guys a good effort.”
—Corey LaJoie
Looking Forward to Favorite Tracks and Familiar Faces
With the Truck Series playoffs featuring many of his favorite racetracks, LaJoie welcomes the chance to return to the garages and workshops he knows so well. He reflected on the comfort of seeing familiar faces and the excitement of driving competitive equipment, sharing,
Image of: Corey Lajoie
“There’s a lot of my favorite race tracks in the Truck Series Playoffs, so it’ll be cool to be in that garage and see some familiar faces. It’s also cool to go back through the shop and see a lot of familiar faces. I’ve been used to being around for the last couple years, so it’s nice to see that and have those conversations. But anytime you can drive, get behind the wheel or something, especially a good truck like that, I’m ready and willing to do.”
—Corey LaJoie
Taking a New Perspective on Racing and Life
Besides returning to the track, LaJoie has enjoyed time away from the exhausting Cup Series schedule, where he previously raced full-time. Hosting the “Stacking Pennies Podcast” and working as an analyst on Amazon have given him a fresh viewpoint on the sport. When asked about returning to full-time racing, LaJoie emphasized caution and clarity about his next steps, noting the toll of Cup Series competition:
“It’s been a nice little change of pace this year. You know, I think I’ve been pretty outspoken with my desire to drive in the Cup Series. And, you know, as hard and as mentally and physically and just overall time-consuming being a Cup driver is, it would have to be a really enticing scenario to go back and commit to that grind and that experience and that adventure, because it really is an all-consuming 24/7 profession.”
—Corey LaJoie
He also made it clear he is not actively pursuing a full-time return unless the situation feels right:
“I’m not beating on anybody’s door to go back to Sunday racing and or even to drive it all if it really has to be people who I want to do it with. It has to be a situation where it makes sense, and if not, then I’ll just do something else. For the first time in my life, I’m not chasing the dragon because, you know, probably a little bit disgruntled with how everything’s went the last 12 months anyways.”
—Corey LaJoie
Reflecting on his current role in the sport, LaJoie added a positive note about his evolving involvement:
“But to be able to plug and recharge the battery and kind of take the blinders off and see the sport a bit more for what it is. See it more as a media side with the podcast and analysts on Amazon; it was a lot of fun. I’m pretty content with where I’m at now.”
—Corey LaJoie
Impact of LaJoie’s Return on the Truck Series Season
Corey LaJoie’s re-entry into the Spire Motorsports Truck Series team for the season’s last stretch adds both experience and renewed energy to the No. 77 entry. His familiarity with the team’s personnel and preferred tracks could translate into competitive results and several strong finishes. For LaJoie, this opportunity offers not only a chance to race but also a way to reconnect with the sport from a fresh perspective, potentially shaping the direction of his racing career beyond 2025.
