Corey LaJoie Bio
Corey Daniel LaJoie is an American professional stock car racing driver and analyst for NASCAR on Prime Video. Born on September 25, 1991, in Charlotte, North Carolina, LaJoie is the son of two-time NASCAR Busch Series champion Randy LaJoie. He has competed in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving for teams including Spire Motorsports, Go Fas Racing, and Rick Ware Racing.
LaJoie currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 01 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Spire Motorsports. He also serves as an analyst for Amazon Prime Video’s NASCAR coverage, expanding his presence in the motorsports media landscape.
Early Life and Background
Born into a racing family in Charlotte, North Carolina, LaJoie was exposed to motorsports from an early age through his father’s career. Randy LaJoie won consecutive NASCAR Busch Series championships in 1996 and 1997, providing Corey with a unique perspective on professional racing.
LaJoie began his own racing journey in 1996 at just five years old, competing in kart racing events. He quickly demonstrated natural ability, winning 19 races on both dirt and asphalt tracks during his karting career.
As he progressed through his teenage years, LaJoie moved through various developmental series including the INEX Bandolero series, where he scored twelve wins and won the Summer Shootout Championship in 2003, and Legends cars starting in 2005. He won 10 of 12 races in the Aaron’s Pro Challenge Series in 2006.
Path to NASCAR
Between 2007 and 2009, LaJoie competed in the UARA-Stars Late Model Touring Series, recording one win and ten top-ten finishes in seventeen starts. This performance helped establish his reputation in short-track racing circles.
LaJoie made his debut in the NASCAR Camping World East Series in 2009 at Thompson Speedway. He remained in the series through 2012, scoring his first win at Bowman Gray Stadium in June 2012. He added four additional victories that season and finished second in the series championship standings.
During the second half of 2013, LaJoie ran a limited schedule in the ARCA Racing Series. He won his first career ARCA start at Chicagoland Speedway in July 2013 and followed with another victory at Pocono Raceway in August, showcasing his ability at intermediate tracks.
Corey LaJoie Career
Early Career (2012-2016)
LaJoie was named to the 2012 NASCAR Next class, which highlighted up-and-coming drivers in the sport. In June 2013, he signed with Richard Petty Motorsports as a development driver and made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut that November at Homestead-Miami Speedway, driving the No. 9 Ford.
After a brief absence from NASCAR competition, LaJoie returned in 2016 driving the No. 24 Toyota Camry for JGL Racing in the Xfinity Series. This season marked his return to full-time competition in NASCAR’s developmental series, setting the stage for his eventual Cup Series debut.
NASCAR Cup Series Breakthrough (2017-2020)
LaJoie made his Sprint Cup Series debut in 2014 at Loudon, but his first significant Cup opportunity came in 2017 with BK Racing. He famously made the 2017 Daytona 500 by spinning out Reed Sorenson on the final laps of the qualifying race, securing his spot in the Great American Race as an Open team.
In 2019, LaJoie joined Go Fas Racing driving the No. 32 Ford. The team generated significant media attention by placing LaJoie’s face on the car for the Daytona 500 as part of an Old Spice sponsorship. He scored two top-ten finishes that year with a sixth at Daytona and a seventh at Talladega.
LaJoie remained with Go Fas Racing in 2020. During the Daytona 500, he was involved in a dramatic incident with Ryan Newman coming to the finish. LaJoie’s car made contact with Newman’s airborne vehicle, denting LaJoie’s windshield. LaJoie finished eighth and was uninjured, while Newman required hospitalization.
Spire Motorsports Era (2021-2024)
LaJoie signed a multi-year agreement with Spire Motorsports in 2021 to drive the No. 7 Chevrolet. The 2022 season featured a near-breakthrough performance at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where LaJoie led a career-best 19 laps and positioned himself for his first Cup Series victory before late-race contact with Chase Elliott resulted in a 21st-place finish.
The 2023 season marked LaJoie’s most successful Cup campaign. He achieved a career-high 25th-place finish in the points standings and became the only driver to complete every race without a DNF during the season. His consistency resulted in more top-20 and top-30 finishes than in previous years.
LaJoie’s 2024 season with Spire was eventful. He flipped his car twice during the season, first at Talladega and later at Michigan, becoming the first Cup Series driver to flip twice in one season since Rusty Wallace in 1993. Despite the incidents, he scored his first career top-10 at a non-drafting track at Darlington and added another top-10 at Watkins Glen. LaJoie announced his departure from Spire in July 2024.
Driving Style and Strengths
LaJoie has demonstrated particular strength at restrictor-plate tracks like Daytona and Talladega, where he has recorded multiple top-ten finishes throughout his career. His racing style features aggressive blocking and strategic positioning in draft racing conditions. As his career progressed, he developed consistency across various track types, particularly evident during his 2023 season without a single DNF.
Notable Races and Milestones
The 2017 Daytona 500 qualifying race remains one of LaJoie’s most discussed moments, where his spin of Reed Sorenson secured his spot in the field. The 2022 Atlanta race showcased his potential to compete for victories at the Cup level. His 2023 season of reliability stands as a significant milestone in his development as a full-time Cup Series competitor.
Rick Ware Racing Era (2024-Present)
On September 20, 2024, LaJoie announced he would move to Rick Ware Racing for the No. 51 car, with Justin Haley replacing him in the Spire No. 7. In January 2025, it was announced LaJoie would run a part-time schedule for Rick Ware Racing in the No. 01 car, beginning with the Daytona 500.
During Speedweeks for the 2025 Daytona 500, LaJoie raced his way into the field with a sixth-place finish in his Duel qualifying race. He started 12th in the Daytona 500 and ran toward the front all day. LaJoie led with eight laps remaining and positioned himself in third place on the final lap before being collected in a multi-car accident triggered by Cole Custer’s block.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Return
In June 2025, LaJoie announced he would return to Spire Motorsports for a nine-race NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule. He drove the No. 07 to a fifth-place finish at Michigan International Speedway. In August 2025, Spire announced LaJoie would drive their No. 77 truck for the remainder of the season starting at Richmond, where he again finished fifth.
Corey LaJoie Career Wins
Corey LaJoie has achieved victories across multiple levels of motorsports, including regional touring series and the ARCA Racing Series. His career includes notable wins in developmental series that helped establish his path to NASCAR’s top divisions.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
LaJoie won two races during his limited ARCA Racing Series schedule in 2013. His first ARCA victory came at Chicagoland Speedway in July 2013, and he followed with another win at Pocono Raceway in August. These wins demonstrated his ability to compete at larger NASCAR-sanctioned facilities.
NASCAR Regional Series Highlights
In the NASCAR Camping World East Series, LaJoie won five races during the 2012 season. His first victory came at Bowman Gray Stadium in June 2012, and he added four more wins throughout the season en route to a second-place finish in the championship standings.
Corey LaJoie Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Corey LaJoie comes from a distinguished racing family. His father, Randy LaJoie, won the NASCAR Busch Series championship in 1996 and 1997, establishing a legacy in NASCAR’s second-tier series. This family connection provided Corey with unique insights into professional racing from an early age.
Personal Life
LaJoie is married to Kelly LaJoie, and the couple has three sons: Levi Ronnie Lajoie, Jenson Daniel Lajoie, and Pierce Jackson (PJ) Lajoie. LaJoie has been open about his Christian faith and its role in his life. He has also ventured into media, hosting the Stacking Pennies podcast on NASCAR.com starting in 2021 and previously co-hosting Motor Racing Network’s Sunday Money podcast.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has marked a transition for LaJoie to a part-time role in the NASCAR Cup Series with Rick Ware Racing. In his part-time schedule, he has demonstrated competitive speed, particularly at restrictor-plate tracks. His performance in the Daytona 500 showed potential, as he raced into the field and positioned himself for a top-three finish before the late-race incident.
LaJoie has also expanded his racing portfolio with a return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Spire Motorsports. His fifth-place finishes at Michigan and Richmond demonstrated his continued competitiveness in lower-series competition. This dual approach allows LaJoie to maintain his presence in NASCAR while developing his career as a television analyst for Amazon Prime Video’s NASCAR coverage.
