Corey Lajoie, long-time NASCAR driver and son of two-time Busch Series champion Randy Lajoie, is now publicly reflecting on his NASCAR future following an end to his full-time Cup Series tenure. During a recent recording of the Stacking Pennies podcast, which he co-hosts with pit crew veteran Ryan Flores, Lajoie shared that he is actively considering what life beyond full-time racing in NASCAR might look like, using his platform to discuss both racing and the realities of a shifting career.
Changes After Departure from Full-Time Cup Series Racing
Lajoie raced consistently in the Cup Series between 2017 and 2024, but his full-time stint concluded ahead of schedule after Spire Motorsports released him with a year left on his contract. Despite this setback, Lajoie remained connected to the organization, competing in the Truck Series this fall to fulfill contractual commitments to Spire Motorsports. In addition to these starts, Lajoie made appearances in four Cup Series races for Rick Ware Racing and contributed as a co-host to Cup Series pre- and post-race shows for Amazon Prime Sports, demonstrating his versatility within motorsports media and competition.
Seeking the Next Professional Chapter
On the Stacking Pennies podcast episode, Lajoie opened up about his evolving outlook, stating he is now exploring interests outside traditional NASCAR racing. His comments reflected a sense of fatigue with certain aspects of current opportunities in the Truck Series and pointed to new business ventures and interests beyond the track.
“But yeah, Trucks aren’t particularly fun to drive, and also like smashing my head up against the wall, metaphorically. Like, you’re fighting a battle that is just; if you’re not doing it yourself, you deal with all the bullshit. We can’t do a new body build. Well, we can’t build it this way because GM this, and simulation that.”
— Corey Lajoie, NASCAR Driver
Lajoie went on to add,
“So, if I had a really good opportunity call, then sure, I’ll entertain the conversation, but there’s like 10 other things that I could be doing right now to start what the next chapter looks like, and I think I’m going to start focusing on that.”
— Corey Lajoie, NASCAR Driver
He expressed a growing interest in television and new business endeavors, particularly mentioning plans to start a carbon fiber business while keeping the option open to continue his media work if NASCAR and its partners remain interested in his show.
Evaluating Racing Opportunities for 2025
Despite his readiness to pivot away from full-time driving, Lajoie still retains a clear interest in select prestigious races. The Daytona 500 remains especially appealing to him, due to its status and the competitive opportunities such a race can provide, as well as its financial incentive. However, he made it clear that alternatives, such as Truck Series offers, are not being considered at this point in his career.
“I’ll entertain Daytona 500 offers because I think I can compete for a win in a decent car there, and [I] made the race the hard way a couple of times,”
LaJoie said.
“So, I think I bring some value to a team, and you could also make about a year’s worth of pay in one week. So, I’ll look at that, but yeah, like Truck Series offers, I’m not entertaining.”
— Corey Lajoie, NASCAR Driver
He acknowledged his main drive is to remain in the Cup Series and is reluctant to engage in other opportunities unless they present clear competitive and personal value.
Limited Opportunities for Cup Series Return
While Lajoie has spent much of the past year reaffirming his ambition to continue at the Cup Series level, he highlighted the scarcity of genuine opportunities emerging at this stage. This uncertainty has prompted him to focus elsewhere, with a frank recognition of the realities facing many drivers whose positions are vulnerable to younger and lower-cost talent.
“There’s really not any [opportunities] because — it is just what it is, right? You get out of them, you lose your seat. The music stops, and they plus somebody else that’s cheaper and comparable, that can do the same job.”
— Corey Lajoie, NASCAR Driver
The racing industry’s competitive cycle and economics, as highlighted by Lajoie, illustrate the difficulties faced by many Cup Series veterans seeking to prolong their careers amid shifting team strategies and budgets.
Outlook and Impact of Lajoie’s Decisions
Corey Lajoie’s honest appraisal of his position reflects both the emotional weight and reality of mid-career change in professional motorsports. As his options within the Cup Series shrink and with the truck racing experience no longer fulfilling, his potential shift to business ventures and media roles signals a new direction for his involvement in the NASCAR ecosystem. Whether Lajoie’s future involves another Daytona 500 or a move further into broadcasting and entrepreneurship, his choices highlight the crossroads many drivers face when navigating the end of one chapter and the uncertain beginning of another.
