Corey LaJoie has secured a remarkable chance with an RFK Racing Daytona 500 entry, as he is set to drive the No. 99 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the 2026 edition of NASCAR’s most prestigious event. This will mark RFK Racing’s bold return to a four-car lineup, providing LaJoie, a determined veteran from Concord, North Carolina, his most competitive Daytona ride yet and positioning the team for an all-out superspeedway effort.
LaJoie’s Moment to Shine with RFK Racing
After nine attempts at the Daytona 500 with smaller, less resourced outfits, Corey LaJoie now has an opportunity to contend among the front-runners. Having struggled for a full-time Cup Series ride recently, and splitting his prior season between Truck Series starts for Spire Motorsports and a handful of Cup appearances for Rick Ware Racing, LaJoie’s perseverance is about to pay off in a new way. His previous runs included a near-miss at Daytona, finishing 22nd after a late-race incident dashed his hopes when he was in contention for victory.
LaJoie’s reaction to his new assignment reflected pure enthusiasm.
“This is a dream come true to get an opportunity with RFK Racing at the Daytona 500. This is, without a doubt, the best car and opportunity I’ve had at Daytona. I’m grateful for the trust they’ve placed in me.”
– Corey LaJoie, Driver
No. 99 Returns with Legacy and Big Ambitions
The No. 99 car carries deep significance within the RFK Racing legacy. Over nearly two decades, it notched 39 wins in the Cup Series, split between Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards. The number briefly left the team, finding success elsewhere with Daniel Suarez at Trackhouse Racing, but its reappearance in RFK colors revives cherished championship memories. The return of this entry reflects both tradition and RFK’s renewed competitive strategy on the biggest stage.
Beyond honoring history, the team’s decision to add a fourth entry demonstrates calculated intent for the Daytona 500. With co-owner Brad Keselowski sidelined by a leg injury, he addressed the strategic edge a four-car effort provides.
“From a competition standpoint, having a fourth car gives us and Ford Racing a better chance to win the Daytona 500. Superspeedway racing is about cooperation and having an additional car allows us to be more effective in forming drafting alliances, controlling lanes, and putting ourselves in position when it matters most.”
– Brad Keselowski, Co-Owner
Veteran Driver Determined to Seize the Spotlight
At age 34, LaJoie recognizes the rarity of such an elite opportunity. His best result at the Daytona 500 was a fourth-place in 2024, accompanied by three top-10 finishes in nine starts. Securing a spot this year would continue his streak to a full decade of Daytona 500 appearances in a row. However, as an open entry, he must either outpace all other non-chartered cars in the February 11 qualifying session, or battle his way in through one of the Duel races set for February 12.
LaJoie will get an early debut with the team as he substitutes for Keselowski at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1—an experience intended to spark chemistry and familiarize him with RFK’s crew and methods ahead of NASCAR’s biggest spectacle.
Trimble Expands Sponsorship and Eyes Big Return
The 2026 initiative will also see technology company Trimble ramp up its partnership with RFK Racing, moving from sponsoring four races in 2025 to backing LaJoie’s No. 99 in 11 events the following season. Their increased investment highlights the prominence of the Daytona 500 as a global showcase for their pursuit of precision and performance.
If LaJoie were to clinch victory at Daytona, it would not only be the culmination of a persistent underdog story, but also make him just the 10th driver in Cup Series history to claim his first triumph at the fabled Great American Race. With most of his career spent with lesser-funded teams, a win for LaJoie and RFK Racing would be seen as true racing folklore.
The Road Ahead for RFK Racing and LaJoie
The 68th running of the Daytona 500 is scheduled for February 15, with green flag set for 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, and coverage available on MRN, SiriusXM, and HBO MAX. As RFK Racing revives the No. 99 and welcomes LaJoie into its most ambitious Daytona 500 lineup in years, the organization sets its sights on making history and leveraging a strategic four-car approach in pursuit of NASCAR victory. For LaJoie, this moment represents not just a shot at glory, but the chance to etch his name among the sport’s legends.
