Corey LaJoie emotionally reflects on the ‘last stage of grief’ after a major career setback: “The death spiral for a racecar driver”

Former NASCAR Cup Series driver Corey LaJoie was recently featured in an interview with The Athletic. During the interaction, LaJoie reflected on the sudden exit from Spire Motorsports in 2024, marking a huge career setback.

The 34-year-old driver debuted in the Cup Series in 2014 with Randy Humphrey Racing and drove the #77 Ford in two races. Since then, he has been switching teams and landed his maiden full-time seat with Go Fas Racing in 2019. LaJoie then moved to Spire Motorsports in 2021 and stayed with the team until his exit in 2024.

Despite working hard, Corey LaJoie struggled throughout the 2024 season and was the 'least happy' he has ever been. He tried his best to produce better results, but the team around him wasn't performing well. His exit felt like a professional and personal blow. Reflecting on that, he told the media house:

“I feel like I was the least happy I’ve ever been (in 2024) when no matter how much work you can put towards trying to make yourself better, the results don’t complement it because there’s people not pulling the rope collectively. And that is when the stress and anxiety and all that stuff builds up because no matter how hard you work, the deeper the hole gets, and then the results don’t follow, then it just spirals out and you lose self-confidence. And this is just like the death spiral for a racecar driver.”

Continuing further, the former Spire Motorsports driver added:

“You know the five stages of grief. I feel like I’m in the last stage of that now."

After realizing that his career was not over, Corey LaJoie joined a new role as an analyst for Amazon Prime's NASCAR coverage. Additionally, he hosts the Stacking Pennies podcast and competes part-time in the Cup and Truck Series.

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“I’ve got connections”: Corey LaJoie got candid about returning as a full-time NASCAR driver

In May 2025, part-time Cup Series driver Corey LaJoie sat down with FrontStretch Media for an interview ahead of his CARS Tour debut. During the interaction, he expressed his emotions on his full-time return to stock car racing.

LaJoie exited Spire Motorsports after wrapping the 2024 season and joined Rick Ware Racing for 2025. He drove the #01 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for the team on multiple occasions. The Cup Series driver secured his best finish at the Daytona 500 and clinched a P22 finish.

However, later Corey LaJoie's view changed on returning as a full-time driver in NASCAR. He expressed his desire to deliver strong results in the CARS Tour before going back to stock car racing. He told the media house:

"Hopefully we get this thing to turn in a 40-acre field. But you know, I’ve got connections on Sunday, but it’s got to be with the right group." [01:45 onwards]

"At the end of the day, whether you're late model racing or Cup racing, you got to be with the right group at the right time. Beyond that, man, you're just along for the ride. So you got to surround yourself with good people. And if those opportunities come up, great. If not, then I’ll just keep hanging out with my kiddos," LaJoie concluded.

Corey LaJoie wrapped the 2025 Craftsman Truck Series season in P24 with 282 points. He logged seven top tens and three top fives in nine starts this season. Additionally, he maintained an average finish of 9.444 throughout the season.