Corey LaJoie's NASCAR career looked to be reaching a conclusion at the end of the 2024 season when he was booted from his full-time ride at Spire mid-year before running the remaining races with Rick Ware Racing. There was no promise of a deal for 2025 or beyond.
On Thursday, though, the third-generation racer earned a spot to make his ninth consecutive appearance in the Daytona 500. And getting there was far from easy. Placing his trust in fate, LaJoie made one of the biggest gambles of his life. He knew the second RWR entry was without a driver for NASCAR's biggest race and whoever put up the money first would be the one to get the seat. So, he fronted his own money, joking it was from his kid's college fund, to "make sure nobody else got the car because I know this car is one of the more desirable [open cars] to drive," and began preparations in hope to qualify for his big-bet event.
