Corey LaJoie And Justin Haley Swap Seats In Unusual NASCAR Trade

In the wild world of NASCAR, where anything can happen. But even in this sport, which thrives on unpredictability, the latest move from Rick Ware Racing (RWR
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) and Spire Motorsports raised more than a few eyebrows. On Friday, both teams announced they would *swap* drivers before the season even ends. Yes, you heard that right—Corey LaJoie, who has been behind the wheel for Spire since 2021, will now suit up for Rick Ware Racing, while Justin Haley will jump ship from RWR back to Spire.

The kicker? LaJoie wasn’t supposed to leave Spire just yet. It was already known that he would be leaving the team at the end of the season. But now, instead of waiting it out and waving goodbye at the finale, he’s been fast-tracked into RWR’s lineup, effective starting next week at Kansas. Meanwhile, Haley, who started his NASCAR Cup career with Spire back in 2019, gets to reunite with the team where he won his first and—let’s be honest—only Cup race to date, a soggy Daytona victory shortened by rain.

“We’ve known Justin for many years,” Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson said, clearly reveling in the irony of this full-circle moment. “His win at Daytona put us both on the map.” And that’s not a stretch. Haley’s rain-soaked win was the equivalent of stumbling into a pot of gold, and it certainly helped Spire make a name for itself.

Here’s where it gets even more bizarre. Driver swaps aren’t unheard of in NASCAR, but usually, they happen after a driver’s been handed the pink slip, not mid-season in what looks like some sort of bizarre, pre-planned handshake deal. To make things even stranger, the announcement was made at Bristol Motor Speedway with both drivers and both team owners present. It felt like the NASCAR equivalent of a meeting between Hannibal and the Roman Senate—cordial, but with maybe a hint of chaos beneath the surface.

When LaJoie first revealed he was leaving Spire, everything seemed amicable. There were no flying helmets or social media shade. And why would there be? Despite sitting 28th in the Cup standings, LaJoie’s racked up three top-10 finishes this season, which, for a team like Spire, is like pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

And Friday was no different—smiles, pats on the back, and a whole lot of corporate talk about “new opportunities.” “Corey LaJoie has been a cornerstone of Spire Motorsports,” Dickerson continued, praising the guy as if he were the Michael Jordan of budget racing teams. “RWR is getting a workhorse in Corey. His tenacity brings out the best in those around him.” Which is another way of saying, “Good luck, Corey! We’ll miss you… sort of.”

RWR’s president Robby Benton echoed that sentiment. “Corey joining RWR allows us to keep moving forward,” he said, and if you squinted hard enough, you might have seen his fingers crossed behind his back. According to Benton, these seven remaining races are a “unique opportunity” to see if LaJoie can finally put some wins on the board—or at least stay out of the wall.

Justin Haley, for his part, is coming back to a much different Spire team than the one he left in 2019. His future is secured for next season, but LaJoie? That remains as clear as a rain-delayed Daytona race. Maybe if he can snag a few more of those elusive top-10 finishes, this time behind the wheel of an RWR car, he’ll prove his mettle and cement a permanent place. Or maybe this entire swap will just be another bizarre footnote in NASCAR’s history of oddball decisions.

One thing’s for sure—this trade won’t go unnoticed. It’s one of those moves that makes you shake your head and wonder, “What’s next? A driver swap during the race?”

In NASCAR, as always, expect the unexpected. Including the sport’s version of musical chairs in the middle of the season.