Corey LaJoie finalizing multiyear contract extension with Spire Motorsports: Sources

Corey LaJoie is working on finalizing a multiyear contract extension with Spire Motorsports to continue driving its No. 7 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR industry sources told The Athletic. The deal is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

The 31-year-old LaJoie is enjoying a career-best season in NASCAR’s premier series, with an average finish of 19.7 — five positions better than his previous high (24.3) set last year — and sitting 24th in points, in contention for a surprise playoff berth with seven regular-season races remaining.

“We’re just performing to what we all thought we were capable of,” LaJoie said Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, site of this past weekend’s Cup race. “I think we still have some ways to go. I think we have opportunities to sneak a win out here, either at Atlanta or Daytona at the end of the regular season and just keep going consistent.

“And this pace is starting to come more and more consistent. So it’s nice to see. I think we still have some more room to grow.”

That LaJoie has done all this with a Spire team that doesn’t have the same volume of resources of NASCAR’s top organizations only adds to the scope of what he’s accomplished this season. He’s outperformed several drivers from bigger organizations by average finish, including Stewart-Haas Racing (Aric Almirola, Chase Briscoe and Ryan Preece), Richard Childress Racing (Austin Dillon) and Team Penske (Austin Cindric).

How LaJoie has performed in 2023 hasn’t gone unnoticed with some bigger teams inquiring about signing him. But while there were other opportunities he could’ve pursued, he made the decision to re-sign with Spire believing the team was taking significant steps toward being a consistently competitive organization. This past week Spire announced that Gainbridge had signed a multiyear partnership that includes the company serving as primary sponsor in 16 total races for either LaJoie or teammate Ty Dillon.

“I got a hard enough time looking at what I’m eating for dinner, let alone next year,” LaJoie said Saturday when asked about his 2024 plans. “You know if you perform well this week and translate that to next week and continue to build upon what we’re doing and what we’re growing as a team, the future stuff will take care of itself.”

LaJoie re-signing with Spire removes another notable name from this year’s edition of “Silly Season,” NASCAR’s version of free agency. His decision follows that of SHR announcing last month that Josh Berry would replace the retiring Kevin Harvick in 2024. Other notable drivers in the final year of their contracts includes Denny Hamlin, Michael McDowell, Todd Gilliland and Justin Haley.