3 potential replacements for Corey LaJoie at Spire Motorsports ft. Daniel Suarez

After stinting for four years with Spire Motorsports, Corey LaJoie will observe his final season with the Mooresville-based outfit, putting uncertainty to his future in NASCAR. The #7 Chevy driver came home with four top-5s and six top-10s, with his career-best finish of fourth place in three races- the 2023 Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway race, and the 2024 season-opener Daytona 500.

Before announcing Corey LaJoie's departure, Spire Motorsports revealed signing a multiyear deal with Rodney Childers as the crew chief for the #7 Chevy. However, with the latest development in their garage, the 2014 championship-winning crew chief will pair with another driver. Josh Berry was in the picture for some time but following his deal with Wood Brothers Racing, the current driver-chief duo at Stewart-Haas Racing will no longer exist after this season.

With that, let's look at three prospects that could find their footing in Spire with Childers.

#1. Harrison Burton (P34), Corey LaJoie (P28)

Harrison Burton (Image: Imagn)

Harrison Burton found his full-time Cup Series footing with Wood Brothers Racing in 2022. But amid his third year at WBR, the single-car Cup team refrained from extending their contract with the #21 Ford driver who will be replaced by Josh Berry next year. Burton has collected a solitary top-5 and five top-10s so far in his tenure with the team.

With Corey LaJoie's exit, and not many drivers left for grabs in the driver market, Harrison Burton might find himself at Spire under the guidance of Rodney Childers in the #7 Chevrolet.

#2. Daniel Suarez (P17)

Daniel Suarez (Image: Imagn)

In 2023, Daniel Suarez inked a multiyear deal with Trackouse Racing. However, the same year witnessed a subpar display from the #99 Chevy driver with three top-5s and ten top-10s in the bag. As a result, Suarez is observing his 'contract year' with the team and no concrete revelation about his future has surfaced.

Though he emerged victorious at the Atlanta Motor Speedway this year, collected two top-5s and four top-10s, and locked his spot in the playoffs, no concrete developments from team owner Justin Marks in Suarez's contract might result in a call from Spire Motorsports.

#3. Austin Cindric (P19)

Austin Cindric (Image: Imagn)

The Team Penske driver signed a contract extension last year but no updates about his 2025 Cup Series season have surfaced. While Austin Cindric sits 19th in the regular season standings, his recent World Wide Technology Raceway win paired with two top-5s and three top-10s has secured his seat in the playoffs.

Cindric has two Cup Series wins, with the first being the crown jewel Daytona 500 race in 2022. Moreover, compared to Spire Motorsports' departing driver Corey LaJoie, who debuted in the Cup Series in 2014, Cindric boasts better statistics with two wins, eight top-5s, and 18 top-10s, since debuting in 2021.

While Harriston Burton has inferior statistics compared to Corey LaJoie, Daniel Suarez and Austin Cindric comfortably outweigh the departing Spire Motorsports driver, and thus, are at high odds of filling in the #7 Chevy if their current contract doesn't affirm their future.