NASCAR Silly Season: Justin Haley-Corey LaJoie ride swap rumors heating up

The seat swap rumor between Justin Haley and Corey LaJoie is ramping up as NASCAR teams look to set their 2025 lineup this silly season.

Per The Athlete’s sources, Justin Haley could potentially drive Corey LaJoie’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro at Spire Motorsports, with LaJoie potentially taking over Haley’s No. 51 Ford Mustang at Rick Ware Racing. That would fulfill an effective ride swap next season running under renewed charter agreements until 2031.

Justin Haley is a 25-year-old driver who has one victory in the NASCAR Cup Series after winning the rain-shortened Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona in 2019. With 135 starts, the Indiana native has secured five top-fives and 15 top-10s.

Meanwhile, Corey LaJoie is a 32-year-old driver who has yet to bag his first win in NASCAR. With over 260 starts, the North Carolina native has four top-fives and 10 top-10s. His latest achievement was finishing ninth in the regular season finale at Darlington.

Both drivers signed a multi-year extension with their respective teams in 2023. However, LaJoie announced his departure from his current team at the end of the 2024 season in July.

The Athletic reports the ride swap would provide Spire Motorsports with a young talent capable of becoming a “consistent winner.” As for Rick Ware Racing, the rumored signing would add a veteran presence, who might be able to bring sponsors and help build an organization.

Another rumored destination for Corey LaJoie next year is in the Craftsman Truck Series with RWR.

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Corey LaJoie feels optimistic about his future in NASCAR, Justin Haley says he's fully committed with RWR

Corey LaJoie feels confident teams will call him for potential seat offers as he prepares to exit Spire Motorsports - ending a four-year run with the team.

“My phone’s going and people are interested in making calls,” LaJoie said last month via The Athletic. “But every good door in my life that’s been opened hasn’t been opened by myself; I wasn’t the one ripping those doors open, they were open and I had to walk through those when the time was right. So I have faith and I have confidence that the next door, whether it’s on Sundays (Cup) or not, is going to open.”

Meanwhile, Justin Haley addressed the rumors in June regarding his future with RWR (via NASCAR).

"We're fully committed," Haley said. "Whatever Rick wants my future to be, you know, if (he wants) me to stay for five to 10 years, I’ll stay for five to 10 years, just because he gave me the opportunity when no one else would [...] I kind of owe everything to him.”

As NASCAR’s silly season develops, the drivers will return to Watkins Glen on September 15 for the second round of the Round of 16.