Corey LaJoie’s announcement that he will not return to Spire Motorsports in 2025 created a coveted open seat, especially with the team’s flagship No. 7 car improving while led by a legendary crew chief in Rodney Childers.
Here are the top candidates to replace LaJoie in Spire’s flagship car:
JUSTIN HALEY
Haley collected the team’s lone Cup Series win to date — a rain-shortened race at Daytona in July of 2019 — and drove for Chrevrolet from 2018 to 2023. While Haley said he wants to stay at Rick Ware Racing and build RWR’s Cup Series program, a return to the team that he won with and the opportunity to work with Childers may be too good of an offer to pass up.
SAM MAYER
Like Haley, Mayer is a young driver who has spent most of his NASCAR career thus far under the Chevy banner. He has won six NASCAR Xfinity Series races over the last two seasons, and though he’s quite Mayer seems to have the raw talent and speed to be a contender. Pairing a young talent with an experienced crew chief isn’t a guaranteed fit, but it wouldn’t hurt to pair an explosive young gun with a grizzly vet on top of the pit box.
CONNOR ZILISCH
Zilisch just turned 18 and only has one Truck Series start to his credit, but there’s no denying that he’s the most exciting NASCAR prospect the sport has seen in a long time. Zilisch wins in almost everything he touches, and while it may be a better idea for him to run a season or two in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, he has the potential to be a Cup Series champion if put in the right situation.
CHRISTIAN ECKES
Along with Toyota prospect Corey Heim, Eckes makes up half of the Truck Series’ two-headed monster. Eckes has three wins, nine top-5s and 14 top-10’s to his credit through the first 15 races of the year, and will likely win the regular-season championship. At 23, Eckes is wise beyond his years, and has a bright future in NASCAR regardless of the outcome of the 2024 Truck Series season. If given the nod at Spire, he has the potential to build a fantastic career.
RAJAH CARUTH
Caruth’s resume may suffer from a lack of polish — unlike other candidates on this list, he doesn’t boast Cup starts, Xfinity wins or a slew of wins — but he has proven to be a championship contender in just his second Truck Series season. Caruth’s first Truck Series win at Las Vegas was an extremely impressive drive, and since he currently drives for Spire in the Truck Series, those in the building already know of his talents.
KYLE BUSCH
Busch is easily the most “out-there” candidate to replace LaJoie — Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass says he expects Busch to remain with Richard Childress Racing for 2025 — but Spire has proven that they’re not afraid to write a blank check if they think they can steal talent. Pairing one of the best drivers of all-time and one of the best crew chiefs of all-time may be a fever dream, but if Busch were to escape a flailing RCR, the final years of his career could gain exponential worth.
–Samuel Stubbs, Field Level Media