Corey LaJoie Falls Short of Strong Finish in Daytona 500

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer/Photographer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Corey LaJoie only has one race slated on his 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule and in his eyes, a shot of winning the Daytona 500 might’ve slipped from the palm of his hands.

After not obtaining a full-time ride in the sports premiere division, LaJoie was given one shot by Rick Ware Racing by driving a third car and had to make the field in Thursday’s Duels.

LaJoie was able to do so and showed pace throughout the Daytona 500 that ultimately saw him run consistently well all night.

As the race was coming down to the wire, LaJoie went from being not much of a threat to suddenly muscling his way to the front of the field. Notably, getting some tremendous drafting help from Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

By Lap 186, LaJoie’s No. 01 Take 5 Oil Change/DuraMax Ford Mustang Dark Horse was leading “The Great American Race.” Not long after taking the lead, a multi-car crash slowed the field down with LaJoie in prime position of shutting all the critics and naysayers.

However, LaJoie’s lead would be short lived when the race resumed as Austin Cindric took the lead. Meanwhile, the Rick Ware Racing driver was mired back inside the top-10, hoping for an opportunity to regain the lead back.

It didn’t pan out as he would get collected in a crash on the backstretch after the field took the white flag.

LaJoie went from seventh to crossing the line in 22nd, a dejected outcome as he brought his damaged Ford to the finish line, but it was clear as day that Sunday could’ve been much more special.

“For what we are trying to do, it doesn’t matter if you don’t win,” said LaJoie. “Certainly, there is a lot of money involved from potentially finishing third to 22nd or wherever we finished.

“Nonetheless, I think we had a great showing this week, making it into the Duels and bringing Take Five and DuraMax to the front at Daytona with 10 laps to go was a pretty special experience. I just hate that we couldn’t finish where we should have.”

With the Daytona 500 in the books, a vast majority of the field will move onto Atlanta while LaJoie has no other Cup Series race slated at this time.