BRISTOL, Tenn. -- A major trade has taken place late in the NASCAR Cup Series season. Rick Ware Racing and Spire Motorsports have essentially swapped drivers.
Justin Haley will move to Spire Motorsports to drive the No. 7. Corey LaJoie will take over the No. 51 Ford Mustang.
This change will take place heading into the Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway.
As part of the announcement, Spire Motorsports has confirmed that Haley will return to the No. 7 in 2025 as part of a multi-year deal. He will work with championship-winning crew chief Rodney Childers during his first full season in the entry.
Rick Ware Racing has not yet committed to LaJoie for the 2025 season. The remaining seven races this season will help determine the future.
"Justin Haley is a very talented driver who has done a lot to help elevate RWR," said Robby Benton, president of RWR. "Justin came to us over the Olympic break with a longer-term opportunity that would serve his career well. We were sympathetic to his desires, as Justin committed to RWR early last year and has since played a key role in the growth of our organization.
"We didn't want to compromise his growth or our own. In our talks with Justin following the break, we agreed to release him from his contract with RWR. Obviously, we needed a new plan to maintain the momentum we've gained this year, and Corey LaJoie joining RWR allows us to keep moving forward.
"These seven races provide a unique and unconventional opportunity to work together now and evaluate what we may be able to accomplish together going forward. Corey wants to continue his path toward winning in the NASCAR Cup Series, and so do we. We're like-minded in that pursuit."
Haley made his Cup Series debut for Spire Motorsports during the 2019 season. He made three starts in the No. 77 Chevrolet, and he won one of them by taking advantage of an unexpected situation. Haley stayed out on the track after an 18-car crash at Daytona and inherited the lead from Kurt Busch.
Heavy rainfall at the track then brought out the red flag as the field prepared for a restart. The race never went green again as Haley became the official winner.
Haley made one more start for Spire in 2020 and 30 more in 2021 before he joined Kaulig Racing full-time for 2022-23. He then joined Rick Ware Racing in 2024, where he has since made 28 starts while helping make the team more competitive.
LaJoie has been with Spire Motorsports since the 2021 season. He has helped the organization grow and become more competitive, especially at superspeedways. However, the organization announced during the Olympic break that LaJoie would not return to the No. 7 after the 2024 season.
"Corey LaJoie has been a cornerstone of Spire Motorsports and we're incredibly appreciative of all the time, effort, and energy he has invested in our program. RWR is getting a workhorse in Corey. He's dedicated to his craft and his tenacity brings out the best in those around him," said Jeff Dickerson, co-owner of Spire Motorsports.