Corey LaJoie named replacement for Andrés Pérez at Spire Motorsports for 2025 playoffs

Corey LaJoie is going playoff racing! The part-time driver is taking over the No. 77 truck at Spire Motorsports this weekend. LaJoie is going to control the truck that was last driven by Andrés Pérez. Spire released Pérez earlier today, and he has moved to Niece Motorsports.

We knew that Corey LaJoie had more races to go this season. Now, we know that he is going to race for the owner’s championship in the Truck Series.

Spire Motorsports is going to move the points from the No. 07 team, which has a win from earlier this season at Homestead with Kyle Larson. That will allow LaJoie to race in the postseason and compete for a championship.

“Spire Motorsports, in consultation with NASCAR, will shift the owner’s points from the team’s No. 07 entry to the No. 77 team with veteran Corey LaJoie at the controls for the final eight races of the season, beginning at Richmond Raceway,” Spire said in a team statement.

“The team will compete as a three-truck operation for the remainder of the 2025 campaign, fielding the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados in pursuit of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series owner’s and driver’s titles.”

Earlier this season, Corey LaJoie raced for Spire at Michigan. He finished P5 in a hectic race that had a wild ending with plenty of wrecks. LaJoie has never won a national series race in NASCAR. He’s hoping ot get the job done in these next eight races with the 77 team.

Corey LaJoie replacing Andrés Pérez at Spire

Despite being released from Spire, the Andrés Pérez situation appears to be a non-controversial split. Spire wished him well, made it clear they believe in his talent as a driver, but just wanted to give the 20-year-old the ability to explore his options.

Pérez is going to suit up for the No. 44 Niece Motorsports team. That group has had a lo of changes these last two weeks. Kaden Honeycutt is out. Pérez and Bayley Currey are full-time there now. They have also shifted their other two part-time entries around to make sure Josh Bilicki and Connor Jones are able to compete in the races they had signed up for.

Corey LaJoie is good enough to win a Truck Series race. I truly believe that. But is he going to get the chance to prove it in the next few months? That remains to be seen. Even top Cup Series drivers have had trouble winning in these Spire trucks.