The Haley-LaJoie Trade
Spire swapped Corey Lajoie to Rick Ware Racing for Justin Haley. How will they make out?
Spire Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing announced that they will swap Corey LaJoie and Justin Haley for the remainder of the season. LaJoie, 33, had previously announced his exit from Spire, while the 25-year-old Haley has signed a multi-year contract to drive for the team.
Justin Barber
Let's cover LaJoie to RWR first. When he announced his departure from Spire, I wrote that he's likely not up to snuff in the Cup series. That's unchanged. On skill tracks (non-drafting ovals and road courses), he finishes three positions worse than where he starts. Compare his 2024 season to his younger teammates: Zane Smith, who is also losing his ride, finishes 2-3 spots better, and Carson Hocevar moves up a half-position. And those aren't adjusted for starting position. Hocevar finishes 0.7 spots better than expected based on his starting position, Smith 1.9 spots worse, but LaJoie is at a -4.5.
Plug Haley into that spot. Haley finishes 23rd, on average, from a 29th place start, for a +6 improvement and a +0.6 PFAE. That's the 27th-best finish but the 33rd-best start. Haley likely gives Spire a 2-4 position improvement on what LaJoie gave them. For RWR, this swap will likely bring their 51 car back to where their other car, Kaz Grala's 15, is.
The trade is a big win for Spire, and the extension makes sense. Haley's been a neutral driver in Cup, with his success rates oscillating around 50% and PFAEs a bit above zero. In Xfinity, he had success rates around 70%. He's a solid driver who gets what he should from his equipment.
Spire's vision is starting to become clear. They're surrounding high-upside Hocevar with solid drivers, in Haley and Michael McDowell. That is a serious upgrade from what they've had over the last few years.