“We’re asking too much,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. claims Rodney Childers won’t elevate Corey Lajoie into a playoff contender in 2025
Dale Earnhardt Jr. explained how Corey LaJoei can get better under Rodney Childers in 2025.
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Rodney Childress, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (In Circle) and Corey LeJoie (Via IMAGO)
Spire Motorsports in the last two years has been the team that is making some big investments in the sport. The latest investment was the signing of Rodney Childers from SHR as the Crew Chief of the No:7 team of their veteran driver Corey LeJoie from the 2025 season.
Many in the racing community see this as a major move that would make Corey LaJoie a playoff contender for next season. But NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn’t think so. He started his argument by highlighting how much LeJoie was expected to perform in 2024 and how little he has delivered compared to the previous season.
I’m not saying it can’t be done, I’m not saying a Spire car can’t get a playoff spot...I thought he was going to have some fortune and get a win like in Atlanta or somewhere like that. But man, it’s just he’s not performed as well as I think he has in years past…Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Dale Jr Download.
He believes the community is asking too much from Rodney Childers if they want the No:7 car in the last 16. Junior pointed out that the best possible scenario for the team is a P20 finish next season and then to grow from there.
I think we’re asking too much to think that Rodney’s going to jump in there and ‘Oh man, they’re going to be 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th in the points next year battling right around that bubble like Bubba Wallace and the rest of those guys. I don’t think they’ll be quite there yet. I think 20th in points is the goal.Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. explains how pressure was the reason for Corey LaJoei wrecking Kyle Busch last week
One of the most controversial incidents of last week at Pocono was Corey LeJoie wrecking Kyle Busch on the restart with 20 laps to go. Junior believes the pressure on him due to expectations and the impressive run of rookie teammate Carson Hocevar made the veteran to just race hard without thinking about the consequences.
Those could be bad things if you listen to the media. But if you’re Corey LaJoie, you got to look at those things and go, ‘Those are positive things. I’m going to get better because of Rodney, I’m going to get better because of (Michael) McDowell, the 77 and Hocevar, they’re pushing me. I’m being pushed. That’s good. I had needed something to push me. He’s under a lot of pressure, and I think that was a moment where we’re kind of seeing him feel that pressure.Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.
Corey LeJoie, as Junior suggested, needs to get to his race craft better and better and more productive in the remaining races of the season. This would put less pressure on him and Rodney Childers next season which is a win-win situation.
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Justin P Joy
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