Corey LaJoie reveals how he moved on from ‘the disappointing’ HMS outing replacing Chase Elliott

Corey LaJoie opens up on his run with Hendricks Motorsports in Enjoy Illinois 300, where he finished 21st.

Corey LaJoie reveals how he moved on from ‘the disappointing’ HMS outing replacing Chase Elliott

Corey LaJoie (Credits: CBS Sports)

Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports driver, competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No.7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. If there is one he ever wanted, it was to get behind the wheel of a Hendrick Motorsports car. Long back, when it was understood that Jimmie Johnson was retiring as a full-time Cup driver, LaJoie wrote a letter to team owner Rick Hendrick asking for the job. 

Though it did not work out back then, it may have helped Rick Hendrick pick him to replace Chase Elliott at World Wide Technology Raceway. Elliott, NASCAR’s most popular driver, was suspended from the Enjoy Illinois 300 due to his intentional wreck of Denny Hamlin at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As a result of that, Corey LaJoie got the call to fill in for him. It was a great opportunity for the 31-year-old. 

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Corey LaJoie finished 21st in the Enjoy Illinois 300. It was not the result he wanted. The Spire Motorsports driver spoke to Fox News about his season and Hendrick Motorsports outing. When asked if he was over the disappointing race with Hendrick, LaJoie said he was over it quickly. He stated, “Yeah, I was over the disappointment pretty quick. My own rule is just as soon as you touch the tarmac from the previous race, it’s looking forward to the next one.”

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Corey LaJoie felt he was under pressure driving the Hendricks car 

Corey LaJoie (Credits: CBS Sports)
Corey LaJoie (Credits: CBS Sports)

LaJoie revealed that nobody felt they did a good job after the race. The No.9’s crew chief Alan Gustafson wished he had a better setup. LaJoie added, “Alan was wishing he had a better setup, I was wishing I gave those guys a better job, a little more pace off the jump. But I just wasn’t settled in. I wasn’t comfortable all weekend there, whether it be the pressure or just driving a different car. I wanted to give those guys a solid run.” 

Corey LaJoie admitted that he didn’t drive as hard as he drove his No.7 Chevy just because he was more comfortable with his crew and his car. However, the 31-year-old claimed he was not disappointed. He said he learned his lessons and appreciated the people building the cars. He also credited the drivers for doing a good job by extracting the performance from the car. 

Corey LaJoie left the race feeling more confident. He gathered information to help him grow as a driver and understand his weaknesses. Though it was a disappointing weekend, he believes there were plenty of positives from the race. 

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