Corey LaJoie continues to stack pennies with back-to-back strong runs

By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer 

Spire Motorsports driver Corey LaJoie continues to stack pennies as he’s earned back-to-back strong runs at Daytona and Darlington.

Steady results and small details add up to something bigger. LaJoie’s pennies are stacked higher after back-to-back ‘We were here’ runs. Darlington Raceway marked the third consecutive week that the No. 7 Chevrolet finished inside the Top-16 running order at the checkered flag.

Coke Zero Sugar 400 from Daytona 

A week ago, LaJoie’s No. 7 Built Bar Chevrolet started the Coke Zero Sugar 400 from Daytona International Speedway back in 33^rd.  By the end of Stage 1 he was seventh, and although he fell back to finish 19^th in Stage 2, LaJoie turned heads as he ran at the front of the pack most of the event, even leading a lap. Unfortunately, while running inside the Top-10 on the final lap, LaJoie was one of nine drivers collected in a Turn 3 crash. He finished 16^th.

While the result wasn’t where LaJoie was running on the final lap, post-race he summed up his night in three words.

That was fun.

— Corey LaJoie (@CoreyLaJoie) August 29, 2021

Cook Out Southern 500 from Darlington 

Rolling off the starting grid from the 25^th position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500, LaJoie’s Schluter System’s Chevrolet didn’t stay there long. He was able to work his way up to 14^th position at the end of Stage 1 and earn stage points by finishing 10^th in Stage 2. LaJoie spent most of Sunday’s race from Darlington consistently running inside the Top-10 running order.

A caution at the end of the race didn’t fall in LaJoie’s favor when it came to strategy. However, the No. 7 Schluter Systems Chevy still came home in 15^th. The finish marked his third Top-15 of the season while also adding to his Top-20 finishes which currently sits at eight.

“The hot rode was DIALED last night. Got stage points, ran inside the top 10 the last half of the race but a caution fell wrong for our strategy, and we finished 15^th,” said LaJoie on Instagram. “Last three finishes have been 16^th, 16^th, and 15^th. That’s what we call #s7ackingpennies.”

Richmond Raceway 

Next up the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Richmond Raceway for Saturday evening’s Federated Auto Parts 400. In seven previous starts at Richmond, LaJoie’s best Cup finish is 21st this past April after starting from 36^th.

Rarely do I have fun two weeks in a row. My @SpireMotorsport team deserved a top 10 but cautions didn’t fall right for us at the end. P15 #s7ackingpennies

— Corey LaJoie (@CoreyLaJoie) September 6, 2021

Feature Photo Credit: Nigel Kinrade Photography / NKP Photo