Corey LaJoie's final NASCAR Cup Series start with Spire Motorsports came to an unfortunate end at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday.

In a surprise move, Corey LaJoie and Justin Haley will swap NASCAR teams mid-season, with LaJoie heading to Rick Ware Racing and Haley returning to Spire Motorsports

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Corey LaJoie and Justin Haley will switch rides beginning next weekend at Kansas Speedway, Spire Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing announced Friday. LaJoie, 32, will move to the No. 51 for Rick Ware Racing, while Haley will drive the No. 7 for Spire Motorsports beginning next week.

It’s no secret that Justin Haley has Hendrick Motorsports aspirations. Whether the interest is mutual is not yet clear but the 25-year-old and his management team are working towards that campus. At the same time,

Spire co-owner Jeff Dickerson confirmed that Haley will continue into 2025 to drive its No. 7 car full time. Although RWR did not confirm that LaJoie would remain with the team beyond the final seven races of this season, LaJoie is considered the leading contender to do so, according to sources briefed on the situation.

It's an unusual move that will take place after the Bristol weekend with seven races still to go in the season. In August, it was already revealed that Spire and LaJoie will part ways at the end of the year,

Rick Ware Racing and Spire Motorsports will swap drivers early to get a jump on 2025, the NASCAR Cup Series teams announced Friday.

Justin Haley and Corey LaJoie will swap teams starting at Kansas Speedway Corey LaJoie currently drives for Spire Motorsports. Justin Haley is the pilot of the Rick Ware Racing machine. Both drivers run full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series.