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Tag: Corey LaJoie

  • Spire Motorsports Re-Signs Corey LaJoie, Adds Ty Dillon To Drive Second Full-Time Car

    Spire Motorsports Re-Signs Corey LaJoie, Adds Ty Dillon To Drive Second Full-Time Car

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    As part of Spire Motorsports’ long-term growth, the two-car Nascar Cup Series operation will have two full-time drivers for the first time in 2023.

    The Chevrolet-backed team announced on Tuesday Corey LaJoie will return for his third season behind the wheel of the No. 7 Chevrolet. The organization is also adding Ty Dillon, grandson of Richard Childress, to pilot the No. 77 car, which has been split by multiple drivers since 2021.

    “The next step in our progression is to add an equally capable full-time driver for the No. 77 team and we’ve found just that individual in Ty Dillon,” co-owner Jeff Dickerson said. “Clearly, the path that T.J. (Puchyr, co-owner) and I have taken to be here today has been atypical. We have great respect for our contemporaries in the sport, and we are humbled to be among them. Collectively, we’ve been fortunate to serve a lot of functions and roles in racing over the past 20 years. That allows us to have a great appreciation and perspective of what it takes to be successful in this super-competitive environment. We’re very proud of what every member of the organization has helped us build.”

    Spire Motorsports added a second full-time entry in 2021, saying the team “can’t afford to lose” ahead of its decision. The two Spire Motorsports cars sit 32nd and 33rd in the owner standings, with three races left in the 2022 season.

    Throughout LaJoie’s two full seasons with the team, he’s experienced moments of brilliance, including nearly winning his first Cup race at Atlanta earlier this year before wrecking while in the lead.

    Meanwhile, Dillon rejoined the Cup Series circuit this year after competing in only nine races in 2021 across Nascar’s top-three divisions. Dillon was left jobless entering the 2021 season after Germain Racing shut its doors, giving the younger of the Dillon brothers little time to find a new full-time ride.

    Dillon reemerged with Petty GMS Motorsports this season, but was told in July that he would not return to the team next year. Dillon only has one top-10 result this year, coming at the Bristol dirt race in the spring.

    However, Spire Motorsports believes that having two full-time drivers will elevate the entire program and give the two pilots a chance to compete for a spot in the playoffs.

    “I’m thankful for this opportunity, a new beginning with a very hungry team that is excited for the future,” Dillon in a statement. “Spire Motorsports has been growing year after year, when you look at the way that Corey and the No. 7 team has developed to be competitive. The organization is heading in the right direction and I’m excited to be a part of bringing the No. 77 up to where Corey has been running. Hopefully, we raise the whole level of competition together.”

    As part of Tuesday’s announcement, Spire Motorsports said crew chief Ryan Sparks, who works with LaJoie, will also serve as the team’s director of competition in 2023.

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    Joseph Wolkin, Contributor

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  • NASCAR holds 2nd driver safety meeting, vows more

    NASCAR holds 2nd driver safety meeting, vows more

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    LAS VEGAS — NASCAR held a second consecutive meeting with its Cup drivers to discuss their safety concerns with the new Next Gen car and promised to continue the sessions for the remaining month of the season.

    Saturday’s meeting at Las Vegas Motor Speedway lasted 75 minutes, the same length as last week’s contentious session at Charlotte Motor Speedway. NASCAR had a lengthy slide presentation for the drivers since the one at Charlotte was halted when the meeting deteriorated into an emotional confrontation between drivers and NASCAR leadership.

    Several drivers last week likened the Charlotte meeting to an episode of “Seinfeld” as it became “an airing of grievances.” The Las Vegas meeting was much calmer and NASCAR was able to complete presentation, which was expanded to include information from questions raised by the drivers at Charlotte.

    Although the Las Vegas meeting was optional, NASCAR said it was well-attended despite “some notables” who were not present. The Associated Press confirmed that Kevin Harvick, one of the most outspoken drivers about the Next Gen, was present for the Las Vegas meeting.

    “I’m still standing,” a smiling Brad Keselowski said as he exited the meeting room Saturday.

    Kurt Busch and Alex Bowman both suffered concussions in what should have been routine crashes. Both drivers were injured when the rear of their car hit the wall.

    Because the Next Gen was built to be durable, drivers have complained the rear is way too stiff and the drivers are absorbing far too much energy from impacts. Bowman has missed two races already and said he’ll be out at least the next three, while Busch said Saturday after missing 13 consecutive races he will be stepping away from full time racing.

    NASCAR thinks it has a fix for the rigidness of the rear of the Next Gen, with changes possible by the start of next season.

    Corey LaJoie, who has sided with NASCAR in its development of the Next Gen, said NASCAR told the drivers at Charlotte that design changes it tested “takes about 50% of the G-load away on a rear impact.”

    “You can always say we should have done it faster,” LaJoie said on his podcast “Stacking Pennies.”

    “But this stuff takes time. It’s not like NASCAR is just sitting on its hands, waiting for another guy to get hurt. Nobody is at more of a risk or detriments to seeing their competitors hurt than NASCAR is. When we were designing this car, safety was above and beyond every other checkpoint.”

    There are four races remaining this season with the Next Gen — including Sunday at Las Vegas to open the third round of the playoffs.

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    More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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