Corey LaJoie’s full-time NASCAR Cup Series future is in limbo—and Cody Ware’s arrival at Rick Ware Racing has only fueled controversy.
After a lackluster seven-race stint in the No. 51 Ford, LaJoie has been pushed into a part-time role for 2025, while Cody Ware, the team owner’s son, steps into the full-time seat.
👀 Is this a well-earned comeback for Ware, or just another case of family ties securing a ride?
LaJoie’s Downfall: What Went Wrong?
✅ LaJoie was forced to leave Spire Motorsports late in 2024.
✅ Joined Rick Ware Racing for the final seven races of the season.
✅ Failed to impress in the No. 51 Ford—ultimately losing out on the full-time seat.
While LaJoie’s time at RWR wasn’t disastrous, it wasn’t enough to win over the team’s leadership, leading to his demotion to a part-time role in the No. 01 Ford.
Meanwhile, Cody Ware has locked in the No. 51 for the full season—and many NASCAR fans aren’t convinced it’s purely based on performance.
Cody Ware’s 2025 Goals: More Than Just a Family Favor?
🗣️ “We also have a sister car which is a Pro Late, so we’re going to try to run North Wilkesboro in the All-Star weekend, going down to Florence on the same weekend as Darlington… as well as the All-American 400 the weekend after Phoenix.”
Ware is determined to prove himself by logging additional seat time outside of Cup, targeting:
📌 North Wilkesboro’s All-Star race.
📌 Short-track events in Florence and Cordele.
📌 A potential Snowball Derby run at Five Flags Speedway.
The 29-year-old’s best finish in 2024—a fourth-place effort at Daytona—may have been enough for Rick Ware Racing to take the gamble on him full-time.
But is it enough to silence the critics?
Talent vs. Nepotism: Does Cody Ware Deserve This Seat?
🚨 The Debate:
✅ PROS:
✔️ Showed flashes of potential in 2024, especially at Daytona.
✔️ Committed to improving his racecraft with additional short-track seat time.
✔️ Rick Ware Racing is a mid-tier team, so expectations are moderate.
❌ CONS:
❌ Only got the opportunity because his father owns the team.
❌ Has never consistently proven himself at the Cup level.
❌ Corey LaJoie, despite struggles, arguably deserved more time.
Final Verdict: Cody Ware Has the Seat—Now He Has to Earn It
🔹 Ware might have landed this opportunity thanks to family connections, but he now has to deliver results to justify it.
🔹 If he flounders in 2025, the nepotism argument will only get louder.
🔹 With short-track races lined up and a full Cup season ahead, 2025 is make-or-break for Cody Ware.
🚦 So what do you think? Did Cody Ware truly earn this seat—or is this just another case of a family-run team playing favorites?
